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Sieber A, Kuch B, L'abbate A, et al. An underwater blood pressure measuring device. Diving Hyperb Med. 2008;38(3):128-34
Sieber, A., Kuch, B., L'abbate, A., Wagner, M., Dario, P., & Bedini, R. (2008). An underwater blood pressure measuring device. Diving and hyperbaric medicine, 38(3), 128-34.
Sieber, Arne, et al. "An underwater blood pressure measuring device." Diving and hyperbaric medicine vol. 38,3 (2008): 128-34.
Sieber A, Kuch B, L'abbate A, Wagner M, Dario P, Bedini R. An underwater blood pressure measuring device. Diving Hyperb Med. 2008 Sep;38(3):128-34. PMID: 22692713.
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Diving Hyperb Med. 2008 Sep;38(3):128-34.

An underwater blood pressure measuring device.

Diving and hyperbaric medicine

Arne Sieber, Benjamin Kuch, Antonio L'abbate, Matthias Wagner, Paolo Dario, Remo Bedini

Affiliations

  1. A researcher at the CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Italy and Profactor Research and Solutions GmbH, Austria, CNR, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy, Phone: +39-393-1914261 or +39-050-580018, Fax: +39-050315-2627, E-mail: [email protected].

PMID: 22692713

Abstract

Measurement of arterial blood pressure is an important vital sign for monitoring the circulation. However, up to now no instrument has been available that enables the measurement of blood pressure underwater. The present paper details a novel, oscillometric, automatic digital blood pressure (BP) measurement device especially designed for this purpose. It consists mainly of analogue and digital electronics in a lexan housing that is rated to a depth of up to 200 metres' sea water, a cuff and a solenoid for inflation of the cuff with air supplied from a scuba tank. An integrated differential pressure sensor, exposed to the same ambient pressure as the cuff, allows accurate BP measurement. Calculation of systolic and diastolic pressures is based on the analysis of pressure oscillations recorded during the deflation. In hyperbaric chamber tests to pressures up to 405 kPa, BP measurements taken with the prototype were comparable to those obtained with established manual and automated methods. Swimming pool tests confirmed the correct functioning of the system underwater. The quality of the recorded pressure oscillations was very good even at 10 metres' fresh water, and allowed determination of diastolic and systolic pressure values. Based on these results we envisage that this device will lead to a better understanding of human cardiovascular physiology in underwater and hyperbaric environments.

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