Abstrict
To provide a cuff for a blood pressure monitor having a curled
elastic member which is easily attached to an arm, does not make
the subject feel pain when attached, and exhibits a characteristic
of excellent fitting. A curled elastic member 1A has one end portion
12 extending outward so as to enwind the other end portion 11 inward.
Specifically, from the other end portion 11 to a position where
the other end portion 11 is mutually opposite, the radius of curvature
gently increases. From the mutually opposite portion to the one
end portion 12, the radius of curvature largely increases.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cuff for a blood pressure monitor, comprising therein a bladder
and a curled elastic member disposed on the outside of the bladder
to hold a ring shape of the cuff, wherein one end portion of said
curled elastic member is extended outward so as to enwind the other
end portion inward.
2. A cuff for a blood pressure monitor, comprising therein a bladder
and a curled elastic member disposed on the outside of the bladder
to hold a ring shape of the cuff, wherein a sectional shape of said
curled elastic member is approximately triangle and one end portion
of said curled elastic member is extended.
3. A cuff for a blood pressure monitor, comprising therein a bladder
and a curled elastic member disposed on the outside of the bladder
to hold a ring shape of the cuff, wherein said curled elastic member
has a narrow portion in which a width of said curled elastic member
in an axial direction of an arm is partly narrowed between an approximately
center portion in a circumferential direction of an arm and both
end portions or a thin portion in which a thickness of the curled
elastic member is partly reduced between an approximately center
portion in a circumferential direction of an arm and both end portions.
4. The cuff for a blood pressure monitor according to claim 3,
wherein said curled elastic member has said narrow portion, and
wherein said curled elastic member further comprises an additional
portion thinner than said narrow portion to fill in a portion of
an open space created by narrowing the width of said curled elastic
member.
5. The cuff for the blood pressure monitor according to claim 3
or 4, wherein said narrow portion is formed by gradually reducing
the width from said center portion toward both end portions.
6. A cuff for a blood pressure monitor, comprising therein a bladder
and a curled elastic member disposed on the outside of the bladder
to hold a ring shape of the cuff, wherein an inner circumferential
face of said curled elastic member has an approximately round shape
and an outer circumferential face of said curled elastic member
has an approximately polygon shape.
7. A cuff for a blood pressure monitor, comprising therein a bladder
and a curled elastic member disposed on the outside of the bladder
to hold a ring shape of the cuff, wherein said curled elastic member
is formed by connecting a plurality of elastic pieces by hinges,
and energizing means for energizing the elastic member in a direction
of uncurling the elastic member when the elastic member is uncurled
at a predetermined angle or more, and energizing the elastic member
in a direction of curling the elastic member when the elastic member
is curled at a predetermined angle or less is provided on the hinged
portions of the respective elastic pieces.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cuff for a blood pressure monitor
and, more particularly, to a cuff characterized by a curled elastic
member disposed on the outside of a bladder to hold a ring form
of the cuff.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 11 (perspective view) and FIG. 12 (sectional view),
a cuff for a blood pressure monitor has generally a configuration
such that a bladder 91 and a curled elastic member 92 are provided
in a cloth bag 90. A tube 93 is connected to the bladder 91, and
a velcro fastener 94 is attached on the outside of the cloth bag
90. The curled elastic member 92 is disposed on the outside of the
bladder 91 to hold the cuff in a ring form by its elasticity. As
shown in FIG. 13A, the curled elastic member 92 has an uniform thickness
and has a sectional shape of a complete round in which a part thereof
is a discontinuous portion 92a.
However, the curled elastic member 92 as shown in FIG. 13A has
the following problems 1 to 3.
1. Operation of uncurling the curled elastic member 92 to be attached
on an arm is not easy.
Since the sectional shape is a complete round, the curled elastic
member 92 has to be uncurled and then attached on an arm. Specifically,
in order to uncurl the curled elastic member 92, it has to be pulled
with some strength. The user needs some experience to attach the
elastic member 92 in the uncurled state onto his/her arm.
2. The end portions of the curled elastic member 92 cut into the
flesh of the arm.
In the case of the curled elastic body 92 having the sectional
shape of complete round, when it is attached around the arm, the
edges of the discontinuous portion 92a cut into the flesh of the
arm and the subject often feels pain. Particularly, in the case
of a big arm, such a tendency is conspicuous.
3. The shape of the curled elastic member 92 cannot be altered
according to the size and shape of an arm such as slender arm, big
arm, tapered arm (arm of which size changes largely from the shoulder
to the elbow), straight arm (arm of which size changes little from
the shoulder to the elbow) or the like, so that the curled elastic
member 92 is not easily fit to an arm.
This is because the thickness of the curled elastic member 92 is
uniform and the sectional shape thereof is a complete round. Although
the size and shape of an arm vary widely with the individual, the
curled elastic member 92 does not have a form which can be easily
fit to every one.
On the other hand, a curled elastic member having increased fitness
which can be attached to an arm more easily has been proposed as
shown in FIG. 13B (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-238229
(1987)). This curled elastic member 92' is formed so that its thickness
gradually increases from the both ends (discontinuous portion 92'a)
toward the center portion and, accordingly, the rigidity gradually
increases. The thickness and rigidity are the maximum in the center
portion.
However, even in the curled elastic member 92', since the thickness
is simply gradually increased from the both ends toward the center
portion, the shape is not flexibly altered to be adapted to various
arms, and it has room for improvement. A provision of a curled elastic
member having more excellent performance is awaited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been achieved by paying attention to
such conventional problems and circumstances and an object of the
present invention is to provide a cuff for a blood pressure monitor
having a curled elastic member which can be easily attached to an
arm, does not make the subject feel pain when attached, and exhibits
the characteristic of excellent fitness.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cuff for a blood
pressure monitor of the present invention having therein a bladder
and a curled elastic member disposed on the outside of the bladder
to hold a ring shape of the cuff, wherein one end portion of the
curled elastic member is extended outward so as to enwind the other
end portion inward.
In the curled elastic member, at the time of attachment to an arm,
the one end portion extended outward is thrown over the arm, and
the curled elastic member can be put on the arm while being largely
uncurled. That is, the operation of uncurling the curled elastic
member and the operation of attaching the curled elastic member
to an arm can be simultaneously performed, so that the operation
of attachment to an arm is easy. Since the curled elastic member
has such a form that the one end portion is longer than the other
end portion and the other end portion is enwinded inward, the end
portions do not easily cut in the flesh of an arm when attached,
so that the subject does not feel pain.
According to another embodiment of the curled elastic member, a
sectional shape of the curled elastic member is approximately triangle
and one end portion of the curled elastic member is extended. By
the curled elastic member as well, equivalent action and effects
can be obtained.
According to further another embodiment, the curled elastic member
has a narrow portion in which width in the axial direction of an
arm is partly narrowed or a thin portion in which thickness is partly
reduced between an approximately center portion in the circumferential
direction of the arm and both end portions. In this case, the elasticity
and alteration in the shape can be adjusted by the narrow portion
or the thin portion. That is, by the narrow portion or the thin
portion, the curled elastic member (i.e., the cuff) gets easily
to be twisted. Thus, the curled elastic member is fit more easily
to an arm of any shape such as a straight arm or tapered arm.
Moreover, the narrow portion or thin portion is not provided as
the both end portions of the curled elastic member, so that the
rigidity of the both end portions is not reduced and an arm can
be securely held by the both end portions. Furthermore, by not particularly
providing the narrow portion as the both end portions of the curled
elastic member, as compared with the case where the both end portions
are narrowed, the subject does not have strange feeling such that
the both end portions cut into the flesh of the arm.
In the case of the form in which the curled elastic member has
the narrow portion, although the form may be used satisfactorily,
it is preferable to construct a portion missed by narrowing the
width to form the narrow portion by a thin portion which is thinner
than the narrow portion. This is because that if the portion missed
by the narrow portion exists, when the bladder is inflated, it is
feared that the bladder is inflated from the side (missing portion)
of the narrow portion to the surface side of the cuff so that the
arm cannot be sufficiently pressed, and there is also the possibility
such that, in a process of taking blood pressure data while changing
air pressure, noise occurs due to inflation from the missing portion
to the outside of the bladder so that blood pressure cannot be measured
stably.
The configuration in which the missing portion generated due to
the narrow portion is formed as the thin portion aims at obtaining
an effect such that, while maintaining fitness by the both end portions,
the curled elastic member is easily twisted so as to be fit to any
of arms of various shapes such as straight arm or tapered arm.
The narrow portion may have a constant width in the circumferential
direction of an arm or a width gradually reduced from the center
portion toward both end portions.
According to further another embodiment, an inner circumferential
face of the curled elastic member may have an approximately round
shape and an outer circumferential face of the curled elastic member
may have an approximately polygon shape. In other words, the curled
elastic member has a sectional shape such that the round inner circumferential
face is inscribed in the polygonal outer circumferential face (strictly,
it is not inscribed). The curled elastic member is thick at corner
portions of the polygon and is thin in the side portions. Therefore,
the form in which the thickness of the curled elastic member is
substantially changed is obtained. In a manner similar to the curled
elastic member having the portion of which shape is altered, the
shape can be altered in correspondence with variations in arms.
The curled elastic member does not easily cut in the flesh of an
arm and has an excellent fitness to an arm.
A curled elastic member having the structure quite different from
that of the above-mentioned curled elastic member may be also used.
The curled elastic member is formed by connecting a plurality of
elastic pieces by hinges, and energizing means for energizing the
elastic member in a direction of uncurling the elastic member when
the elastic member is uncurled at a predetermined angle or more,
and energizing the elastic member in a direction of curling the
elastic member when the elastic member is curled at a predetermined
angle or less is provided on the hinged portions of the respective
elastic pieces.
In the curled elastic member, the energizing force to the uncurling
direction and the energizing force to the curling direction are
given by the energizing means rather than the elasticity of the
elastic pieces. The energizing force changes by using uncurling
of the elastic member at a predetermined angle as a branch point.
That is, when the elastic member is largely uncurled at the time
of attachment to an arm, it is automatically largely uncurled by
the energizing means. When the elastic member is curled at the time
of fixing to the arm, it is automatically curled by the energizing
means and fits to the arm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a curled elastic member according
to an embodiment, provided for a cuff for a blood pressure monitor,
and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state where the curled
elastic member is attached on an arm;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a first step and
a second step, respectively, of attaching the curled elastic member
of FIGS. 1A and 1B onto an arm;
FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a third step of attaching
the curled elastic member of FIGS. 1A and 1B onto an arm, and FIG.
3B is a perspective view showing an attached state;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a curled elastic member according
to another embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing
a state where a cuff having the curled elastic member is attached
on an arm;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively,
of a curled elastic member according to further another embodiment;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively,
of a curled elastic member according to further another embodiment;
FIGS. 7A and 7B are a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively,
of a curled elastic member according to further another embodiment;
FIGS. 8A and 8B are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively,
of a curled elastic member according to further another embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a curled elastic member according
to further another embodiment;
FIGS. 10A and 10B are side views of the curled elastic member in
an uncurled state and in a curled state, respectively;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a general cuff;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the inside of the cuff of FIG.
11; and
FIG. 13A is a perspective view of a curled elastic member according
to a conventional technique, disposed in the cuff of FIG. 11 and
FIG. 13B is a perspective view of a curled elastic member according
to another conventional technique.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be described below on the basis of embodiments.
However, the present invention is characterized by a curled elastic
member in a cuff for a blood pressure monitor. Since the structure
of the cuff may be an ordinary one shown in FIG. 12, the curled
elastic member will be mainly described below. The description of
the action of the curled elastic member is applied as it is to the
cuff having the curled elastic member.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a curled elastic member, according
to an embodiment, provided for a cuff for a blood pressure monitor,
and FIG. 1B is a perspective view when the curled elastic member
is attached to an arm. One end 12 of this curled elastic member
1A is extended outward so as to enwind the other end 11 inward.
That is, from the other end 11 to the mid portion of the curled
elastic member where the other end 11 meets the curled elastic member,
the radius of curvature of the curled elastic member gently increases.
From the mid portion of the curled elastic member to the one end
12, the radius of curvature largely increases.
A method of attaching the curled elastic member 1A around an arm
80 will be described by referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS. 3A
and 3B. First, in FIG. 2A, the one end portion 12 as a longer one
of the curved elastic member 1A is thrown over the arm 80. In this
state, while uncurling the curled elastic member 1A, it is pulled
to the side opposite to the one end portion 12 (FIG. 2B). The curled
elastic member 1A is further pulled until the width of the uncurled
width becomes about equal to that of the arm 80 (FIG. 3A), the curled
elastic member 1A is put on the arm 80 (FIG. 3B). The curled elastic
member 1A is then fit to the arm 80 by its elasticity. In such a
manner, the curled elastic member 1A, i.e., the cuff is attached
on the arm.
When the curled elastic member 1A is used, the operation of uncurling
the curled elastic member 1A and the operation of attaching the
curled elastic member 1A onto the arm 80 can be simultaneously performed,
so that the operation of attaching the curled elastic member 1A
onto the arm 80 is easy. Since the one end portion 12 is longer
than the other end portion 11 and the other end portion 11 is enwinded
inward, when the curled elastic member 1A is attached on the arm
80, the other end portion 11 and the one end portion 12 do not easily
cut into the arm 80, and the subject does not feel pain.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a curled elastic member according
to another embodiment. This curled elastic member 1B has a sectional
shape of approximately triangle and has an extended one end portion
14. The curled elastic member 1B can be attached onto the arm 80
in a manner similar to the above-mentioned curled elastic member
1A. That is, the one end portion 14 which is the longer one of the
curled elastic member 1B is thrown over the arm 80, the curled elastic
member 1B is pulled to be uncurled and put on the arm 80. Consequently,
the operation of uncurling the curled elastic member 1B and the
operation of attaching the curled elastic member 1B on the arm 80
can be simultaneously performed.
When the curled elastic member 1B whose sectional shape is approximately
triangle is attached on the arm 80, as shown in FIG. 4B, a gap is
formed between each of the corners and the arm 80. However, the
bladder 91 is inflated so as to fill the gap by injection of air,
so that the action of pressing the arm 80 with the bladder 91 is
not hindered. The sectional shape of the curled elastic member 1B
may be, besides approximately triangle, quadrangle or polygon.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively,
of a curled elastic member according to further another embodiment.
This curled elastic member 1C has a narrow portion 26 in which a
width in the axial direction of an arm is partly narrowed between
a center portion 26' in the circumferential direction of the arm
and both end portions 25. The narrow portion 26 has a width gradually
decreased from the center portion 26' towards the both end portions
25. In the curled elastic member 1C, the rigidity of the narrow
portion 26 is reduced. Thus, the curled elastic member 1C (i.e.,
a cuff) gets easily to be twisted, so that it easily fits to an
arm of any shape such as a straight arm or tapered arm.
Since the both end portions 25 of the curled elastic member 1C
are not formed as the narrow portion 26, the rigidity of the both
end portions 25 does not deteriorate, and the arm can be securely
held by the both end portions 25. Further, by not making the both
end portions 25 as the narrow portion 26, as compared with a case
where the both end portions 25 are also formed as the narrow portion
26, the subject does not have strange feeling such that the both
end portions 25 cut into the flesh of the arm.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively,
of a curled elastic member according to further another embodiment.
This curled elastic member 1D has a narrow portion 21 in which a
width in the axial direction of an arm is partly narrowed between
an approximately center portion 24 in the circumferential direction
of the arm and both end portions 22 and 23. The narrow portion 21
has a fixed width in the circumferential direction of the arm. The
approximately center portion 24 does not have a fixed width but
is tapered in correspondence with an arm which is generally tapered
from the shoulder side toward the elbow side. Therefore, at the
time of attachment onto an arm, the wider side of the center portion
24 has to be set on the shoulder side. The user has to see the direction
of the curled elastic member 1D when it is set in the cloth bag
90 of the cuff. Further, one end portion 23 is extended outward
so as to enwind the other end portion 22 inward.
In the curled elastic member 1D, in a manner similar to the curled
elastic member 1C, the rigidity of the narrow portion 21 is reduced.
Consequently, the curled elastic member ID (i.e., the cuff) gets
easily to be twisted, so that it easily fits to an arm of any shape
such as a straight arm or tapered arm.
Since the both end portions 22 and 23 of the curled elastic member
1D are not formed as the narrow portion 21, the rigidity of the
both end portions 22 and 23 does not deteriorate, and the arm can
be securely held by the both end portions 22 and 23. Further, by
not making the both end portions 22 and 23 as the narrow portion
21, as compared with a case such that the both end portions 22 and
23 are also formed as the narrow portion 21, the subject does not
feel strange such that the both end portions 22 and 23 cut into
the flesh of the arm. Obviously, at the time of attachment to an
arm, the one end portion 23 which is the longer one is thrown over
the arm.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are a perspective view and an exploded view, respectively,
of a curled elastic member according to further another embodiment.
This curled elastic member 1E has a narrow portion 31 in which a
width in the axial direction of an arm is partly narrowed between
an approximately center portion 31' in the circumferential direction
of an arm and both end portions 15 and 16, and the portion missed
by narrowing the width to form the narrow portion 31 is a thin portion
32 which is thinner than the narrow portion 31. The narrow portion
31 has a width which gently increases and decreases from the end
portions 15 and 16 toward the center portion 31'. The thin portion
32 exists so as to fill the portion missed by narrowing the width
to form the narrow portion 31. Consequently, the curled elastic
member 1E as a whole has a fixed width. The one end portion 16 is
extended outward so that the other end portion 15 is enwinded inward.
In order to provide the thin portion 32 in the portion missed by
narrowing the width to form the narrow portion 31, for example,
separately the thin portion 32 as a separate member may be joined
to the narrow portion 31 or the portion 32 other than the narrow
portion 31 may be formed thin by cutting, integral molding or the
like at the time of making the whole curled elastic member 1E. The
planar shape pattern of the narrow portion 31 is not limited to
that shown in the drawing but, for example, the pattern of the narrow
portion 21 in the curled elastic member 1D in FIG. 6 may be used.
The curled elastic member 1E is obtained by improving the curled
elastic member 1D. That is, in the case of the form where the portion
missed by the narrow portion 31 exists, when the bladder is inflated,
it is feared that the bladder is inflated from the side (missing
portion) of the narrow portion 31 to the surface side of the cuff
so that the arm cannot be sufficiently pressed, and there is also
the possibility such that, in a process of taking blood pressure
data while changing air pressure, noise occurs due to inflation
from the missing portion to the outside of the bladder, so that
there is the possibility that blood pressure cannot be measured
stably.
However, by forming the missing portion generated due to the narrow
portion 31 as the thin portion 32, while maintaining the effects
of the curled elastic member 1D, the possibilities of the above-mentioned
problems can be also eliminated. That is, by forming the curled
elastic member 1D so as to be fit to any of arms of various shapes
by the both end portions and so as to be easily twisted, an effect
such that the curled elastic member can be easily fit to an arm
of any shape such as a straight arm or tapered arm is obtained.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are a perspective view and a sectional view of
a curled elastic member according to further another embodiment.
This curled elastic member 1F is formed so that its inner circumferential
face 1a is an approximately round shape and an outer circumferential
face 1b has a polygon shape (approximately hexagon herein). With
the structure, the corner portions of the polygon become thick portions
35 and the side portions become thin portions 36. Therefore, the
form in which the thickness is changed is obtained as a result.
Particularly, in a manner similar to the curled elastic members
1C to 1E, the shape can be altered according to variations in the
arm, and the curled elastic member does not easily cut in the arm
and fits the arm very well. Obviously, since the one end portion
28 is extended outward than the other end portion 27, the curled
elastic member is easily attached on the arm.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a curled elastic member according
to further another embodiment. FIGS. 10A and 10B are side views
of the curled elastic member in an uncurled state and in a curled
state, respectively. This curled elastic member 1G is formed by
connecting a plurality of (three herein) elastic pieces 41, 42,
and 43 by hinges. Two coil springs 50 as energizing means are attached
to the respective hinged portions. The elastic pieces 41 and 43
serve as both end portions, and the elastic piece 42 serves as a
center portion. The elastic piece 41 is set longer than the elastic
piece 43 so that an end 43a of the elastic piece 43 is enwinded
inward.
Three hinges as the hinged portions are provided between the elastic
pieces 41 and 42, and between the elastic pieces 42 and 43. The
elastic pieces 41 to 43 can relatively swing around a spindle 55
of each hinged portion as a fulcrum. The coil springs 50 are attached
to supporting portions 51 provided at facing ends of the elastic
pieces 41 to 43. In each of the elastic pieces 41 to 43, a notch
(to which no reference numeral is designated) for receiving the
coil spring 50 is formed.
When the curled elastic member 1G is uncurled by a predetermined
angle or more, the coil spring 50 is energized in the direction
of uncurling the curled elastic member 1G. When the curled elastic
member 1G is curled by a predetermined angle or less, the coil spring
50 is energized in the direction of curling the curled elastic member
1G. That is, as obvious from FIGS. 10A and 10B, when the coil spring
50 is positioned on the outer side than the spindle 55 as a fulcrum
of each of the elastic pieces 41 to 43, the energizing force acts
in the direction of uncurling the curled elastic member 1G (FIG.
10A). When the coil spring 50 is positioned on the inner side than
the spindle 55, the energizing force acts in the direction of curling
the elastic member 1G (FIG. 10B). However, the curled elastic member
1G is usually in the closed state as shown in FIG. 10B.
When the curled elastic member 1G is attached on an arm, the end
portion 41a of the long elastic piece 41 is thrown over the arm
and, in such a state, the curled elastic member 1G is uncurled outward
at a predetermined angle or more. By the energizing force of the
coil spring 50, the curled elastic member 1G naturally enters a
maximum uncurled state. When the elastic member 1G is set in a predetermined
region of an arm and is curled at a predetermined angle or more,
the elastic member 1G is naturally curled by the energizing force
of the coil spring 50, and is fit to the arm with a proper pressing
force.
As described above, the cuff for the blood pressure monitor of
the present invention has the curled elastic member in a peculiar
form. Consequently, the cuff can be easily attached to an arm. When
the cuff is attached to an arm, the end portions do not easily cut
in the flesh of the arm, so that the subject does not feel pain.
The shape of the cuff can be altered in correspondence with variations
in arms, so that the cuff fits to an arm excellently. |