Oszcillometrikus

Oszcillometrikus is a Hungarian term referring to oscillometric measurement. This method is commonly employed in non-invasive blood pressure monitoring devices. Instead of listening for Korotkoff sounds with a stethoscope, oscillometric devices detect the oscillations in blood flow within an artery as a cuff deflates.

When the cuff is inflated, it compresses the artery, stopping blood flow. As the cuff slowly deflates, blood flow begins to return. The oscillations in pressure within the cuff correspond to the pulsations of the artery. These oscillations are detected by a pressure sensor. Initially, the oscillations are small as blood flow is just starting. As the cuff pressure approaches the systolic pressure, the oscillations become more pronounced. They reach their maximum amplitude when the cuff pressure is close to the mean arterial pressure. As the cuff pressure continues to decrease towards the diastolic pressure, the oscillations diminish and eventually disappear.

Algorithms within the oscillometric device analyze the pattern and amplitude of these oscillations to estimate the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures. This method has become widely adopted in automated blood pressure monitors due to its ease of use and the ability to function without a trained operator to listen for sounds. It is found in many home blood pressure monitors, hospital vital sign monitors, and even in some veterinary devices.