Extracting new information from the shape of the blood pressure pulse

Presented is a model which characterizes the shape of the blood pressure pulse in terms of the mechanical properties of the arterial system. The feasibility of extracting useful physiologic information from the waveform is examined. The responses of five healthy subjects to the Valsalva maneuver have been studied. The waveshape changes during the different phases of the maneuver were consistent in all subjects, showing increased oscillatory behavior during the strain phase. The model attributed the shape changes primarily to an increase in peripheral resistance and a decrease in distal compliance. It is concluded that the blood pressure waveshape carries significant physiologic information and that this model may be useful for extracting this information. In particular, this technique may provide a method for the non-invasive monitoring of beat-by-beat changes in peripheral vascular resistance