Continuous non-invasive blood pressure measurement apparatus and methods providing automatic recalibration

1. A method for operating a blood pressure measurement system, comprising:

activating a blood pressure detector to obtain a first blood pressure measurement of a subject;

detecting, by a pulse oximetry sensor, a pulse wave signal from the subject comprising a plurality of individual pulses;

determining, using a processor, a reference parameter of the pulse wave signal proximate the time of the first blood pressure measurement;

storing, using the processor, the reference parameter as a template;

determining, using the processor, a morphology metric of one or more individual pulses of the pulse wave signal, wherein the morphology metric comprises one of an area of the one or more individual pulses, an amplitude of the one or more individual pulses, a shape of the one or more individual pulses, and a time difference of the one or more individual pulses;

quantifying, using the processor, a difference between the morphology metric and the template; and

triggering the blood pressure detector to obtain a second blood pressure measurement of the subject when the difference passes a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tracking, using the processor, a time duration since the first blood pressure measurement, and triggering the blood pressure detector to obtain the second blood pressure measurement when the difference passes a threshold or when the time duration exceeds a limit.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the morphology metric is determined from a current group of individual pulses.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating, using the processor, a continuous blood pressure measurement after the first blood pressure measurement and before the second blood pressure measurement.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein calculating the continuous blood pressure measurement comprises calculating blood pressure from a differential pulse transit time.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising re-calibrating, using the processor, the continuous blood pressure measurement by adjusting the calculation of the differential pulse transit time, based on the morphology metric of the pulse wave signal.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting, using the processor, the threshold or the difference based on a sensitivity factor.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically updating, using the processor, the template.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the template comprises a reference pulse wave.

10. A method for operating a blood pressure measurement system, comprising:

activating a blood pressure detector to obtain a first blood pressure measurement of a subject;

detecting, by a pulse oximetry sensor, a pulsatile signal from the subject, the pulsatile signal comprising a plurality of pulses;

determining, using a processor, first and second reference parameters of the pulsatile signal proximate the time of the first blood pressure measurement;

determining, using the processor, first and second morphology parameters of the plurality of pulses, wherein each of the first and second morphology metric parameters comprises one of: an area of the one or more individual pulses, an amplitude of the one or more individual pulses, a shape of the one or more individual pulses, and a time difference of the one or more individual pulses;

comparing, using the processor, the first morphology parameter to the first reference parameter, and the second morphology parameter to the second reference parameter;

evaluating, using the processor, a new measurement condition based on the comparisons; and

when the new measurement condition is satisfied, triggering the blood pressure detector to obtain a second blood pressure measurement of the subject.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein evaluating the new measurement condition comprises performing a logical OR operation of the first and second comparisons.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining, using the processor, a time duration since the first blood pressure measurement, and satisfying the new measurement condition when the time duration passes a limit.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising calculating, using the processor, a continuous blood pressure measurement after the first blood pressure measurement, based at least in part on the pulsatile signal.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising applying, using the processor, a sensitivity factor to one or more of the comparisons.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising monitoring, using the processor, the pulsatile signal for an indication of motion, and wherein evaluating the new measurement condition comprises finding the new measurement condition to be unsatisfied when the indication of motion is present.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein comparing the first and second morphology parameters to the first and second reference parameters, respectively, comprises quantifying a difference between the first morphology parameter and the first reference parameter and quantifying a difference between the second morphology parameter and the second reference parameter.

17. A method for operating a blood pressure measurement system, comprising:

detecting, using a pulse oximetry sensor, a pulse wave signal of a subject;

monitoring, using a processor, a morphology characteristic of the pulse wave signal over time, wherein the morphology characteristic comprises one of an area of a pulse, an amplitude of a pulse, a shape of a portion of a pulse, and a time difference between first and second portions of a pulse;

storing, using the processor, a reference characteristic of the pulse wave signal;

comparing, using the processor, the monitored characteristic to the reference characteristic;

evaluating, using the processor, a new measurement condition based on the comparison; and

triggering a blood pressure detector to obtain a blood pressure measurement when the new measurement condition is satisfied.