Blood-pressure monitoring device featuring a calibration-based analysis

1. A method for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, the method comprising:

simultaneously measuring the patient's arterial blood flow with a monitoring device and a calibration blood pressure with a calibration device to obtain at least one numerical calibration curve describing the patient's blood pressure;

generating an optical waveform based on the flow of blood through an artery of the patient using a vital-sign monitor of the monitoring device, the vital-sign monitor comprising an optical module;

comparing the optical waveform to a mathematical model that describes a primary wave and a reflected wave in a circulatory system of the patient to determine a plurality of calibration parameters describing a blood-pressure value for the patient;

comparing the plurality of calibration parameters to the at least one numerical calibration curve to determine a real-time blood-pressure value for the patient; and

wirelessly transmitting the real-time blood-pressure value for the patient.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of calibration parameters comprises the amplitudes of the primary wave and the reflected wave, the central positions of the primary wave and the reflected wave, and the widths of the primary wave and the reflected wave.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving the real-time blood pressure value for the patient at a hand-held device for transmission over a network.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the calibration device comprises a cuff coupled to an electronic system.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring device further comprises a pulse oximetry circuit.

6. A method for monitoring a patient's real-time blood pressure, the method comprising:

simultaneously measuring the patient's arterial blood flow with a monitoring device and a calibration blood pressure with a calibration device to obtain at least one numerical calibration curve describing the patient's blood pressure;

generating an optical waveform based on the flow of blood through an artery of the patient using the monitoring device, the monitoring device comprising an optical module comprising a light source, a photodetector and a pulse oximetry circuit;

comparing the optical waveform to a mathematical model that describes a primary wave and a reflected wave in a circulatory system of the patient to determine a plurality of calibration parameters describing a blood-pressure value for the patient;

comparing the plurality of calibration parameters to the at least one numerical calibration curve to determine a real-time blood-pressure value for the patient; and

wirelessly transmitting the real-time blood-pressure value for the patient from the monitoring device to a hand-held device.

7. A method for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one numerical calibration curve describing the patient's blood pressure;

generating an optical waveform based on the flow of blood through the patient's artery;

fitting the optical waveform to determine calibration parameters describing a blood-pressure value wherein the fitting comprises comparing the optical waveform to a mathematical model that describes a primary wave and a reflected wave in a circulatory system of the patient;

comparing the calibration parameters to the at least one numerical calibration curve to determine the blood-pressure value; and

wirelessly transmitting the blood-pressure value.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein generating the optical waveform comprises sending a signal corresponding to the patient's arterial blood flow to an analog-to-digital converter which converts the signal into the optical waveform.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein obtaining the at least one numerical calibration curve comprises simultaneously measuring the patient's arterial blood flow with a monitoring device and a calibration blood pressure with a calibration device.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein obtaining the at least one numerical calibration curve further comprises transmitting the calibration blood pressure from the calibration device to the monitoring device.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the calibration blood pressure is wirelessly transmitted from the calibration device using a radio-frequency transceiver operating a wireless protocol based on, part-15, 802.11, or 802.15.4.