Development of easy measurement device for screening of arterial sclerosis of lower limbs

Abstract

In order to prevent and treat arterial sclerosis, a quantitative measurement method is required. The measurement results in daily environment give important information for diagnosis and treatment. In medical institutions, pulse wave velocity (PWV) is used for screening of arterial sclerosis. However, a measurement device for daily environment was yet to be developed. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to develop an easy to use device for PWV measurement in order to perform the screening index of arterial sclerosis for daily use, and to confirm a relationship between PWV that measured with our device and the existing index for screening. We proposed using only an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a photoplethysmogram (PPTG) for the PWV measurement in order to develop an easy to use device. And the device used wireless communication in order to be the least restraintful as possible. We carried out two experiments with the device. An experiment is to confirm the measurement accuracy. Another is to confirm the relationship between the PWV and the existing index. As a result of the experiment of the measurement accuracy on 8 subjects, the average of the coefficient of variation was 2.34%. And result of the experiment of the relationship on 28 subjects showed a significant correlation (r=0.707, p<0.001) between the PWV and existing index for screening. Hence, we developed the easy to use and non-restraint device and the device was able to measure the PWV with high accuracy, conformed by the high correlation with existing index. © 2013 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.