Apple has filed for a patent (number 20180153418) for “cuff design and methods.” It hints at a blood pressure management system, although I don’t actually think the tech giant will make its own.
In the patent filing, Apple notes that blood pressure systems or kits are often configured with inflatable cuffs that are designed for detecting changes in pressure at either the upper arm via the brachial artery, or at the wrist via the radial artery. Cuffs are typically configured to accurately measure blood pressures in a limited range of limb sizes, and limbs that fall under or above the intended limb size may underestimate or overestimate the actual blood pressure, respectively.
The cuffs of such systems are configured to have a width that is about 40% of the intended arm circumference and a length of about 80% the intended arm circumference. Smaller cuffs may have difficulty sensing the pressure signals due to placement variations and the smaller contact surface area of the cuff. Apple apparently thinks it has a better idea, although, as I said, I suspect the company would work with a third party on such an invention rather than making its own. But it’s Apple, so who knows?
Here’s the summary of the invention: “A low-profile blood pressure measurement system and methods of use are disclosed. The system includes an expandable member or structure that has a multi-compartment structure and/or is mounted on a rigid surface or structure. The system is incorporated into a portable multi-function device, or is configured to communicate with a portable multi-function device.”
Of course, Apple files for — and is granted — lots of patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Many are for inventions that never see the light of day. However, you never can tell which ones will materialize in a real product.
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