The George E. Brown Memorial Lecture

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Abstract
The principles of digital rheoplethysmography, which records simultaneously the time course of the volume, rate, and acceleration of inflow, outflow, and difference between inflow and outflow for a single pulse cycle, as well as the basal rate of flow are briefly summarized. The mean rate of flow during a single pulse cycle is readily obtainable. The method introduces a new approach to a quantitative analysis of the peripheral circulation of intact man. A specially constructed electro-rheo-plethysmograph permits simultaneous recording of 9 traces and reduces considerably the need for manual construction of curves and calculation of data. Rheoplethysmography permits a study of normal and abnormal physiologic states of the peripheral circulation, with its pharmacologic responses, in intact man and makes possible simultaneous study of the arterial and venous sides of the circulation. It can be applied to organs other than the digits of man.