AN AUSCULTATORY TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING THE DIGITAL BLOOD PRESSURE

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Abstract
The digital systolic and diastolic blood pressures in human subjects were estimated by means of an auscultatory technique similar to the clinical auscultatory method of measuring brachial blood pressure. The stethoscope was modified by substituting a digital plethysmograph (into which the finger was sealed) for the usual diaphragm. Korotkoff sounds were heard through the stethoscope as a pneumatic cuff around the base of the finger was deflated from a suprasystolic level. In comparison of this method with the plethysmographic method of measuring digital systolic pressure and with a method involving direct observation of resumption of blood flow in capillary loops of the nailfold as an end point when a cuff on the finger was deflated from a suprasystolic level, it was found that the first sound is as reliable an index of systolic pressure as those used in the other methods.