NONINVASIVE ASSESSMENT OF WHOLE ARM ARTERIAL ELASTIC PROPERTIES IN HUMANS.

Knowledge of elastic properties of arteries and the vasoactive states of their vascular beds are critical for the diagnosis of peripheral vascular diseases. For routine diagnosis, noninvasive methods are preferred. The present investigation utilizes pulse transmission theories to establish a noninvasive technique for estimation of elastic properties of the human arm arteries. Carotid and radial arterial pulse pressure waveforms were measured simultaneously by bonded wire strain gage transducers in three healthy normal adults. Results show promise for clinical applications in the detection and assessment of vascular diseases.