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Noninvasive automatic measurement of arterial elasticity in human fingers and rabbit forelegs using photoelectric plethysmography

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Abstract

A new instrument for the noninvasive measurement of arterial elastic properties such as ‘pressure-volume relationship’ and ‘volume elastic modulus’ in human fingers or in rabbit forelegs has been designed using a transmittance infra-red photoelectric plethysmography technique. The measurement and display of the results by this system is carried out automatically by use of a conventional personal computer. Using this instrument, the progressive and regressive changes in arterial elastic properties have been clearly demonstrated in the forelegs of hyperlipoedemic rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis. The effect of vasodilation by isosorbide dinitrate on the finger arteries of patients with congestive heart failure was also successfully studied. This instrument is capable of a rapid and reliable measurement of arterial elasticity and appears to be useful not only in basic cardiovascular research laboratories but also in clinics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Research Institute of Applied Electricity, Hokkaido University, Nishi 6 chome, kita 12 jyo, Kita-ku, 060, Sapporo, Japan

    A. Kawarada, K. Yamakoshi & A. Kamiya

  2. Department of Physiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Japan

    H. Shimazu

Authors
  1. A. Kawarada
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  2. H. Shimazu
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  3. K. Yamakoshi
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  4. A. Kamiya
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Kawarada, A., Shimazu, H., Yamakoshi, K. et al. Noninvasive automatic measurement of arterial elasticity in human fingers and rabbit forelegs using photoelectric plethysmography. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 24, 591–596 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02446261

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02446261

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