Portable blood pressure monitors are a common medical device used for clinical and home monitoring purposes. The oscillometric method is the most common method for measuring blood pressure today. In the oscilometric method, the intra-arterial pulsation is transmitted via cuff to transducer while systolic and diastolic pressure are estimated from the amplitudes of the oscillation by using an empirical algorithm. Modern blood pressure monitors typically include a pressure sensor that transmits a signal that must be amplified and filtered before being sent into an ADC. Typical blood pressure monitors will also include a heart rate timer, a safety timer, a display, and Pneumatic control. Blood pressure monitors are typically battery powered, therefore low power consumption is also a key design consideration.
PSoC provides all the required circuitry to control a portable blood pressure monitor with a single chip, integrated solution. This includes controlling the actuators for inflating and deflating the cuff, the analog circuitry required for reading the pressure sensors, timers, user interface and display. PSoC also provides the opportunity for users to implement value-add features such as CapSense, USB, and Made for iPod support.