Arterial Tonometer
Arterial tonometry is a technique for blood-pressure measurement in which an array of pressure sensors is pressed against the skin over an artery. In close collaboration with our licensee, SRI engineers developed two tonometers for hospital applications. Each is a measurement system that includes a miniature array of 31 micromachined pressure transducers; a support structure with at least two independent degrees of freedom for positioning the sensor properly; data acquisition for the 31 pressure signals; and a multiprocessor system for data reduction, the operator interface, and display generation.

The primary application for these instruments is blood-pressure monitoring during surgery; but the instruments also have unique advantages for certain applications in medical, space travel, and psychological research.