Noninvasive Continuous Blood Pressure Estimation From Pulse Transit Time: A Review of the Calibration Models

IEEE Rev Biomed Eng. 2022:15:138-151. doi: 10.1109/RBME.2021.3109643. Epub 2022 Jan 20.

Abstract

Noninvasive continuous blood pressure estimation is a promising alternative to minimally invasive blood pressure measurement using cuff and invasive catheter measurement, because it opens the way to both long-term and continuous blood pressure monitoring in ecological situation. The most current estimation algorithm is based on pulse transit time measurement where at least two measured signals need to be acquired. From the pulse transit time values, it is possible to estimate the continuous blood pressure for each cardiac cycle. This measurement highly depends on arterial properties which are not easily accessible with common measurement techniques; but these properties are needed as input for the estimation algorithm. With every change of input arterial properties, the error in the blood pressure estimation rises, thus a periodic calibration procedure is needed for error minimization. Recent research is focused on simplified constant arterial properties which are not constant over time and uses only linear model based on initial measurement. The elaboration of continuous calibration procedures, independent of recalibration measurement, is the key to improving the accuracy and robustness of noninvasive continuous blood pressure estimation. However, most models in literature are based on linear approximation and we discuss here the need for more complete calibration models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Blood Pressure Determination* / methods
  • Calibration
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Pulse Wave Analysis*