One smart arm cuff that measures blood pressure, heart pumping strength, and blood flow
Smart Cuff: Multi-Parameter Hemodynamic Monitoring via a Single Convenient Device
A new smart arm cuff will measure blood pressure, how strongly the heart pumps, and blood flow for people having surgery or in intensive care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11263684 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear an arm cuff that records the detailed pressure waveform each time it inflates and deflates. The team will record those cuff waveforms at the same time as standard clinical monitors so they can train smart algorithms to compute blood pressure, cardiac output, and ejection fraction from the cuff signal. The device will actively control cuff pressure and run the algorithms in real time. Finally, the smart cuff's readings will be compared to reliable reference monitors in patients to confirm accuracy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults undergoing surgery or receiving intensive care monitoring where detailed blood pressure and cardiac function measurements are needed are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: People not hospitalized (outpatients), children, or patients whose arm anatomy or severe arrhythmias prevent reliable cuff measurements may not benefit from this device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, a single noninvasive cuff could let clinicians monitor multiple key heart and blood flow measures more conveniently and quickly, helping detect and treat low blood pressure or shock sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Pulse-wave and cuff-based algorithms have shown promise for blood pressure and some cardiac output estimates, but using a cuff to estimate ejection fraction in patients is largely novel and less proven.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mahajan, Aman — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Mahajan, Aman
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.