1. Emergence of the
SphygmoCor
• The SphygmoCor is an non-invasive device that
allows for the testing for many different
measures. (1).
• The SphygmoCor can test for:
- Arterial Wall Stiffness
- Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV)
- Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
- Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP)
- Heart Rate (HR)
- Augmentation Index (Aortic) (AI) (1)
• Minimising invasive prodecures, especially in the
elderly, is becoming very popular and more
readily available. (2).
By Simon Hone
Picture Sourced from: AtCor Medical
http://www.atcormedical.com/sphygmoc
or.html
2. Proposed Research
• Research will look at whether the
SphygmoCor is a reliable test for Pulse
Wave Velocity (PWV), Blood Pressure and
Heart Rate (HR) for prevention of
Hypertension, especially in the elderly.
• Will be compared with previous research.
• Hypertension is increasing and is a financial
burden on Australia and the world.
Administration of a SphygmoCor Test
Image Sourced from:
http://www.scanmed.co.uk/products/categories/pulse-
wave-analysis-velocity/sphygmocor-cpv
3. Methods and Techniques
• When administrating a SphygmoCor test for
the PWV of the ascending aortic pressure
wave an arterial tonometer is put on the
wrist.
• A randomised trial of people would be
undertaken to look at whether the
SphygmoCor could predict possible future
cardiovascular disease in individuals.
• Ideally a young, random population would be
looked at to try and see any indicators. Then
several follow up studies in later years would
look at the prevalence of hypertension in the
group and any characteristics that the people
who got hypertension were characterised by.
Various different measurements obtained from a
SphygmoCor Analysis
Sourced from: World Biomedical Fronteirs
http://biomedfrontiers.org/hypertension-2013-sept-20/
4. Importance of the Study
• Cardiovascular Diseases accounted for 38%
of all deaths in 2002 (3) in Australia and with
over 3.7 million Australians over the age of
25 suffering from high blood pressure early
identification and the implementation of
treatment protocols are vital (3).
• The elderly population is at the greatest risk
of having hypertension so being able to find
a way of non-invasively monitoring
hypertension would be ideal.
• Having an early detection could save many
lives as well as decrease the amount of
money needed to then fix the problems.
Increasing levels of hypertension with age
Sourced from: Australian Institute of Health and Wealfare (AIHW)
http://www.aihw.gov.au/TwoColumnWideLeft.aspx?pageid=32212254987
5. Possible Problems with the Study
• The SphygmoCor relies on a large amount of
expertise to be able to perform an accurate
assessment. Thus trained professionals are
needed to run assessments when using the
SphygmoCor.
• Apart from the persons the SphygmoCor has
been shown to provide highly reliable results in
determining arterial pressure ands stiffness and
blood pressure. Sourced from:
http://www.atcormedical.com/patients.html
6. References
• 1- Ring M, Eriksson MJ, Farahnak P, Farnebo LO, Nilsson IL & Caidahl, K,.
2008. Arterial Stiffness Evaluation by SphygmoCor and Arteriograph. Heart,
Lung and Circulation. 17, (3).
• 2-Trace R,. 2009. Less Invasive Spine-Surgery Considered safe for Elderly
Patients. Orthopedics Today. 29, (11).
• 3- Australian Government, Various Authors. 2006. Peripheral arterial
tonometry with ascending aortic waveform analysis using SphygmoCor
system. Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Retrieved from:
http://www.msac.gov.au/internet/msac/publishing.nsf/Content/3F73C8E2
988C1171CA2575AD0082FD31/$File/1079-Assessment-Report.pdf
