Blood-pressure–waveform monitoring without interruptions due to changes in arterial compliance: The use of the vibrational and volume-clamp methods

The arterial–blood-pressure (ABP) waveform can be monitored by the volume-clamp method. The photoplethysmography (PPG) signal is measured and clamped at maximum arterial compliance (PPGcmax) by controlling the external pressure (EP) with a cuff. PPGcmax is determined by the volume-oscillometric method though ABP measurement is regularly interrupted. To overcome this drawback, the vibrational method superimposes high-frequency vibrations on EP and measures the PPG response to estimate the “vibrational” compliance (Cv) and the PPGcmax. This method, though, has never been validated or implemented simultaneously with the volume-clamp method because the control has always been unstable. We implemented a custom-made device with a novel control system, monitoring stability and adapting the gain at high frequencies, plus lower-amplitude EP vibrations. We compared, in eleven volunteers, the EP at PPGcmax determined by the volume-oscillometric and the vibrational methods. Both exhibited a good linear correlation (r2 >0.92) and Bland-Altman agreement (95% confidence interval <15 mmHg). Moreover, in three volunteers, the vibrational and volume-clamp methods were implemented together while experimentally changing the ABP and/or Cv without manifesting control-system instability. Cv measured with the vibrational method could be used by the volume-clamp method to measure the ABP waveform without any interruptions due to changes in arterial compliance.