PISCATAWAY, N.J., USA, 9 January 2007 The IEEE has begun work on
the first independent standard for evaluating and calibrating cuffless devices
that measure blood pressure (BP). The standard, IEEE P1708(TM), Standard for Wearable
Cuffless Blood Pressure Measuring Devices”, will help manufacturers qualify
and validate their products and potential purchasers evaluate and select these
devices.
Existing standards for conventional cuff-based devices cannot be
used for cuffless systems because they rely on different measurement methods.
Cuffless methods, such as placing electrodes on the body to collect bioelectric
signals, allow for noninvasive systems that are small, low in power use, cost-effective
and durable.
Cuffless, wearable BP devices, which can provide short-term,
long-term, snapshot, continuous and beat-to-beat measurements, are often calibrated
by stethoscope and mercury sphygmomanometer. Since human calibration is vulnerable
to error, there is a need for a standard based on automated technology.
IEEE
P1708 is sponsored by the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.
About
the IEEE Standards Association The IEEE Standards Association, a globally
recognized standards-setting body, develops consensus standards through an open
process that brings diverse parts of an industry together. These standards set
specifications and procedures based on current scientific consensus. The IEEE-SA
has a portfolio of more than 870 completed standards and more than 400 standards
in development. For information on IEEE-SA see: http://standards.ieee.org/.
About the IEEE The IEEE has more than 375,000 members in approximately
150 countries. Through its members, the organization is a leading authority on
areas ranging from aerospace, computers and telecommunications to biomedicine,
electric power and consumer electronics. The IEEE produces nearly 30 percent of
the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering, computing
and control technology fields. This nonprofit organization also sponsors or cosponsors
more than 300 technical conferences each year. Additional information about the
IEEE can be found at http://www.ieee.org.
