the present invention relates to a vascular testing system . more particularly , the present invention relates to a vascular testing system for non - invasive measurement of vascular pressure and flow characteristics in a primary care environment . vascular conditions such as peripheral arterial disease ( pad ) are problematic . in general , and particularly where a patient exhibits one or more symptoms of pad , it is desirable to conduct vascular testing in a primary care environment . pad symptoms are present when patients experience leg pain with exercise , experience leg pain at rest , have a non - healing wound on a foot or leg , or have numbness or discoloration in a foot or leg . in addition , patients over the age of 70 having decreased pedal pulses and patients over the age of 50 who smoke and / or have diabetes and have decreased pedal pulses are at risk for pad . segmental sphygmomanometry is measurement of blood pressures at different portions , or segments , of a patient &# 39 ; s body . bilateral vascular measurements are measurements taken along symmetrical segments of a patient &# 39 ; s body , for instance , left and right ankles , and left and right forearms . segmental sphygmomanometry allows comparisons of blood pressures between segments and between symmetrically paired locations , which can provide information as to conditions of corresponding blood vessels . one important and well - known segmental blood pressure indicator is the ankle - brachial index ( abi ). another vascular test is pulse volume recording ( pvr ). pvr involves the use of pressure cuffs to determine characteristics of blood flow by measuring a volume change in a limb segment . this is achieved by inflating a pressure cuff so that it is sensitive to the swelling and contraction of a limb segment with each heartbeat , but not tight enough to prevent blood flow . in that way blood volume changes per cardiac cycle can be measured . fig1 is an exemplary representation of an arrangement of a vascular testing system 20 . the vascular testing system 20 includes a diagnostic test unit 22 having a single air outlet 24 , and one or more pressure applicators 26 . the diagnostic test unit 22 can be connected to a computer 30 having a display 32 for providing an interface 34 with the vascular testing system 20 . as shown in fig1 , the vascular testing system 20 is utilized in a primary care environment for sensing and testing vascular conditions of a patient 36 . a care provider 38 , such as a lab technician or a primary care physician , can position the one or more pressure applicators 26 along the patient &# 39 ; s 36 body . the one or more pressure applicators 26 are oscillometric pressure cuffs . each of the pressure applicators 26 can be positioned at an exterior location along the patient &# 39 ; s 36 body for sensing vascular pressures at desired vascular locations , such as at toes , ankles , thighs and arms . one or more pressure applicators 26 can be placed on a patient &# 39 ; s 36 body at a time . in the embodiment shown in fig1 , the diagnostic test unit 22 includes a single air outlet 24 such that only one pressure applicator 26 can be connected to the diagnostic test unit 22 at a time . the interface 34 permits display of instructions for guiding the care provider 38 through a process of engagement and disengagement of particular pressure applicators 26 positioned at particular vascular locations , ( such as those shown in fig2 ) to the air outlet 24 of the diagnostic test unit 22 . each of the pressure applicators 26 can be attached to the air outlet 24 of the diagnostic test unit 22 , in fluid communication therebetween . tubing or other suitable connectors can be used to connect each of the pressure applicators 26 to the diagnostic test unit 22 . because the diagnostic test unit 22 has a single air outlet 24 in the embodiment shown in fig1 , only a single pressure applicator 26 is connected to the diagnostic test unit 22 at one time . this minimizes a risk of improper connections , and generally simplifies set - up of the vascular testing system 20 . the diagnostic test unit 22 is capable of continuously streaming raw pressure data to the interface 34 during operation . the diagnostic test unit 22 can be connected to the computer 30 , which can be a pc type desktop or laptop computer . the computer 30 permits , inter alia , collecting , sorting , interpretering , organizing , displaying and transmitting data from the diagnostic test unit 22 . the computer 30 operatively communicates with the interface 34 . generally , the interface 34 permits interaction with the vascular testing system 20 by the care provider 38 . the interface 34 in the primary care environment allows display of measurements sensed by the vascular testing system 20 , such as current pressure reading values and captured waveform data . the interface 34 further allows the care provider 38 to enter patient data to a database , which facilitates coordination of various patient data with information collected as part of vascular testing . the interface 34 can include forms and displays for patient information , insurance information , history / risk factors , visit data , indications of a test , results of a test , interpretation ( this function can be disabled until the test is signed by a qualified diagnosing physician ), and reporting . in addition , the interface 34 can provide suitable appointment , scheduling and billing functionality . in one embodiment , the interface 34 includes software compatible with microsoft windows operating systems . in further embodiments , the interface 34 may include other types of software ( e . g ., software compatible with unix , linux , macintosh , or other operating systems ). the vascular testing system 20 can be connected to the internet , via a modem or other similar device , for communicating with servers and a remote interface . for instance , data collected in the primary care environment can be transmitted over the internet or other network , via file transfer protocol ( ftp ) or other suitable means , to a database server ( not shown ) that in turn communicates with an interface ( not shown ) physically remote from the primary care environment , such as at a specialized vascular laboratory . data can thereby be transmitted , with appropriate compression and / or encryption , between an interface on a technician - side ( e . g ., the interface 34 in the primary care environment ) and a specialist - side interface ( e . g ., an interface in a vascular laboratory ). transmittal of vascular data collected in the primary care environment can be transmitted to a qualified interpreting physician , such as a specialist in an appropriate vascular field , for interpreting the data and making a diagnosis . an internet - compatible vascular testing system can be configured such as that described in u . s . patent application ser . no . 10 / 227 , 770 , entitled system and method for testing for cardiovascular disease , which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety . fig2 is an explementary representation of vascular testing locations , including arm locations 40 l and 40 r , thigh locations 42 l and 42 r , calf locations 44 l and 44 r , ankle locations 46 l and 46 r , and toe locations 48 l and 48 r . segmental pressure testing can be conducted at vascular locations such as the arm locations 40 l and 40 r , the ankle locations 46 l and 46 r , and the toe locations 48 l and 48 r . pvr testing can be conducted at vascular locations such as the thigh locations 42 l and 42 r , the calf locations 44 l and 44 r , and the ankle locations 46 l and 46 r . pressure measurements at particular vascular locations are generally taken over a period of about 15 seconds to about 60 seconds . fig3 is a block diagram of the diagnostic test unit 22 . the diagnostic test unit 22 includes a central processing unit ( cpu ) 70 , reset and supervisory circuitry 72 , non - volatile memory 74 , a bridge 76 , an external connector 78 , a medical power supply 80 , an internal power regulator 82 , and means for controlling pressure in a pressure applicator including a motor driver 84 , an electric motor 86 ( e . g ., a dc motor ), a micro - diaphragm pump 88 , a first valve 90 , a first valve 92 , a proportional valve driver 94 , a variable orifice valve 96 ( e . g ., a proportional valve ), a relief valve 98 , a pressure sensor 100 , and an air outlet 24 . the diagnostic test unit also includes a signal processor 102 . the diagnostic test unit 22 can further include a power entry 104 and an power switch 106 . the reset and supervisory circuitry 72 and non - volatile memory 74 are operatively connected to the cpu 70 . the external connector 78 , which can be a universal serial bus ( usb ) connector , is operatively connected to the cpu 70 via the bridge 76 . the medical power supply 80 provides two distinct supply voltages to the diagnostic test unit 22 ( e . g ., providing voltages of 12 volts and 5 volts ). the medical power supply 80 further supplies power to the internal regulator 82 , which in turn can supply power at a third voltage ( e . g ., 3 . 3 volts ). the electric motor 86 is operatably connected to the mirco - diaphragm pump 88 and to the cpu 70 via the motor driver 84 . the micro - diaphragm pump 88 is in fluid communication with the first valve 92 , which is operatably connected to the cpu 70 via the first valve driver 90 . the variable orifice valve 96 is in fluid communication with the first valve 92 , and is operatably connected to the cpu 70 via the variable orifice valve driver 94 . the relief valve 98 is in fluid communication with the variable orifice valve 96 . the pressure sensor 100 is in fluid communication with the relief valve 98 and the air outlet 24 . the pressure sensor 100 is disposed between the valves 92 , 96 , 98 and the air outlet 24 , and does not contact a patient &# 39 ; s body . further , output from the pressure sensor 100 can be transmitted to the signal processor 102 , which is electrically connected to the cpu 70 . the cpu 70 provides control of functions of the diagnostic test unit 22 , such as actuating the electric motor 86 and controlling valves ( e . g ., the variable orifice valve 96 ). in one embodiment , the cpu 70 is a model hd64f2317 16 bit cpu available from hitachi america , ltd ., brisbane , calif . the external connector 78 permits the diagnostic test unit 22 to be connected to other devices , such as the computer 30 shown in fig1 . the electric motor 86 drives the micro - diaphragm pump 88 to generate a fluid displacement pressure . typically , a fluid displaced by the micro - diaphragm pump 88 is air . the micro - diaphragm pump 88 is connected in fluid communication with a series of one or more valves 92 , 96 , 98 by suitable tubing or the like . a one - way check valve ( not shown ) can be included with the micro - diaphragm pump 88 for preventing fluid flow back through the pump 88 . the first valve 92 is generally positioned adjacent the micro - diaphragm pump 88 . in one embodiment , the first valve 92 is an on / off valve capable of connecting a fluid path to the pressure applicator 26 to either the pump ( i . e ., an “ on ” position ) or to atmosphere ( i . e ., an “ off ” position ). the variable orifice valve 96 is positioned adjacent the first valve 92 and distal to the micro - diaphragm pump 88 . the variable orifice valve 96 has a variable orifice size capable of dynamically changing . in one embodiment , the variable orifice valve 96 is a special proportional valve model ev - p - 10 - 2507 , available from clippard instrument laboratory , inc ., cincinnati , ohio . the relief valve 98 is a mechanical valve positioned adjacent the variable orifice valve 96 and distal to the micro - diaphragm pump 88 . the relief valve 98 facilitates safety monitoring by permitting the vascular testing system 20 to prevent pressure in a pressure applicator from exceeding a maximum value . for example , pressure in a pressure applicator can be prevented from exceeding about 240 millimeters mercury ( mmhg ) ( e . g ., using a 4 . 6 psi relief valve ). the pressure sensor 100 permits measurement of pressures at any pressure applicator connected to the air outlet 24 , thereby allowing measurement of vascular characteristics at a corresponding vascular location . signals from the pressure sensor 100 are transmitted to the signal processor 102 . the signal processor 102 can provide various standard forms of signal processing , such as analog - to - digital conversion , filtering , buffering , and gain adjustments . the signal processor 102 can be an analog signal processor . signals are transmitted from the signal processor 102 to the cpu 70 . additional safety protocol can be used . the first valve 92 can be used to prevent pressures from remaining in the system more than a pre - determined period of time . for example , pressures at and above about 220 mmhg may be allowed only for a period of 5 seconds , and any significant system pressure ( e . g ., a system pressure at and above about 15 mmhg ) may be allowed only for a period of 180 seconds . when pressures remain in the system beyond the desired time period , the first valve 92 can be used to release pressure ( e . g ., vent fluid to the atmosphere ). an exemplary method of obtaining vascular measurements according to the present invention is now described . in operation , one or more pressure applicators or pressure cuffs are positioned at vascular locations at which a vascular pressure measurement is to be performed . an operative pressure cuff is first inflated to a pressure higher than a patient &# 39 ; s systolic blood pressure , which occludes a blood vessel ( i . e ., causes a portion of a blood vessel to collapse and stop blood flow ) at the vascular location . the particular level of pressure to which the operative pressure cuff is inflated is determined by the care provider 38 operating the vascular testing system 20 . after the blood vessel at the vascular location is occluded , pressure in the operative pressure cuff is automatically and gradually lessened . pressure is gradually lessened in a slow , controlled manner ( e . g ., at a rate of about 3 to about 5 mmhg / second ). oscillations in pressure at the operative pressure cuff are caused by the patient &# 39 ; s artery as the pressure in the pressure cuff is gradually decreased . pressure can be decreased in a number of ways , such as by decreasing the pressure supplied by the micro - diaphragm pump 88 or by adjusting the orifice size of the variable orifice valve 96 . in one embodiment , the size of the variable orifice valve 96 is utilized to adjust the applied pressure . the orifice size of the variable orifice valve 96 changes in order to maintain a generally linear decrease in pressure applied to the operative pressure cuff . a fixed orifice valve would exhibit an exponential bleed rate , whereas a generally linear bleed rate is desired . size of the orifice can be controlled with software operative through the cpu 70 . use of the variable orifice valve 96 to control applied pressure at an operative pressure applicator permits pressure readings to be obtained quickly . fig4 is a graph of a cuff pressure signal over time , as cuff pressure is gradually decreased . it is desirable to decrease the cuff pressure in a generally linear manner . oscillations in pressure at the operative pressure cuff are recorded and amplified by the vascular testing system 20 . such oscillations are indicative of blood flow conditions at the vascular location . the cuff pressure signal is adjusted to compensate for the decreasing pressure applied to the operative pressure cuff by the micro - diaphragm pump 88 . generally , this involves removing the ramp - shaped bias signal corresponding to the pressure applied to the operative pressure cuff . fig5 is a graph of result in pressure oscillations in the cuff pressure signal of fig4 after adjustment . calculations , adjustments , and other appropriate data manipulation can generally be accomplished through software . calculations , waveform analysis , and other data manipulation can be accomplished through the computer 30 and software of the interface 34 . in further embodiments , software for performing calculations , etc ., can be operative through the cpu 70 of the diagnostic test unit 22 . fig6 is a graph plotting peak - to - trough pressure amplitude of the pressure oscillations of fig5 versus the corresponding cuff pressure of fig4 . fig6 represents raw data points corresponding to the amplitudes of the pressure oscillations . after the amplitudes of pressure oscillations are collected , a bell - shaped curve is fitted to the raw data points obtained . some noise filtering can occur throughout this process . fig7 is a graph of a bell - shaped curve fitted to the plot of fig6 . a peak amplitude of the curve , a max , is determined . a max is typically determined according the bell - shaped curve , rather than by the raw data points themselves . next , a return of blood flow is determined as a ratio of a max . first , a value a r is identified at a pre - determined percentage ( e . g ., seventy - five percent [ 75 %]) of a max . the value of a r is indicative of a pressure oscillation amplitude at which blood flow returns at the vascular location . next , a cuff pressure p r corresponding to the peak - to - trough amplitude a r , and taken along a higher pressure slope of the curve ( i . e ., the right - hand slope of the curve as shown in fig7 ), is recorded as the patient &# 39 ; s return of blood flow pressure . the pressure p r corresponds to a pressure measurement obtained by care providers using known types of vascular testing equipment ( e . g ., doppler flow sensors ). vascular testing at some vascular locations is facilitated by additional filtering and data processing . for instance , vascular locations on digits , such as on a toe , require the use of relatively small pressure cuffs sized to fit those locations . vascular testing using relatively small pressure cuffs presents significant concerns with signal noise . in such situations , a signal - to - noise ratio is more problematic than for vascular measurements taken with relatively large pressure cuffs used on ankles , arms , etc . methods of digit pressure filtering can be used to alleviate concerns with noise for vascular testing at vascular locations on digits . fig8 is a block diagapham of a digit pressure filtering algorithm . the digit pressure filtering algorithm is useful in taking pressure measurements at a vascular location on a digit ( e . g ., the toe locations 48 l and 48 r shown in fig2 ). as seen in fig8 , an amplified cuff pressure signal is obtained . the amplified cuff pressure signal is also passed through a low pass filter . a bias signal is determined after the amplified cuff pressure signal is filtered . a bleed rate change detector permits detection of a rate of change in applied pressure , as applied pressure is decreased . this permits the vascular testing system 20 to zero out sections of the bias signal where the bleed valve is being adjusted . using the digit pressure filtering algorithm , the vascular testing system 20 can determine an output or resultant pressure . fig9 is a graph of an amplified pressure signal from a vascular location on a digit . this amplified pressure signal is similar to that shown and described with respect to fig4 . fig1 is a graph of a bias signal curve corresponding to the pressure signal of fig9 after filtering . portions of negative flow in the bias signal followed by a window of positive flow are shown in fig1 with a heavy line weight . those weighted portions of the bias signal curve correspond to intervals where the bleed valve is being adjusted , meaning that an orifice size of a variable orifice ( e . g ., proportional ) valve is changing . the orifice size of the variable orifice valve 96 changes in order to maintain a generally linear decrease in pressure applied to the pressure applicator 26 . fig1 is a flow chart of a bleed rate adjustment algorithm . the algorithm shown in fig1 permits opening of the valve more where a bleed rate is too low , and closing the valve more when the bleed rate is too high . in one embodiment , counters are used to increment a counter value when the bleed rate is outside a desired range . when the counter reaches a pre - determined value ( e . g ., 25 ), the variable orifice valve 96 is opened or closed more , as appropriate . fig1 is a graph of resultant cuff pressure oscillations after adjustment . changing the size of the orifice introduces noise signals . adjustment involves removing the bias signal from the amplified pressure signal and zeroing out intervals of bleed valve adjustment ( i . e ., regions of the bias signal curve indicated with a heavy line weight ). the resultant pressure graph of fig1 is similar to that shown in fig5 . a return of flow pressure at the vascular location ( e . g ., the toe locations 48 l and 48 r shown in fig2 ) is then determined in a similar manner to that shown and described with respect to fig6 and 7 . a pressure of return of blood flow , p r , can be determined as a ratio of a peak pressure oscillation amplitude a max , such as at a point a r that is 75 % of a max . a pressure of return of blood flow , p r , obtained using any of the equipment and processes shown and described above can be utilized in diagnoses of vascular conditions . values of p r may differ from systolic pressures . regardless , values of p r can be used in segmental comparisons like the abi , in a manner similar to the systolic pressures traditionally used in the abi . in addition to the testing processes shown and described above , the vascular testing system 20 can further take sphygmomanometric measurements such as systolic , mean and diastolic blood pressures using conventional measurement techniques . such conventional techniques will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art . although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments , workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . for instance , vascular testing locations can include locations on a patient &# 39 ; s body other than those specifically enumerated above .
a vascular sensing system includes blood flow restricting means , a sensor , and means for producing an output representing a return of blood flow after the blood vessel has been temporarily collapsed by the blood flow restricting means . the blood flow restricting means is capable of placement on a human toe having a blood vessel , and is capable of manipulating the blood vessel . the sensor is operably connected to the blood flow restricting means and is physically spaced from the toe . further , a method of vascular sensing includes taking pressure measurements with an pressure cuff positioned on a toe , and conducting a waveform analysis of the pressure measurements to determine a return of blood flow pressure .