Some perspectives of continuous arterial blood pressure measurements: from kymograph to tonoarteriographic imaging

Abstract

The measurement and monitoring of continuous arterial blood pressure (BP) have undergone significant evolution over the past 170 years, transitioning from ancient invasive approaches, like kymograph, to modern non-invasive and unobtrusive technologies such as tonoarteriography (TAG). This progressive shift has revolutionized the way we track BP, providing safer, more accurate, and convenient methods for monitoring BP. This paper aims to provide some historical perspectives on the development of continuous BP technology, highlight key milestones that have shaped the field, discuss the state-of-the-art two-dimensional TAG imaging, and address challenges for future unobtrusive BP measurements. In addition to presenting a concise review of the progression of continuous BP measurement technologies, this article also emphasizes the importance of adopting more precise, convenient and affordable approaches for personalized BP monitoring at home and patient care optimizations at hospitals, thereby empowering healthcare professionals to enhance pervasive hypertension management anywhere.