Assessing endothelial function using a blood pressure cuff

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for assessing endothelial function in a mammal. In certain embodiments the methods involve applying to the artery a substantially constant external pressure that causes the tension in the arterial wall to be reduced, where the pressure is provided via a cuff adjacent to and/or around a region of the mammal's body; determining, over the course of one or more cardiac cycles, changes in pressure in the cuff resulting from cardiac activity of the mammal to establish a baseline value for a parameter related to endothelial function in the mammal; applying a stimulus to the mammal; determining, over the course of one or more cardiac cycles, changes in pressure in the cuff resulting from cardiac activity of the mammal to establish a stimulus-effected value for a parameter related to endothelial function in the mammal; wherein the baseline value is determined from measurements made when the mammal is not substantially effected by the stimulus; and wherein differences in the baseline value and the stimulus-effected value provide a measure of endothelial function in the mammal.