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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/N025342/1
Title: Accurate blood pressure measurement
Principal Investigator: Murray, Professor A
Other Investigators:
Griffiths, Dr CJ Neasham, Mr JA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
A.C. Cossor & Son (Surgical) Ltd
Department: Sch of Engineering
Organisation: Newcastle University
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 July 2016 Ends: 31 July 2019 Value (£): 299,505
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. Med.Instrument.Device& Equip.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Healthcare
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
16 Feb 2016 Healthcare Impact Partnerships 2015/2016 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The current clinical problem: raised arterial blood pressure (hypertension) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Cardiovascular disease causes 17 million deaths per annum globally with complications arising from high blood pressure accounting for 9.4 million, split evenly between stroke and heart disease (World Health Organization, Global Status Report on non-communicable diseases 2014, "Attaining the nine global non-communicable diseases targets; a shared responsibility"). The WHO reported that 'Cardiovascular disease causes more than half of all deaths across the European Region'. The first important step in correctly diagnosing hypertension is in the accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP). This research project will result in an effective diagnostic device that will have the potential to displace all current devices on the market.

There is a worldwide need for accurate blood pressure measurement. The "gold standard" is the manual method, with an experienced clinician listening to the stethoscope Korotkoff sounds and viewing a cuff pressure scale. However, this is increasingly being underused because of the training needed and the time required for the measurement in busy clinics, and is almost never used for self measurement at home. The current undesirable move to replace manual by automated devices (they all unfortunately use the oscillometric technique) can result in radically different measurements on the same patient for different devices. Inaccurate measurement is such a problem that the UK Department of Health has had to issue several Warning Notices about current automated devices.

The aim of our research is to develop a novel technique for accurately and automatically measuring blood pressure. Our previous EPSRC research made observations that are now the basis of this proposed research, and were sufficiently novel to enable a patent application.

Working with our Industrial Partner will enable this research development to be taken to a marketable product available for hospital or home use.

The ultimate benefit will be for patients and clinicians who will be able to diagnose high blood pressure and monitor treatment more effectively than now. Since the technology is a radically new departure it will open up avenues for academic research in engineering and clinical medicine.

Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
Date Materialised
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk