Skip Navigation

Cardiovascular Research 1998 38(3):605-616; doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(98)00067-4
© 1998 by European Society of Cardiology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Imholz, B. P.M.
Right arrow Articles by Wesseling, K. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Imholz, B. P.M.
Right arrow Articles by Wesseling, K. H.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Copyright © 1998, European Society of Cardiology

Fifteen years experience with finger arterial pressure monitoring:

assessment of the technology

Ben P.M. Imholza,*, Wouter Wielinga, Gert A. van Montfransa and Karel H. Wesselingb

aDepartment of Internal Medicine, F4-222, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
bTNO-Biomedical Instrumentation, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands

* Corresponding author. Present address: Department of Internal Medicine, TweeSteden Ziekenhuis, Locatie Waalwijk, P.O. Box 90107, 5000 LA Tilburg, Netherlands. Tel.: +31 (416) 682222; fax: +31 (416) 342220.

We review the Finapres technology, embodied in several TNO-prototypes and in the Ohmeda 2300 and 2300e Finapres NIBP. Finapres is an acronym for FINger Arterial PRESsure, the device delivers a continuous finger arterial pressure waveform. Many papers report on the accuracy of the device in comparison with intra-arterial or with noninvasive but intermittent blood pressure measurements. We compiled the results of 43 such papers and found systolic, diastolic and mean accuracies, in this order, ranging from –48 to 30 mmHg, from –20 to 18 mmHg, and from –13 to 25 mmHg. Weighted for the number of subjects included pooled accuracies were –0.8 (SD 11.9), –1.6 (8.3) and –1.6 (7.6) mmHg respectively. Subdividing the pooled group according to criteria such as reference blood pressure, place of application, and prototype or commercial device we found no significant differences in mean differences or SD. Measurement at the finger allows uninterrupted recordings of long duration. The transmission of the pressure pulse along the arm arteries, however, causes distortion of the pulse waveform and depression of the mean blood pressure level. These effects can be reduced by appropriate filtering, and upper arm ‘return-to-flow’ calibration to bring accuracy and precision within AAMI limits. For the assessment of beat-to-beat changes in blood pressure and assessment of blood pressure variability Finapres proved a reliable alternative for invasive measurements when mean and diastolic pressures are concerned. Differences in systolic pressure are larger and reach statistical significance but are not of clinical relevance. Finger arteries are affected by contraction and dilatation in relation to psychological and physical (heat, cold, blood loss, orthostasis) stress. Effects of these phenomena are reduced by the built-in Physiocal algorithm. However, full smooth muscle contraction should be avoided in the awake patient by comforting the patient, and covering the hand. Arterial state can be monitored by observing the behaviour of the Physiocal algorithm. We conclude that Finapres accuracy and precision usually suffice for reliable tracking of changes in blood pressure. Diagnostic accuracy may be achieved with future application of corrective measures.

KEYWORDS Finapres; Technology assessment; Accuracy; Precision; Tracking ability


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Age AgeingHome page
J. T. Groothuis, D. H. J. Thijssen, M. Kooijman, R. Paulus, and M. T. E. Hopman
Attenuated peripheral vasoconstriction during an orthostatic challenge in older men
Age Ageing, October 1, 2008; (2008) afn195v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Behav ModifHome page
S. van Well, A. M. Kolk, and I. G. Klugkist
Effects of Sex, Gender Role Identification, and Gender Relevance of Two Types of Stressors on Cardiovascular and Subjective Responses: Sex and Gender Match and Mismatch Effects
Behav Modif, July 1, 2008; 32(4): 427 - 449.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
C. H. Manisty, K. Willson, J. E. R. Davies, Z. I. Whinnett, R. Baruah, Y. Mebrate, P. Kanagaratnam, N. S. Peters, A. D. Hughes, J. Mayet, et al.
Induction of oscillatory ventilation pattern using dynamic modulation of heart rate through a pacemaker
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2008; 295(1): R219 - R227.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
B. Verheyden, H. Ector, A. E. Aubert, and T. Reybrouck
Tilt training increases the vasoconstrictor reserve in patients with neurally mediated syncope evoked by head-up tilt testing
Eur. Heart J., June 2, 2008; 29(12): 1523 - 1530.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]



Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.