The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a single
microprocessor-based interface that connects between a noninvasive blood
pressure (NIBP) sensor and an invasive blood pressure (IBP) monitor or
module. The interface effectively emulates an IBP transducer in such a
way that the IBP monitor sees the interface as if it were a regular IBP
transducer from a fluid-filled blood pressure monitoring line. It
receives the signal from an NIBP sensor and determines the blood pressure
corresponding to the signal. It accepts the excitation voltage provided
by the IBP monitor. From the excitation voltage and a known transducer
sensitivity which the IBP monitor is configured to work with, the
interface emulates the IBP transducer output signal corresponding to the
blood pressure. The interface also emulates the input and output
impedances of the IBP transducer which the IBP monitor is configured to
work with. Zeroing of the interface with the IBP monitor can be easily
performed in a way that is similar to that for a fluid-filled system. A
noninvasive system comprising a suitable NIBP sensor and this interface
can be used as an alternative to the fluid-filled monitoring line.