Sphygmograph

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Table of Contents
DEFINITION

A sphygmograph is an instrument consisting of a lever, the short end of which rests on the radial artery at the wrist, and the long end being provided with a stylet that records on a moving ribbon of paper the movements, form, and force of the arterial pulse[1].

INVENTION

The German physiologist Karl von Vierordt invented[2] the sphygmograph in 1854 after looking for a way to measure arterial pressure non-invasively. Previous apparatuses for measuring arterial pressure required perforating the desired artery to measure the blood pressure directly. Here is a drawing[3] of Vierordt’s sphygmograph:

Here is an animation of Vierordt’s sphygmograph in action:

Here is an original[2] sphygmogram taken by Karl von Vierordt’s sphygmograph:

Here is a photograph[4] of an improved sphygmograph devised by the Scottish homepath Robert Ellis Dudgeon in 1882; the working principles remain the same:

INVENTOR

Here is a portrait[5] of Karl von Vierordt:

1818-1884

SOURCES
  1. https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/sphygmograph
  2. https://books.google.ae/books?id=ulE_AAAAcAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s, pages 284–287.
  3. https://books.google.ae/books?id=3-4z7ZVJfW0C&source=gbs_navlinks_s, page 210.
  4. https://agentgallery.com/objects/c1890-dudgeon-sphygmograph-blood-pressure-recorder
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_von_Vierordt