What is SphygmoCor?

(Pronounced si –fig-ma-core)

 SphygmoCor® is the global gold standard technology for assessing the shape of the pulse and the stiffness of the arteries at a person’s heart, to provide critical information that cannot be obtained from the standard cuff blood pressure measurement. 

The SphygmoCor technology is currently featured in AtCor Medical’s latest XCEL device and the Oscar 2, 24-hour monitoring ABPM device by SunTech Medical. AtCor’s SphygmoCor is currently deployed in over 4500 hospital, clinician, research, and specialist practices worldwide and has been the subject of over 1000 studies and publications.

How does it work?

SphygmoCor utilizes a traditional blood pressure cuff to measure brachial blood pressure and also the shape of the pulse waveform in the upper arm. The device uses proprietary software to apply a validated process that transforms the waveform and pressure measured at the arm to the waveform and pressure at the heart. This is important because the pressure at the heart is more powerful than the pressure in the arm for predicting the risk of a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.

SphygmoCor is protected by a number of patents and other intellectual property, which cover both the method and the mathematical process by which the data are collected and processed.

Why is it important?

Central blood pressure represents the pressure that the heart, brain, kidneys, and other central organs are exposed to and is different than the blood pressure measured in the arm, and cannot be predicted using only the pressure at the arm. Research has shown that central blood pressure parameters, due to their proximity to those organs, are more strongly related to changes in heart and kidney function as well as brain health. When patients have better central pressure measures, even if their arm blood pressure is the same, studies have shown that they are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease in the future.

This critical information helps physicians guide management of blood pressure because it provides patient-specific information about what is causing high blood pressure. It helps the physician choose the type of treatment and how much of it is appropriate for a specific individual. This can have significant impact on treatment decisions. In fact, many patients may be over-treated or under-treated when only their arm blood pressure is considered.

In the clinical management of hypertension, SphygmoCor is essential for individualizing care and better informing blood pressure management, ultimately helping physicians get patients to goal more quickly.