History of Blood Pressure Measurement

This led to further work by Scipione Riva-Rocci who, in 1896, developed the prototype of the instrument in use today. The original method of measuring systolic blood pressure, which involved the palpation of the radial pulse, was later modified by Nikolai Korotkoff in 1905. He identified changing sounds that could be heard through a stethoscope held over the brachial artery when the blood pressure cuff was deflated, and used these to provide a measure of systolic and diastolic pressures. This method remains in use today

A later development in the technique of blood pressure measurement led to the advent of apparatus that permitted its measurement over a 24-hour period. This method, introduced in 1962 by Hinman and colleagues, has made it possible to describe the circadian variations of blood pressure that occur in all individuals. Recent research has suggested that 24-hour assessment of blood pressure can facilitate the identification of hypertension in instances where the diagnosis is uncertain.