[A noninvasive method for radial pulse-wave velocity and the determinants of pulse-wave velocity]

An effective experimental method has been proposed and used to determine the pulse-wave velocity (PWV) of 257 radial pulse signals. Experimental results show that, compared with the normal pulse, the wiry pulse has an increased PWV(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), the thready pulse has a decreased PWV(P < 0.05), but the PWV of the smooth pulse is not significantly different from the normal's (P > 0.05). PWV highly correlates with the artery blood pressure. The possible determinants of PWV are analyzed and discussed in reference to clinical diagnosis.