That old standby for measuring blood pressure — the inflating arm “cuff” — may soon go the way of the iron lung.

Researchers at Monash University have developed a new wearable device that uses only a few small sensors placed on the body to blood pressure as effectively as the 100-year-old cuff.

Known as “cuffless blood pressure estimation,” the device is user-friendly and convenient for patients, and offers the advantage of unobtrusive, continuous monitoring, said associate professor Mehmet Yuce, a biomedical engineer who helped create the device, Medical Xpress reports.

"Unlike current products, this cuffless blood pressure monitor is intended to be worn all the time, even while sleeping. The goal is to be able to provide monitoring for a continuous 24-hour period, and to be able to send that information to a doctor in real time," Yuce said.

Yuce's team has patented the model and is refining it so it will be easy to wear and, with wireless connectivity, will be able to instantaneously communicate blood pressure results to doctors over the internet.