Zoo Atlanta's Ozzie Helps With Groundbreaking Invention ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Gorillas have a history of heart disease
And high blood pressure is a leading cause of the illness but it's never been clear what's considered normal blood pressure particularly for an ape:

((we don't know what a normal gorilla blood pressure is, because it's always taken under general anesthetics---which can affect the blood pressure))

That's Zoo Atlanta's director of Veterinary Services Dr. Hayley Murphy.
She says now thanks to the Gorilla Tough Cuff invented by Georgia Tech students getting a live blood pressure reading is possible.
PhD candidate Dave Sotto worked on the cuff:

((because of the size of the arm of gorilla..it was designed to be sturdy and not sacrifice any accuracy for blood pressure measurements ))

The next phase according to Dr. Haley was of course getting the cooperation of participant that would be a 3-hundred pound male western lowland gorilla named Ozzie:

((he was really calm and totally trusted his keeper, it was a gradual process of very slowly introducing him to the sleeve and introducing him slight pressures now he doesn't even blink he just does it he knows he gets a good treat"

The Gorilla Tough cuff is already in demand from other zoos.
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