New blood pressure monitoring equipment

Tag : Aneroid Sphygmomanometer

May be bulky to carry. Mercury spills can be hazardous. Must be kept upright on a flat surface during measurement; thegauge must be read at eye level for accuracy. May not work well for the hearing or visually impaired or for thoseunable to perform the hand movement needed to squeeze the bulb andinflate the cuff.

Aneroid equipment — This is often inexpensive, lightweight andmore portable than mercury sphygmomanometers. The aneroid gaugewill work in any position if the reader is able to view itdirectly. Some models have an easy-to-read, extra large gauge;D-ring cuff for one-handed application; built-in or attachedstethoscope; and a self-bleeding deflation valve for increasedreading accuracy.
 
Disadvantages include:
Has a delicate and complicated mechanism. Less accurate than mercury sphygmomanometers and requirescalibrating at least once a year or when dropped or bumped. Can be easily damaged without the user's knowledge and requiresfactory repair and readjustment. Gauge can be clumsy to position, and without a D-ring cuff can bedifficult to apply by oneself. May not work well for the hearing or visually impaired or for thoseunable to perform the hand movement needed to squeeze the bulb andinflate the cuff.
 
Automatic equipment — This is contained in one unit, so it'seasier to handle than systems with a separate gauge andstethoscope. It's easy to use, minimizes human error and is goodfor people with hearing or vision loss. Most units are veryportable and have a D-ring cuff for one-handed application. Thecuff may fit around the wrist or arm. More expensive models haveautomatic inflation and deflation systems; large, easy-to-readdigital display and error indicator; reading printouts; andbuilt-in pulse (heart rate) measurement.