Blood Pressure Machines

I am sure you have encountered or even heard of incidences of someone having blood pressure complications. Blood pressure is a severe condition that requires attention as it might lead to severe injuries or even death if not medically addressed in time. Diseases like heart attack, stroke, or even heart failure relate to blood pressure. As individual ages, usually, more predisposed to such conditions. You do not want to take chances by ignoring monitoring your blood pressure occasionally.

Brief History

In 1881, Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter Von Basch engineered the first-ever model of blood pressure monitor in the history of its existence. His version composed of a rubber bulb and a mercury column. The rubber bulb contained water to its fullest, thereby impeding flow in the artery. The rubber bulb would convert the pulse into a mercury column that gauged the readings in millimetres. The technique took some improvement in 1896 when Scipione Riva – Rocci came up with a sphygmomanometer that wraps around the arm. The design became the standard look of the blood pressure gauge device in the next centuries. In 1905, a Russian physician named Nikolai Korotkov came up with the idea that differentiated the different types of blood pressure: Systolic and Diastolic blood pressures. The main contrasts between two are the sounds that emanated from the arteries during the release and exertion of tension. With further improvements from 1905, the current blood pressure meter is quite advanced and uses not only mercury but also aneroid and electricity.

Overview

How do you keep your blood pressure in check? You can always measure your blood pressure by using a blood pressure machine (sphygmomanometer). The device which sometimes people refer to as blood pressure meter measures the body’s blood pressure. All BP machines follow the same principles and protocols but different techniques (depending on the machine’s type). During the operation, BP units detect two kinds of pressure: systolic (contraction) and diastolic (rest). The results, this phenomenon is interpreted by using units in millimetres of mercury. As per the WHO (World Health Organization), the ideal numbers are (Systolic)120mmHg over (Diastolic)80mmHg.

Types, Operations and Specifications

• Manual Blood Pressure Machines.

Common Brands: Welch Allyn, ADC, Paramed, Seca, Riester

Main parts: Hand Cuff, Tubing, Gauge (Portable or Wall Mounted), Inflation Bulb and Stethoscope

Blood Pressure Cuff Sizes: Infant, Child, Adult and Large Adult

Technique: User/Practitioner finds artery (brachial) on the patient’s hand and places the cuff so that the marker matches the artery, firmly wrap the cuff around. Stethoscope is placed on detected artery. Now inflation bulb must be inflated to a particular value (approximately 40mmHg higher than the actual patient’s pressure). Once the amount is reached, the pressure should be slowly released by using the knob located on the inflation bulb (drop should not exceed 2-4mmHg per second). Systolic pressure is detected when the first bumping noise is heard. Diastolic pressure is detected when the aforementioned bumping noise disappears.

Most common problems: Leak within the system, Worn blood pressure cuffs, Damaged gauge, Loose connectors, Inaccurate readings.

• Digital/Electronic Blood Pressure machines.

Common Brands: Welch Allyn, ADC, Omron, BIOS, MicroLife, Life Source

Main parts: Hand Cuff, Tubing, Operation Block (Display, Battery, Pump).

Blood Pressure Cuff Sizes: Infant, Child, Adult and Large Adult

Technique: User/Practitioner finds artery (brachial) on the patient’s hand and places the cuff so that the marker matches the artery, firmly wrap the cuff around. Operation block usually equipped with the screen and few control buttons. Now start button must be pressed, and the unit automatically inflates to a particular value (approximately 40mmHg higher than the actual patient’s pressure). Once the amount is reached, the pressure should be automatically released Systolic pressure is detected when first bumping noise is heard. Approximately after 20-30 seconds, the display shows the expected values.

Most common problems: Leak within the system, Worn blood pressure cuffs, Damaged control block, Loose connectors, Inaccurate readings, Faulty batteries.

TRH Services Preventative Maintenance Protocol

TRH Services is proud to provide only highly trained and certified Biomedical Engineering Technologists. Previous experience shows 100% positive results by detecting and fixing any blood pressure machine failures in time. Statistics show the prolonged lifespan of any medical devices that were professionally inspected by TRH Services technicians. Our specialists use modern software to generate advance test reports explicitly designed for the tested equipment type (over a thousand combinations). General Blood Pressure Machine requires the following steps to be compliant:

• Physical Inspection (Includes all the related parts)
• Battery Tests (Voltage and Expiration Date)
• Leak Tests (Internal or External)
• Accuracy Tests (Up to ±1mmHg)
• Time Tests (Up to ±1 second)
• System Tests (Software Update, Date/Daylight saving Time)

To generate such an advanced test report, TRH Services uses only certified biomedical testing equipment such as Patient Simulator that capable of imitating a wide range of accurate blood pressure readings. All units that are tested are marked with TRH Services Preventative Maintenance (PM) Label.  The PM label plays an essential role by providing all the required information about the service provider, Biomedical Engineering Technologist initials, date of inspection and, of course, a highly prestige name on any tested machine.

For more details on TRH Services blood pressure machine equipment servicing, call 519-893-9488 or email info@trhservices.ca

Here is a brief listing of some of the common blood pressure units that we work on:

Written by: Jan Kara

Edited by: Tyler Hasenpflug CET