Blood Pressure Monitors

 

Reviews
LifeSource Blood Pressure Monitors
LifeSource UA-767 Auto-Inflate Blood Pressure Monitor
LifeSource UB-328 Wrist Auto Inflate Blood Pressure Monitor
Lumiscope Blood Pressure Monitors
Mark of Fitness Blood Pressure Monitors 
Mark of Fitness MF-81 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor 
Omron Elite 7300W Women's Home Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron HEM-432 Manual Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron HEM-711AC Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron HEM-711DLX Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron HEM-712C Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron HEM-773AC Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron HEM-780 Auto-Inflate Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron HEM-790IT Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors
Panasonic Blood Pressure Monitors
Panasonic EW3111W Precise Logic Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor
Samsung Blood Pressure Monitors
WrisTech Blood Pressure Monitor

Articles
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitors - An Introduction
Best Blood Pressure Monitors
Consumer Reports and Blood Pressure Monitors
Guide to Buying the Best Home Blood Pressure Monitor
Home Blood Pressure Monitors - Are They Accurate?
Home Blood Pressure Monitors – Selected Internet Resources
Manual Blood Pressure Monitors
Omron Blood Pressure Monitors - Why Are They So Popular?
Talking Blood Pressure Monitors
Technology Award for LifeSource Telemedicine Blood Pressure Monitors
Welch Allyn Blood Pressure Monitors
Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors - Should I Buy One?

Archive

Matsushita's New Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors
I4U News reports that Matsushita is to launch a new series of "wrist-watch" blood pressure monitors. Initially sales will be in Japan only, with a launch date of February 1st. Three models will be available, all under the "Diagnostic" brand, and the company is targeting total monthly sales of 18,500 units. According to a company press release (in Japanese only), a total of 1.45 million blood pressure monitors were sold in Japan in 2005, rising to an estimated 1.5 million in 2006 and a forecast 1.55 million in 2007.
January 17th, 2007

 

Talking Medical Equipment
Following on from yesterday's posting, "Who Makes a Talking Blood Pressure Monitor?", I've done some searching, and come up with the following.

Oregon Scientific has a talking blood pressure monitor, as do LifeWise and LifeSource. Also, check out here and here. And a Google search suggests there are plenty more.

Check the Ann Morris Enterprises and Independent Living Aids websites (among others) for information on talking glucose monitors and medication dispensers.
November 28th, 2006

Who Makes a Talking Blood Pressure Monitor?
Any medical equipment manufacturers reading this? The Macon County Telegraph reports on the wish list of 32-year-old blind diabetic Jennifer Bivins:

A talking blood pressure monitor, a talking glucose monitoring system, and a syringe dosing system specifically designed for blind diabetics. With those tools, she can get outside of the room that is both confining and, for now, absolutely necessary.

..."She has been trying to get out of the nursing home for two years now," said Andreena Patton, a peer supporter with Disability Connections. "For her to be able to live independently in the community, she would need these devices."

Patton said Bivins is affected by her current living situation.

"She's a very motivated person. I know at times she's discouraged just because she's 32 and living in a nursing home."

Until Bivins can control her diabetes on her own, she must remain in the home where care providers can regulate her disease.

"It's depressing here," she said from her nursing home bed, the covers pulled nearly over her head.
November 27th, 2006

Medwave's Fusion Blood Pressure Monitor Approved
Medwave has announced that it has received FDA approval of its new blood pressure monitor:

The noninvasive system, called Fusion, is a completely sensor-based blood pressure monitor with a vital signs option. Fusion takes blood pressure and vital signs readings at the wrist, and, the company said, its accuracy is comparable to arterial catheters.

Shares of Medwave rose 41 cents, or 30 percent, to $1.79 on the Nasdaq in afternoon trading. The stock has traded between $1.32 and $3.69 over the last 52 weeks.
September 21st, 2006

Revolutionary New Blood Pressure Monitor
A new kind of monitor is set to revolutionize the way we check our blood pressure. But until prices come down - drastically - it'll be mainly doctors and clinics who will be buying it. Home users - for whom it will be most beneficial - will likely have to wait.

It's the Primo, which does away with the traditional cuff technology that squeezes the arm all the way around. Instead, the Primo puts pressure on just one point on the wrist.

It has been developed over three years by a small US company, MedWave, and has just received FDA approval.

According to a news report:

Primo's Inventor, Kevin Evans, says the device is particularly effective for bariatric patients, "Some of them are morbidly obese and they cant get a cuff on their arm and typically in those situations their wrists aren't as fleshy as the arm would be."

He says it's good for geriatric patients too, "Typically the problem there is the sensitivity to the cuff the squeezing of it they can bruise very easily ours won't do that were just going on the wrist and were squeezing very lightly in comparison."

Another advantage to the Primo is that it doesn't need annual maintenance and recalibration like the traditional cuff. It maintains its accuracy throughout its lifetime.

Unfortunately, the initial price of $1,000 puts it out of the reach of most individuals. Most popular home-use blood pressure monitors currently on the market cost well under $100.
March 15th, 2006

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Monitor

Lifestream Technologies, a leading supplier of cholesterol monitors, is to market a novel “three-In-one” blood pressure monitor, measuring blood pressure, cholesterol and HDL, all in less than three minutes. It will be manufactured by Korean company GenExel-Sein, which is launching its own blood pressure/glucose monitor.

In a statement, Lifestream CEO Christopher Maus noted that “between 5 to 7 million blood pressure monitors are sold each year in the US, or 14 million worldwide.”

"The health conscious consumer, who uses or will use a blood pressure monitor, now has a real clear choice," continued Maus. "This dual-use device supplies more meaningful information about a consumer's cardiac health. The combined unit is also more cost effective and will play an essential role for individuals who are managing both blood pressure and cholesterol. There is an estimated 73% overlap of individuals with elevated blood pressure and high cholesterol. About 20 million people are on both blood pressure and cholesterol lowering medications."

December 3^rd, 2005

 
The Home Blood Pressure Monitor – How to Get It Right
It never hurts to be reminded how to ensure the accuracy of home blood pressure monitor readings. The Syracuse Post-Standard gives the following pointers:

Take measurements at or near the same time each day, to give the best comparison.

Don't eat, smoke, exercise or ingest caffeine for at least 30 minutes before taking a reading. Instead, rest for at least 15 minutes and empty your bladder at least five minutes before the measurement.

Sit in a quiet place with your back supported and feet on the floor.

Use your left arm unless a mastectomy, stroke or other condition has impaired circulation in that arm. Position the monitor roughly one inch above the elbow, and wrap it snugly around your bare upper arm, leaving enough room to slide one finger underneath. Place your measuring arm palm-up on a table at a 120-degree angle so that the cuff is at the same level as your heart. If your arm circumference is greater than 13 inches, purchase a large cuff to ensure an accurate reading.

Remain still and quiet throughout the entire reading.

Wait five to 10 minutes between measurements to allow your blood vessels to return to their normal state. Be sure the cuff is completely deflated before repeating a measurement.

November 30^th, 2005 

A Nurse Chooses the Best Home Blood Pressure Monitor
Interesting report in the Orlando Sentinel – apparently originally from Newsday - with a registered nurse testing various home blood pressure monitors: 

What I want: Accuracy. Automatic monitors are nice and convenient with automatic inflation and digital readouts, but the least expensive and most accurate is a manual device.

I must have: A cuff size that fits; too small will give a reading too high, too big will give a reading too low. The cuff on a manual monitor has a built-in stethoscope (not the best choice if you're hard of hearing, because you need to hear your heartbeat through the 'scope). A semiautomatic monitor provides a digital readout, but you have to inflate the cuff, while an automatic monitor is most popular because it does all the work for you -- but you pay for that convenience.

What I hate: Finger and wrist monitors are cute but not very accurate; a wrist cuff is too far from your heart, so the reading will be lower.

Savvy shopper: If you're buying a monitor on a recommendation from your doctor, check to see if your health insurance plan covers the cost. Also, monitors that connect to your PC can give you more information and even analyze the reading.

Her choice was a Samsung manual blood pressure monitor, costing $39.99 at Target. The “next best thing” was the Omron HEM-780, a fully automatic model.

November 6^th, 2005

 

 
Mark of Fitness MF-81 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

This Amazon best-seller is described as follows:

Features:

• 60-time memory with date, time and average
• 5-year warranty
• Clinically proven accurate
• Large digital display for easy readout
• Latex-free

Mark of Fitness Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor is clinically proven accurate. Unit offers the "IQ" system for maximum speed and comfort. Large digital readout of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate. Monitor has 60-time memory with date, time and average. Includes plastic storage case and instructions in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Requires 2 "AAA" batteries. 5-year warranty.

You can see a larger image here. An article on home blood pressure monitors, written by the president of Mark of Fitness, is here. He says:

What you may not know is that the best place for getting meaningful blood pressure reading is in the home. At the doctor’s office, most people are so nervous that the readings taken are abnormally high. In the trade, this is called “white coat syndrome.” Similarly, in retail stores that offer blood pressure reading machines, or promotions that offer a nurse taking blood pressure, the excitement of “being out” also tends to push up blood pressure. The relaxed atmosphere of the home, the taking of blood pressure at about the same time daily, on a frequent basis, is the best way to get accurate, meaningful blood pressure readings.

October 19^th, 2005

 
Omron HEM 712CLC Auto Inflate Blood Pressure Monitor

Omron claims to be the world’s leading manufacturer of blood pressure monitors for home use, and these are among the most popular electronic health gadgets on the Amazon website. Here’s some detail from the site:

Features:

• Clinically proven accuracy
• Fully automatic unit
• Compact design
• 2 year warranty
   

Product Description
Taking your blood pressure is easy with this fully automatic monitor. Simply wrap the cuff around your arm and press START. In seconds, your blood pressure and pulse readings are shown on the digital display.

A larger image is here. The Omron website carries a helpful FAQ page for its blood pressure monitors. An interesting short article, “Accuracy of a wrist blood pressure monitor,” is here.

The British Blood Pressure Association has published several useful information sheets, including “Blood Pressure Monitors” (which includes a section on choosing a monitor) and “Measuring Your Blood Pressure at Home.” The British Heart Association also produces information about blood pressure monitors.

October 16^th, 2005