Meditech ABPM-04 User Manual - page 9
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blood pressure measurements can be initiated manually any time by pressing the START button (the
plain, unmarked button). Average measurement times vary with blood pressure and physical activity,
and with a cooperative patient with average blood pressure they are around 30-40 seconds. For patient
safety the device aborts any BP measurement process if it is not successful after trying for maximum
120 seconds.
If a blood pressure measurement is not successful for some reason or the patient aborts it, the device
will store error codes to identify the cause of the failure. These codes will be transferred to the
computer with other data and displayed on the numeric list of blood pressure measurements. To learn
more about error codes, please refer to the on-line help of the CardioVisions program.
Cuffs and their application
It is advisable to wear a thin shirt or blouse under the cuff. This does not
influence the accuracy of measurements but it prevents possible problems
caused by long-time wear (sweat, itching, rush, etc.). Place the cuff on the upper
arm so that the rubber tube looks upwards and the bladder is placed above the
brachial artery, if possible. Contrary to the usual blood pressure meters, the
advantage of this arrangement is that the patient can wear a loose jacket over the
shirt or blouse. Connect the rubber tube of the cuff into the air plug connector, which you can find on
the top of the vertically standing device. Always place tubing carefully to minimize strangulation risk.
Connect the cuff turning it clockwise with slight pressure.
Note that according to recommendations the cuff should be applied quite tightly, as acceptable for the
patient. A loose cuff will cause much longer measurement times (possibly aborted measurements due
to time-out), because the device first has to pump to tighten the cuff on the arm and then to reach the
pressure necessary for measurement. This causes inconvenience for the patient and results in less data
for evaluation. If the patient removes the cuff for some reason during the monitoring session, it should
be re-applied with appropriate tightness, with external help if necessary.
ABPM-04 recognizes and works perfectly with three different cuff sizes. If the cuff size is not preset
to a specific type within the computer program, the device will adjust to any of the three sizes
specified below during the first few measurements. However, if a specific size is preset, this will
overrule the internal size detection. It is advisable to select a specific size only if necessary.
Name
Bladder
Dimensions
Sleeve
dimensions
Arm circumference
range
Normal
12.5 x 22.5 cm
16 x 52 cm
24-32 cm
Small
6 x 28.5 cm
9 x 41 cm
under 24 cm
Large
14.5 x 32 cm
16 x 70 cm
32-42 cm
Caution: Use of a cuff different from that supplied might result in measurement error.
To avoid possible damage to the internal pneumatic system of ambulatory blood pressure
monitoring devices, always use a cuff, which comes as an accessory of the device.
Do not use cuffs from an uncertain source, as cuffs not intended for ambulatory use might contain
anti-adhesive powder or even contamination, which is harmful for the pneumatic system of ABPM
devices.