Sphygmomanometer

The sphygmomanometer is a combination of two Greek words, “sphygmos,” which refers to the pulse, and “manometer,” meaning a tool for assessing pressure or stress. A sphygmomanometer is a diagnostic tool that is used to check blood pressure. By detecting the force exerted by the heart in circulating blood, this device could measure blood pressure. It is beneficial to keep track of vital signs, particularly blood pressure, pulse rate, and rhythm. It can be used to hear the heartbeat too. To obtain reliable blood pressure readings, appropriate blood pressure bands for sphygmomanometers can be used. The pressure of blood pumping out of the heart is used to calculate a person’s blood pressure. When the ventricles contract, precise results are possible. As a result, we can measure the least forces with a calm heart when blood rushes from the centre point to various body parts.

History of Monitoring Blood Pressure and how the Sphygmomanometer developed

·  Galen, a Greek philosopher, was the first to propose the presence of circulatory processes in the body.

·  Galen’s claim that the heart produces blood continuously, like a fountain, was disproved by William Harvey in 1616. Harvey suggested that the body’s blood supply was limited and only flowed in one way.

·  The Reverend Stephen Hales recorded the first incidence of blood pressure monitoring in 1711. Hales placed a glass tube into a horse’s artery and examined the highs and lows of blood in the tube, concluding that the fluctuation of blood in the tube was caused by varying pressure. However, Hales’ method was not acceptable for human testing because it was extremely intrusive and unsuitable for clinical application.

·  Faivre took the first human blood pressure reading once during a surgical intervention in 1856. Carl Ludwig’s invented kymograph was adopted by Faivre, who used catheters placed straight into an artery. Ludwig’s kymograph consisted of a U-shaped manometric tube attached to a brass tube cannula inserted into the artery directly.

·  In 1860, a French physician, Etienne Jules Marey expanded on this concept. His sphygmograph could properly detect pulse rate but was notoriously poor when it came to determining blood pressure. Nonetheless, this device was the first to be applied in a clinical setting with considerable effectiveness.

·  The sphygmomanometer was invented by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch in 1881. A fluid or mercury-filled rubber object was attached to a manometer in his apparatus. The rubber ball was then held against the radial nerve until the pulse vanished, and the blood pressure was measured with the manometer, with palpation used to identify when the arterial pulse ceased

·  Later, Potain upgraded all pressure devices accessible by replacing the devices’ water and mercury with air, significantly enhancing their precision.

Types of Sphygmomanometer

·  Digital Sphygmomanometer

When blood pressure has to be checked at home, the digital device comes in handy. Blood pressure can also be monitored at the diastolic and systolic levels. Fasten the cuff over the forearm and plug the rubber wire into the monitor’s hole. When you push a button, oscillometric detection is used to compute the heart rate and blood pressure. The findings will be displayed on the monitor’s audio device. It is mobile, convenient, and may even be charged, with no calibrations required.

·  Aneroid Sphygmomanometer

The aneroid sphygmomanometer is an instrument that sits on the walls and consists of a spring mechanism and a metallic membrane that translates the signals from the cuff into electrical signals that operate a needle in the gauge. This device can be easily moved from one place to another as there are no fluids present. The results are inaccurate since these types of equipment require calibration checks. The needle must be maintained at zero before use. Calibrations are carried out regularly to ensure that the results are accurate.

·  Mercury Sphygmomanometer

The mercury sphygmomanometer is the best among all other forms of equipment, reflecting the traditional and time-tested method of measuring blood pressure. The main advantage of utilising mercury sphygmomanometers is that they are simple to use and can last a lifetime if properly maintained. The gadget can provide the most precise results without requiring a lot of adjusting. An expandable bladder and mercury columns make up the device. Various levels of mercury in the column are caused by different pressures. It is not required to recalibrate the column to its exact specs once it has been created.

Uses of Sphygmomanometer

There are many uses of the sphygmomanometer, some are as follows:

·  To measure Blood Pressure

Blood pressure measurement is one of the most common uses of the sphygmomanometer. Your doctor will use a sphygmomanometer, often known as a blood pressure monitor, to test your blood pressure. To block the blood circulation in your artery, the cuff is put around your forearm and inflated. The doctor takes a stethoscope to hear the blood flowing through the artery as the cuff is gently deflated. A gauge connected to the cuff detects the pumping sounds. This equipment is also used by veterinarians to diagnose animals.

·  Monitor the medications

The sphygmomanometer is used by doctors to monitor the efficiency of medications on their patients. There are two kinds of readings in this instrument: systolic and diastolic. The upper reading is systolic. The numerator indicates the systolic pressure, while the other represents the diastolic pressure.

·  To detect a variety of diseases

The underlying ailment may cause high blood pressure. Doctors can utilise the data yielded by the sphygmomanometer

 to observe if there is any underlying ailment. During any regular body check-up, blood pressure is usually the first thing to be assessed.

·  To keep a check on hypertension

Hypertension is a situation caused by high blood pressure, and it can be monitored using this device. Hypertension is a life-threatening illness that can lead to a seizure, cardiac arrest, or even death. Diabetes and tobacco smoking are two of the most common causes of disease. It will make it easier for both patients and doctors to comprehend what has to be done if they keep a check on blood pressure by using a sphygmomanometer.

Conclusion

A sphygmomanometer is a blood pressure measurement instrument. It is used to measure the force of blood in the heart, which is where the pressure is highest, to monitor blood pressure. This happens when the ventricles contract and blood are pumped by the heart to the entire body (systolic pressure). The smallest force is also calculated. This happens when the heart is at its most relaxed between beats and the pressure is at its lowest (diastolic pressure). A sphygmomanometer is used to establish a baseline during a medical interaction and upon hospital admission. Blood pressure is also measured to evaluate the effectiveness of medications and other ways of controlling hypertension, as well as to diagnose diseases and abnormalities.