Sphygmomanometer - Report Example

Sphygmomanometer (Blood Pressure Meter) Name Institution Sphygmomanometer (Blood Pressure Meter) Introduction Blood pressure as one of the oldest disorders remained a problem until the discovery of a sphygmomanometer. Restoration of the abnormalities of blood pressure has become a critical part of the clinical practice and starts with measurement of blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer. According to Felix (2014), a sphygmomanometer also called blood pressure meter is described as an apparatus applied in measuring blood pressure through the operation of inflatable cuff and mercury. Earlier devices did not effectively measure the blood pressure to be regarded as helpful in numerous hospitals. Therefore, Karl Samuel Ritter Von Basch developed Sphygmomanometer in 1881 to help solve such problem (Soto-Perez-de-Celis, 2007, p.1507). Therefore, this paper will explain and discuss sphygmomanometer and its significant impact in medicine and society. Also, the paper will describe its application and evaluate its benefits and disadvantages to the medical field and society. Brief History Parati and Mancia (2004, p.5) claimed that Karl Samuel Ritter Von Basch is one of the people who are today cited to have highly contributed to the medical field and particularly as an inventor of sphygmomanometer. Soto-Perez-de-Celis (2007, p.1507) posited that the journey to creating an instrument started when Chinese, Roman, Arabic and Hindu cultures discovered that heart impacted the pulse rate, and that activity and diet changes ‘softened or ‘hardened’ it. In Reverend Stephen Hales created and inserted a brass pipe incrural artery of the mare, and it is through this action that blood pressure’s existence was experimentally established. Even though this method looks ingenious, it could be applied in the clinical practice. Over 100 years later, blood pressure instrument was invented enabling measuring of blood pressure. Nargesi et al. (2014, p.718) opined that in 1868, Austrian born Karl Samuel Ritter Von Basch, a doctor by profession dedicated his time to study the heart so as to create a mechanism or process which could clinically and effectively measure the blood pressure. Other researchers such as Carl Ludwig, Jules Herrison and Karl Vierordt were also working on the process of recording blood pressure waves, but by first stopping the pulse (Soto-Perez-de-Celis, 2007, p.1508). Von Basch was then inspired by the works of Vierordt and created the blood pressure-measuring device in 1881 and called it sphygmomanometer. The term originates from Greek term sphygmos meaning pulse and scientific word manometer meaning pressure meter (Parati & Mancia 2004). Explanation the Innovation and Its Purpose A sphygmomanometer was an innovation intended to measure the blood pressure meter (O'Brien & Fitzgerald, 1994, p.73). Credit has been given to Karl Samuel Ritter Von Basch who made the most effective blood pressure meter. Before settling for the most efficient device, Von Basch made three different models of this machine (Nargesi et al. 2014, p.718). His first model incorporated a water-filled ball linked to the mercury. The second device linked a kymograph to a sphygmomanometer so as to grid a pressure wave. In the third model, Basch introduced a vital change and in place of linking a ball to the mercury section, he applied standardized aneroid manometer to evaluate the pressure. Further improvement of this device continued in 1900s. In 1901, a physician, Harvey Cushing modernized sphygmomanometer brought into US and marketed it within the health care industry (Parati & Mancia, 2004, p.4). In 1905, physician from Russia Nikolai Korotkov improved the device by incorporating measurement diastolic blood pressure measurement in it. Today, there are two types of sphygmomanometers including digital sphygmomanometers and manual sphygmomanometers. The standard and most acceptable is manual sphygmomanometers. There are two categories of manual of sphygmomanometers consisting of aneroid and mercury (Turner & van Schalkwyk, 2008, p.845). However, digital sphygmomanometers are gaining popularity with advancement of technology. Aneroid and mercury devices almost work in a similar manner except that mercury one uses the mercury while aneroid needs periodic calibration to function. Buchanan, Orris and Karline (2011, p.108) postulated that aneroid sphygmomanometers (implying ‘without fluid’) apply the mechanical components to discharge pressure within the cuff to the dial. With cuff pressure expanding, a thin brass bellows rises, causing budging of the pin which rests on such bellows. Studies show that a sequence of gears propels this budging and conveys it to a dial in which a person’s blood pressure can be checked. Just as with mercury gadgets, the doctor inflates and manually deflates the cuff, then applies the usual auscultatory method to recognize diastolic and systolic pressures (Gill et al. 2004, p.26). Digital sphygmomanometers also called automatic gadgets do not need doctor participation further other than putting a cuff around the arm of patient and waiting to read the blood pressure. In this device, a cuff rises and collapses electronically (Buchanan, Orris & Karline, 2011, p.108). Analysis demonstrates that transducer within this machine feels the pressure produced by a brachial arterial and digitally senses the maximum amplitude point. There are no noticeable points, particularly on diastolic and systolic points within the pressure wave, hence the machine computes the pressure automatically through an algorithm. Description of its application This instrument is used in medical field and society in different cases. Sphygmomanometers are used by doctors in diagnosis and even treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) (Turner & van Schalkwyk, 2008, p.845). In test of blood pressure in human beings, the cuff incorporated in sphygmomanometer is put efficiently and comfortably around the arm (Gill et al. 2004, p.26). The place where the cuff is often put nearly the same height just as the heart. This device is also used in animals to evaluate their blood pressure. In most cases it has been used by veterinary doctors on domestic animals such as cow, goat, sheep, dogs and cats among others. Health care researchers argue that place of cuff on animals is dependent on the species and could be done on the tail of flipper (Parati & Mancia 2004, p.17). Nevertheless, it is vital that the right size of a cuff is picked for a patient. The Health care practitioner should note that a small cuff will lead to a high pressure while a large one will create low pressure on a patient hence wrong diagnostic. Parati, Faini and Castiglioni (2006, p.1918) contended that the length of the cuff ought to be equal to 80 percent of bounds of the arm. Although sphygmomanometers have largely been used in blood pressure, the device is also applied in other uses such as Hess test. Hess test is also referred to as Rumpel-Leede or Tourniquet test and its named after Alfred Fabian Hess. This is a medical test that is mainly for evaluating capillary fragility. In undertaking the test, pressure is put on the forearm with rise of blood pressure cuff to between diastolic and systolic blood pressure for a period of 10minutes. When the cuff is removed, then there is counting of no. of petechiae within a 50mm diameter circle of pressure area. Usually, not more than 15 petechiae are found. However, when there are more than 15, then that’s a sign of capillary fragility that takes place because of bleeding diathesis, deprived function of platelet or thrombocytopenia like in the circumstances of Dengue fever and scurvy. Benefits and disadvantages of the sphygmomanometer The benefits can either be functional or economical. According to Parati, Faini and Castiglioni (2006, p.1916), one of the outstanding benefits is its use to measure the blood pressure. Another common function benefit of sphygmomanometers is that most of them are portable and can easily be put using hand and be carried from one place to another. Lawes (2001, p. 1248) opined that mercury sphygmomanometer is gold standard, hence its results are normally considered correct. It means this device type is effective and can be used anywhere across the globe. Aneroid also has various functional and economical benefits available to the users. For instance, aneroid sphygmomanometer has an inbuilt stethoscope thus the user does not need to purchase one separately (Parati, Faini & Castiglioni, 2006, p.1916). Aneroid sphygmomanometer is sold at low prices, with price ranging from $20 to $40. Myers et al. (2008, p.281) asserted that the observer does not need to manually listen and read the results as they are electronically displayed hence read easily and clearly. Nevertheless, sphygmomanometers also have their negative impacts. Buchanan, Orris and Karliner (2011, p.109) claimed that mercury sphygmomanometer has negative impact on the environment and human beings as identified by the World Health Organization and United Nations Environmental Programme. Mercury used in this device is most lethal pollutant of the environment. The use of mercury sphygmomanometer in Minamata Bay in Japan caused human health disaster at Japan as children were born with defects (Buchanan, Orris & Karliner, 2011, p.109). This device is that it is fragile and can easily break when not handled well. Researchers claim that this type of blood pressure meter is prone to errors, hence not advisable to be used in medical field in most cases. Lawes (2001, p. 1248) pointed out that the British Hypertension Society have warned against its use as it post an error of over 10% by 15 mm Hg.3 which in not acceptable in medical practice. Conclusion To conclude, high pressure has been described as one of the major risk factors for other diseases. Imbalance of this blood pressure can lead to other diseases such as stroke, renal failure and heart failure among others. Therefore, discovery sphygmomanometer by Karl Samuel Ritter Von Basch has been a major breakthrough in clinical practice. The paper has discovered that this device has highly been used in measuring blood pressure and forms part of treatment of hypertension. In improving the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure, several forms of sphygmomanometers have been developed including manual and digital types. Its worthnoting that sphygmomanometers have their strengths and weakness hence used cautiously and keenly to reduce chances of error and health risk to doctors and patients. References Buchanan, S., Orris, P., & Karliner, J. (2011). Alternatives to the mercury sphygmomanometer. Journal of Public Health Policy, 32(1): 107–120. Gill, G., Ala, L., Gurgel, R., & Cuevas, L. (2004). Accuracy of aneroid sphygmomanometer blood pressure recording compared with digital and mercury measurements in Brazil. Tropical Doctor, 34(1): 26–27. Lawes, E.G. (2001). In praise of mercury sphygmomanometers. BMJ, 322(7296): 1248-1249. Myers, M.G., McInnis, N.H., Fodor, G.J., & Leenen, F.H. (2008). Comparison between an automated and manual sphygmomanometer in a population survey. Am J Hypertens, 21(3): 280–283. Nargesi, A.R., Ghazizadeh, Z., Larry, M., Morteza, A., Heidari, F., Asgarani, F., Esteghamati, Alireza., Mohammad, K., & Nakhjavani, M. (2014). Automated Sphygmomanometer? A Historical Cohort to Quantify Measurement Bias in Blood Pressure Recording. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension 16(10): 716-721. O'Brien, E., & Fitzgerald, D. (1994). The history of blood pressure measurement. Journal of Human Hypertension, 8: 73-84 Parati, G., Faini, A., & Castiglioni, P. (2006). Accuracy of blood pressure measurement: sphygmomanometer calibration and beyond. Journal of Hypertension 24(10): 1915–1918 Parati G., & Mancia G. (2004). History of blood pressure measurement from the pre- Riva- Rocci era to the 20-first century. In: Birkenha¨ ger WH, Reid JL, editors. Handbook of hypertension. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 3–32. Soto-Perez-de-Celis, E. (2007). Karl Samuel Ritter Von Basch: the sphygmomanometer and the Empire. Journal of Hypertension 25, 1507–1509 Turner, M.J., & van Schalkwyk, J.M. (2008). Automated Sphygmomanometers Should Not Replace Manual Ones, Based on Current Evidence. American Journal of Hypertension, 21(8), 845 Read More

His first model incorporated a water-filled ball linked to the mercury. The second device linked a kymograph to a sphygmomanometer so as to grid a pressure wave. In the third model, Basch introduced a vital change and in place of linking a ball to the mercury section, he applied standardized aneroid manometer to evaluate the pressure. Further improvement of this device continued in 1900s. In 1901, a physician, Harvey Cushing modernized sphygmomanometer brought into US and marketed it within the health care industry (Parati & Mancia, 2004, p.4). In 1905, physician from Russia Nikolai Korotkov improved the device by incorporating measurement diastolic blood pressure measurement in it.

Today, there are two types of sphygmomanometers including digital sphygmomanometers and manual sphygmomanometers. The standard and most acceptable is manual sphygmomanometers. There are two categories of manual of sphygmomanometers consisting of aneroid and mercury (Turner & van Schalkwyk, 2008, p.845). However, digital sphygmomanometers are gaining popularity with advancement of technology. Aneroid and mercury devices almost work in a similar manner except that mercury one uses the mercury while aneroid needs periodic calibration to function.

Buchanan, Orris and Karline (2011, p.108) postulated that aneroid sphygmomanometers (implying ‘without fluid’) apply the mechanical components to discharge pressure within the cuff to the dial. With cuff pressure expanding, a thin brass bellows rises, causing budging of the pin which rests on such bellows. Studies show that a sequence of gears propels this budging and conveys it to a dial in which a person’s blood pressure can be checked. Just as with mercury gadgets, the doctor inflates and manually deflates the cuff, then applies the usual auscultatory method to recognize diastolic and systolic pressures (Gill et al. 2004, p.26).

Digital sphygmomanometers also called automatic gadgets do not need doctor participation further other than putting a cuff around the arm of patient and waiting to read the blood pressure. In this device, a cuff rises and collapses electronically (Buchanan, Orris & Karline, 2011, p.108). Analysis demonstrates that transducer within this machine feels the pressure produced by a brachial arterial and digitally senses the maximum amplitude point. There are no noticeable points, particularly on diastolic and systolic points within the pressure wave, hence the machine computes the pressure automatically through an algorithm.

Description of its application This instrument is used in medical field and society in different cases. Sphygmomanometers are used by doctors in diagnosis and even treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) (Turner & van Schalkwyk, 2008, p.845). In test of blood pressure in human beings, the cuff incorporated in sphygmomanometer is put efficiently and comfortably around the arm (Gill et al. 2004, p.26). The place where the cuff is often put nearly the same height just as the heart.

This device is also used in animals to evaluate their blood pressure. In most cases it has been used by veterinary doctors on domestic animals such as cow, goat, sheep, dogs and cats among others. Health care researchers argue that place of cuff on animals is dependent on the species and could be done on the tail of flipper (Parati & Mancia 2004, p.17). Nevertheless, it is vital that the right size of a cuff is picked for a patient. The Health care practitioner should note that a small cuff will lead to a high pressure while a large one will create low pressure on a patient hence wrong diagnostic.

Parati, Faini and Castiglioni (2006, p.1918) contended that the length of the cuff ought to be equal to 80 percent of bounds of the arm. Although sphygmomanometers have largely been used in blood pressure, the device is also applied in other uses such as Hess test. Hess test is also referred to as Rumpel-Leede or Tourniquet test and its named after Alfred Fabian Hess.

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