A procedure for evaluation of non-invasive blood pressure simulators

Abstract

Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) simulators are used in clinical environment for quick checks of blood pressure monitors as a part of technical maintenance and health-care quality assurance system. They are also included in various tests within the procedures for testing NIBP monitors. In practice simulators are often subject to mechanical and electromagnetic shocks which could effect their measuring function. Our objective was to design a procedure for testing the reliability and quality of simulators in order to ensure reliable testing of NIBP monitors. Procedure for evaluation of NIBP simulators, consisting of a static and dynamic test, is proposed. Static test consisted of procedures derived from common electro-mechanical manometer calibration, while dynamic test included testing of repeatability of simulator's output. A commercial simulator was tested. Among others, the results indicated that evaluations of NIBP simulators should be performed regularly with a suitable time interval in order to track the metrological quality of the simulator in time. Acceptance criteria for a reliable simulator in both static and dynamic sense are proposed.

Technical Validation of Omron 705IT and A&D UA-767PlusBT Using Oscillometric Waveform Simulators

“…Last, all simulators used in this study had been calibrated within the year preceding the study and were calibrated in an accredited laboratory as recommended. 47 In conclusion, A&D 767PlusBT monitors measured systematically too low SBP but exhibited good precision. Omron 705IT monitors showed high accuracy and good precision for both DBP and SBP values.…”

“…Changes in atmospheric pressure do not significantly contribute to simulator performance, because simulators measure gauge pressure and not absolute pressure, and this is reset at the beginning of each simulation. 47,48 Third, we did not do a static calibration prior to the simulator tests. This might have revealed if there was a problem with transducers, but it would have been beyond the scope of this study to look at the transducers separately.…”

Short and longer term repeatability of ballistocardiography in a sitting position with EMFi sensor

“…With the 2-week interval, the reproducibility of the Bland-Altman BCG values was better than the reproducibility of the pulse and BP values. Human blood pressure is characterized by wide physiological variability, which is influenced by heart rate, breathing, and emotional state [7]. When two consecutive recordings during the same day were compared for the same person some minor amplitude changes were detected.…”

Preliminary study on detection of atrial fibrillation during oscillometric blood pressure measurement

“…It is used in most of commercial and home usage-intended blood-pressure measurement devices [8,7]. It measures the blood-pressure through air pressure oscillations in the cuff, caused by the compressed arteries pulsations.…”