Hello everyone! I continue to summarize and post in a condensed form my experience in electronics repair. I present my Top 10 most common malfunctions of tonometers, which was born as a result of accidental repairs of medical equipment and communication with other Masters. I won’t say that I’m a great specialist in this area, but I came across some things and successfully fixed them. Let's start the rating. The locations of malfunctions of tonometers and blood pressure meters are sorted by the frequency of occurrence of the malfunction.
Correct pressure measurement
To measure blood pressure, you need to put a special cuff on your arm.
It should be 1-2 centimeters above the inner bend of the elbow. The cuff must fit the person in size. It shouldn’t put too much pressure on your hand, but it shouldn’t “hang” on it either. After this, the air is pumped with a special rubber bulb, independently or with outside help. After this, the pressure will be known.
Enter your pressure
Avoiding errors in readings when measuring pressure
Sometimes the tonometer can give incorrect data, so you should always monitor its accuracy. First of all, you need to know that there are several types of devices:
- Mechanical tonometer. It is more difficult for them to measure pressure - this should be done by a doctor or a person with very good vision and hearing, who can accurately recognize the pulse in the headphones and the desired indicator on the dial.
- Electronic or automatic blood pressure monitor. This is a modern device that everyone can use - you just need to use it correctly and it will display the pressure on the screen.
It is impossible to say which of these devices is more accurate. If used correctly, they will both show the correct indicator. But in both cases errors are possible. An electronic device will most likely malfunction if the battery charge is low. It is also impossible to obtain the correct result if the bulb, electronic unit or cuff is faulty. Calibration of the mechanical apparatus is also necessary. To avoid mistakes, before measuring blood pressure, you should refrain from drinking alcohol, coffee and strong tea, smoking, and physical activity. You cannot talk or take your pulse when you are nervous. To obtain accurate readings, it is better to measure your pulse in the morning and evening three times, with breaks of 5-10 minutes. The lowest number will be the most accurate.
Free diagnostics
About the features of free diagnostics
To find out the cause of the malfunction, the approximate time frame for work to restore functionality and the cost of eliminating defects, you can simply send the device for diagnostics . To do this, simply bring (look up the address) ( get directions on Google or Yandex ) the faulty equipment for diagnostics at the service center
Why is diagnostics free ? Sometimes a specialist needs to disassemble the device in order to understand the complexity of the proposed work to restore the functionality of your tonometer . This is necessary to announce the cost of repairs and the timing of the work performed.
About urgent repairs at the service center
Urgent repair of the AED tonometer on site within 20-30 minutes is possible. If the entire process supposedly does not take more than 10 minutes, including disassembling and assembling the device. Urgent repairs are carried out at the discretion of the specialist, taking into account your request. The customer can wait until the end in the service center waiting area.
Why leave equipment in service?
Your AED is waiting for its turn , because we are diagnosing/repairing laptops of other customers.
A specialist needs time to assess the complexity of work to restore the functionality of equipment and to find faults at the modular or component level.
You also need to find serviceable spare parts in stock at the service center or check their availability with the supplier.
About receiving equipment at the service center
When accepted for diagnostics, at the Repair service center, a “ Device Acceptance Certificate ” is issued. Upon completion of the repair work, a “ Certificate of Completion ” is issued with a guarantee for the services performed.
If you decide to refuse to carry out repair work to restore the functionality of the device, then you need to familiarize yourself with the “ Regulations for refusing to carry out work ”
Setting up a tonometer at home
There are several tips on how to test the mechanism for serviceability at home. There is a special installation that shows a certain pulse and breathing of a person, which it simulates. The tonometer is calibrated according to these data. But such an installation is very expensive and not everyone can afford it at home.
The second way is to connect two blood pressure monitors to one cuff, one of which will be precisely adjusted by a medical equipment specialist.
A reference tonometer can be set up at a pharmacy, after which you can calibrate your equipment using this data. An accurate device is necessary in the house, because its indicators can help to draw attention to the problem in time. It is necessary to check the equipment for malfunctions, and also always ensure that the pressure is measured correctly.
Why does the tonometer show different pressure? Users often ask about this when buying a new electronic device. It also happens that it shows different blood pressure (BP) if you measure it several times in a row. It turns out there are many reasons for this.
Why does the tonometer show the pressure incorrectly?
Tonometers are special medical devices that measure blood or eye pressure. In the latter case, the device is called a pneumotonometer. Such devices are an indispensable attribute of doctors. However, today blood pressure measuring devices are successfully used at home by many people, especially those suffering from hypertension and heart disease. A tonometer is even recommended for them, because patients must always keep their blood pressure under control in order to avoid complications caused by increased blood pressure. Tonometer readings are recorded as two measurements, for example, 120/80 mm Hg. Art. What do these numbers mean? This is the different pressure created in each of the two phases of the heart. The first reading is the highest blood pressure pumped by the heart. In our example, it is 120 - it is called systolic. The second reading is minimal. It is observed in diastole, when the heart relaxes, fills with blood, and then pushes it out. This “lower” pressure is referred to as diastolic.
How can I check the device?
Nowadays electronic devices are the most popular because they have an affordable price. They do not require special skills from the user to measure blood pressure. Even older people, women and teenagers can cope with it. They are easy to turn on and off once the test is complete.
But measurement accuracy plays a major role. Electronic and automatic devices often malfunction. For this reason, constant checking of the tonometer is necessary to avoid mistakes.
If your friends or neighbors have another device whose accuracy has been verified, you can use it to control accuracy and settings. The second such device will help you check the accuracy of your tonometer readings and identify errors in measurements.
Some are of the opinion that it is better to carry out measurements with mechanical instruments. But modern automatic devices perform their tasks perfectly. Some of the high-quality tonometers are devices from Omron.
The parallel connection method helps to evaluate each of the two devices and check the tonometers for accuracy.
For proper verification, follow the following algorithm:
- devices are connected in parallel for simultaneous measurements;
- double testing is carried out for objective assessment, control tests;
- If necessary, check individual parts of the device.
The automatic tonometer responds to the following factors:
The sensitive sensor even reacts to air movement. You must behave calmly, not talk, keep your back straight. The tonometer cuff attached to the arm should be at the level of the heart. If you remove all interference and follow the instructions, the result will be correct. If you need to get a more accurate result, you can take measurements three times with the necessary break between them. After this, it is important to derive the arithmetic average. We must remember: the first indicator and the last may differ due to the artery getting used to compression or any involuntary movement, so triple measurements will provide more accurate data. We must remember that a decrease, as well as an increase in pressure beyond the normal range, is an alarm signal. It is necessary to find out the cause by contacting a cardiologist.
Very often, tonometers may not produce results at all or show incorrect results, as well as show different pressures for various technical reasons: they forgot to insert the batteries; the device is not used correctly; low-quality batteries that quickly fail. In order for electronic blood pressure monitors to work well, it is necessary to change the batteries on time. It is advisable to use only ALKALINE LR batteries for blood pressure monitors. They are more energy-intensive and guarantee a long service life, which is from 200 to 400 measurement cycles. Here, the word cycle means 2 – 3 times a day. Regardless of the manufacturer, LR batteries will ensure the operation of the tonometer for 4 – 6 months. When the tonometer is turned on, the display is tested, and if the device shows a symbol that indicates insufficient power, this means that the batteries are running low - it’s time to take care of new batteries. In addition to errors associated with measuring blood pressure with a device and technical reasons, different pressures can be completely physiological. It is worth remembering that active movements, stress, even sneezing and coughing increase blood pressure. This is a natural reaction and does not require medication. Blood pressure increases for a short time, and if you repeat the measurements a little later, the values will decrease significantly.
Repairing a holey cuff
If the problem is bleeding air, then you need to find the location of the gap. When it is located directly on the cuff, it does not have to be replaced; it can be repaired. How to repair a leaky blood pressure cuff:
- If the hole is small and the cuff is strong and unworn, then you can seal it with a hot glue gun.
- You can glue a piece of rubber patch or other suitable material onto the gap with rubber cement.
- Take a strip of thick aluminum and bend it in half. Push the damaged area between them and clamp it with metal, help yourself with pliers. Cover this place with glue.
Replaceable cuff
When air escapes at the factory soldering site, it can be vulcanized with a soldering iron at 180 degrees. It is important to remember that repairing a cuff is cheaper than replacing it, but it will not last too long after the intervention. Therefore, be prepared to replace this element.
Error correction
Errors may occur when using the tonometer. Some of them you can fix yourself. If this does not work for some reason, disassembling the device yourself is highly not recommended.
Firstly, without knowledge of the features of this device, you can only aggravate the situation. Secondly, after opening the tonometer and damaging the factory seals, the free warranty period of service is automatically canceled.
The table shows the most common errors and methods for eliminating them.
Type of error | Causes | Correction Methods |
Flashing heart sign | Heart rate too high | Remove the device from your wrist, wait 10-15 minutes, and then measure your blood pressure again. If the situation repeats, then most likely the indicators are correct. In this case, you need to consult a doctor. |
E E Snowflake symbol | The cuff is full of air | You need to remove the device from your hand, turn it off, and then turn it on. Next, you should measure your blood pressure again. |
E 78 Snowflake symbol | The cuff is not securely fastened or there was movement of the arm during measurement | Turn off the device, turn it on, measure blood pressure again. |
Er 25 | The symbol “E” with any code indicates some kind of malfunction in the device. | You need to contact the service center. |
Indicators are too low or, conversely, excessively increased | This error can occur for several reasons: |
1. The cuff is not fastened correctly.
2. The hand with the device is not at heart level.
3. There were movements or conversations during measurements.
4. The arm is overextended.
Note.
Blood pressure readings may change throughout the day. As a rule, this is not related to the operation of the device. Changes in blood pressure depend on the time of day, weather conditions, as well as the physical and moral state of a person.
Types of devices
- Types of devices
- How to repair a tonometer correctly: features and recommendations? How to repair a mechanical tonometer with your own hands?
- Features of electronic equipment repair
The devices under consideration are divided into three types.
Each has certain modifications and also differs from others in its operating principle. All types have positive and negative sides. Mechanical offers high precision and low cost. But it takes skill to learn how to use it yourself. A semi-automatic one is much easier to work with and breaks down less often. An electronic tonometer is more expensive and has a higher error. Even a child can measure blood pressure with it. Just put on the cuff and press the button, after a while the result will be displayed on the display. Mechanical device
As a rule, device repair consists of changing the component unit. Why do you need to buy a new mechanism and replace the broken one with it? For example, it is impossible to inflate the cuff with air. This means that the pumping check valve in the bulb has broken. It is pointless to change only the valve; you need to replace the entire assembly, along with the tubes.
Electronic and semi-automatic machines are several times more expensive than a mechanical device. These types of devices do not have very frequent malfunctions. What often happens:
- malfunctions in the mechanism itself;
- absence or delay in displaying indicators;
Problems in displaying indicators - violations of the cuff filling with air;
- formation of incorrect indicators in comparison with other types of devices.
Semi-automatic device
It is better to fix serious breakdowns at a service center, because a warranty card is issued for repairs, and until it expires, it is prohibited to carry out repairs on your own. You can change the bulb, cuff, and batteries yourself; the warranty card does not apply to them.
The device is automatic
Storage and care
If you do not adhere to the rules for storing and caring for the tonometer, then the device is unlikely to last long. The more carefully you follow all recommended measures, the longer the measuring device will last.
- Do not expose the tonometer to impacts, falls or direct sunlight for a long time.
- Do not immerse the device in water or give it to children.
- If the tonometer is not used for a long time, the batteries must be removed from it.
- To avoid damaging the monitor and cuff, store the device in a special case.
If the device or cuff is dirty, do not use alcohol-based products, solvents, alkaline liquids, etc. for cleaning. It is best to wipe the monitor and cuff with a soft cloth (or slightly damp).
“Please help me understand the situation! — a letter to the editor of “Web Journalist” arrived the other day. — My mother is already 79 years old. Her blood pressure often “jumps.” I have been thinking about buying an electronic blood pressure monitor for a long time. Last week I finally decided. So what would you think? The first impression is that the thing is stylish, comfortable and very necessary. But... The tonometer is shamelessly “lying”! As soon as the cuff was placed on the mother's wrist, he showed 178/135. Horror! Everyone at home was seriously alarmed. I had to call an ambulance...
The doctors arrived, took out a regular tonometer with a bulb, and put a cuff on my shoulder. The pressure turned out to be… 125/90! They measured him again, and again... Everything was normal! Why, then, the readings of an electronic device (by the way, produced by a well-known Japanese one? The doctor just shrugged his shoulders... The next day I went to the pharmacy to exchange the device. But they assured me that everything was in order. They say that we carried out the measurements incorrectly. Strange ... Tell me what to do in such a situation? And is there a special service in Minsk that would check the accuracy of tonometers.”
The question is, of course, interesting... And very relevant! Today, about 15-20 models of tonometers of various types are sold in shops and pharmacies in Minsk. These are not only traditional “pears” with a phonendoscope and a dial gauge. In recent years, imported “automatic machines” have come into fashion. They are produced by AND, Microlife, Marshall, Nissei, Omron, etc. The measurement process, at first glance, will not cause any particular problems. Just press a button and the tonometer will do everything itself and display the result on the LCD display. Comfortable? Certainly! But it turns out that not everything is so simple!…
Mitsumi R-14 A213 370 DC Pump. Replacing a broken pump in the AnD UA-777 tonometer. Let's think about health
This review is an attempt to talk about the successful replacement of a broken pump in the AnD UA-777 blood pressure monitor. The pump was purchased on AliExpress. It has a tricky name... New 1pcs Mitsumi R-14 A213 370 DC pump 6V 200mA oxygen pump tank sphygmomanometer aquarium oxygen rinse pump Low noise Of course, the topic is unlikely to be popular, but if you are interested in how you can significantly save money by repairing your blood pressure monitor without paying much, or you just want to know what sphygmomanometer is - go to cut - there this spell will be deciphered. And don’t judge strictly, this is just the second attempt to write a review on MySKU... Let's begin.
It so happened that a relative’s blood pressure monitor stopped working after many years of use. The broken tonometer hummed, puffed, showed some kind of error, but did not measure the pressure.
`Great Soviet Encyclopedia`, Sphygmomanometer, Tonometer
A tonometer is a device used to measure blood pressure (See Blood pressure) in the arteries (Sphygmomanometer), intraocular pressure (ophthalmotonus) (See Tonometry) and tonic muscle tension (See Muscles) (See Tone). Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia 1969-1978 We will now know what kind of beast this sphygmomanometer is...
Photo of the patient: (I apologize for the quality of the photo, the DSLR is only in the background for now...)
Appearance of the tonometer
Background - lyrics
Relatives immediately bought another device, because... use often. And they decided to throw out the disabled veteran. But then I turned up. I looked at the label - model AnD UA-777, made in Japan. He worked regularly for about 10 years. It’s a pity... Google and Yandex told me that the problem is almost certainly in one of the two parts of the device. Either the cuff was leaking, G and I said, or the pump motor. I checked the cuff with a similar tonometer UA-787, which was available - everything is fine with it, it holds the pressure. I had to get to the pump.
Well, then, in fact, the story itself
Because the cuff turned out to be justified by the test, it was with sin that I disassembled the tonometer in half to look at its pump (and internal tubes). Unfortunately, because I spent a very long time looking for the third screw connecting the two halves of the body. Two screws are there in a visible place, but after unscrewing them, the body on one side did not want to separate. I even picked out the sticker - I thought there was a screw underneath it... But it turned out that there were only two screws, and the case was held on the other side by three very tight latches.
Where were the latches?
Disassembly tool
So, I got to the engine.
Inside view
18+
The malicious G and I gave me an example of repairing such membranes using contraceptives... Unfortunately, I did not save the link. I imagined the process of selecting materials in a pharmacy - a tonometer in one hand, options for “repair kits” in the other... and I felt somehow shy
I decided to look for the entire pump. Well, the memories of trying not to break the first three latches also told me that with my crooked paws I should look for some kind of larger-unit repair. It was necessary to find out the pump model in order to feed it to Google or Yandex. Unfortunately, it turned out that I couldn’t read the model marking on the pump, even if it was there before. The seal from the pump body was removed along with the texts on the body so that almost nothing could be read... Or maybe there was no useful information there...
(The seal was glued - I removed it by cutting it with a scalpel knife (also with Ali)
Out of the blue, G and I also did not admit to me exactly what model of pump is used in the UA-777. But Ali was pleased. For the request “tonometer pump”, the first result produced a photo with the desired image of a 1 in 1 pump. From there the keywords “pump mitsumi” were taken and 3-4 options, sold individually, were selected by a second search. In these options, the descriptions with dimensions and supply voltage were read. Dimensions have been compared with actual ones. All OK. The supply voltage is, as it should be, 6 V. And even one customer review was found who said that the pump was suitable specifically for the UA-777.
I decided to take it. I ordered, as far as I remember, the cheapest option with tracked delivery.
Order
Product link: aliexpress.com/item/New-1pcs-Mitsumi-R-14-A213-370-DC-pump-6V-200mA-oxygen-pump-tank-sphygmomanometer-aquarium/32788171528.html Snapshot from the order:
Shop:
DOWONSOL INTERNATIONAL TRADING LTD Years of operation:6. Rating: 3287 / 98.3% ru.aliexpress.com/store/405618
Specifications:
Motor diameter: 24.3 mm (370 motor); Total height: 55.6 MM (motor + pump head) does not contain the gas nozzle Note: the design has two kinds, the total length is slightly different, the difference is not big. Outlet diameter: 4.1 mm; (Note: it should be suitable for 3*5MM 4*6MM pipe, tube on this port is too loose, want to step up); Voltage: 6 V; Current: 0.20A; To the phrase “Note: the design has two kinds, the total length is slightly different, the difference is not big.” for some reason I didn’t pay attention at first, but, thank Entropy, this did not lead to bad consequences.
Delivery lasted 44 days. 33 of which the package disappeared into a black hole. Signals don't come from there, right? Therefore, the statuses did not change. This black hole supposedly belongs to our valiant customs. Let's call this VChD (Vnukovo Black Hole) and move on.
Here's a short delivery history:
Paid 2017-01-29 Crossed the border of China 2017-02-04 Arrived in Russia, 81 grams Vnukovo 2017-03-08 (! more than 1 month!) Released by customs Vnukovo 2017-03-08 Transferred for delivery throughout Russia Vnukovo 2017- 03-13 Sorting St. Petersburg 2017-03-14 Received 2017-03-15
Track code LM2..CN, promised by China Post Registered Air Mail, sent by ePacket. I don't mind.
For those who like details - the complete history of the track's movement
*Curious coincidence*
The parcel escaped from the black hole almost immediately after I asked the seller - “where has my parcel been missing for more than a month?”... vy ou 2017-03-06 18:20:18 hi, if you still can not receive parcel for long time , you can open dispute for refund.
** ** 2017-03-06 06:11:25
Tell me, please, what is the status of the delivery of this order. I see no movements for more than a month — from 4 February.
The price tag then was $6.49, which was 391.47 RUR according to the Central Bank on the day of payment. In reality, it was a little cheaper with all sorts of tricks - by 17 percent... But now, since March 9, they are not particularly interesting, and they will be off-topic.
So, the pump is received.
Packaging: a box, seemingly without any signs of damage in the ICP or in the mail. Plus a baby bump. Plus a plastic bag, for some reason with the inscription Coca-Cola.
For those who love unboxing photos (+ dimensions)
Let's check the pump itself. We take out the disassembled tonometer, hidden a month and a half ago, and compare the old and the new. A visual check immediately showed a slight difference in the overall length. I thought, “That’s it!.. it’s not good!...” I disassembled the new motor into 2 parts, just like the old one. The motor parts are the same.
same
And the part with membranes of the purchased device turned out to be a little longer.
To check, I attached the new part with membranes to the old motor part without soldering it. Works! Somehow it fits into place! The mood got better.
Moreover, it pumps quite normally - the pressure was measured.
Preliminary Profit.
An assistant comes in response to the noise, but when he sees that no help is needed, he expresses approval of my successes and leaves to have a snack.
Assistant
We take out the “first Chinese soldering iron we come across,” also with Ali, of course, and are going to solder the motor part of the old pump...
Soldering iron
Here the thought flashes - “what if the motor of the new pump is not working, how can I then mix up the red and black wiring when reinstalling it?” On the new pump, near one of the electrical contacts, a kind resident of the Middle Kingdom drew a red dot for good reason!
Red dot
I also drew a similar red dot on the old pump near the contact to which the red wire goes!
Was
It became
Unsoldered the wires Soldered the wires Put the whole new product in place - it fits
I checked it - it works, it measures pressure.
Measures
Need to assemble I wanted to glue the seal to the new pump. I even prepared the glue, also with Ali, of course... B-7000 But laziness overcame me - I simply attached the seal to the pump with tape purchased offline. He justified himself by saying that “what if it breaks in half an hour - unstick it again.” And after assembling the housing, the seal will be pressed against the motor without any tape.
Laziness and tape
Moreover, according to the instructions, the glue should dry for 1-2 days... Well, you understand :) What also helped laziness was that for some reason the original pump and the pump with Ali, there were different resistances.
The native one has 3 Ohms (3.3 - 0.3[0.3 Ohms are the tester wires]) `Japanese resistance`
The new one has 4.3 Ohms (4.6 - 0.3)
`Chinese resistance`
I decided to leave the tape and put the device back together. What if the new pump doesn’t last long at the tenth pressure measurement?
Here, alas, I made another mistake... It was necessary to measure the actual operating current of both pumps for history... This would be interesting because on Ali the operating current is stated to be 200 mA. But no matter what positions I combined 6 volts, Ohm’s law, 200 mA, 4.3 or 3 Ohms, nothing worked for me. And because I didn’t immediately realize to measure the current, then this paradox will remain unsolved, at least in the near future, because The relatives then decided to take away this old blood pressure monitor.
But, in general, I think the renovation was a success. Ten to two times the pressure was successfully measured. The pump and tape held up. And I didn't break anything!!!
Conclusion - economic feasibility study:
A new tonometer now sells for $50-60 or more, and the motor cost only $6.5. The green and pimply totem animal of “rationality” rejoiced.
Afterword
If there was a reader for this review and he read to this point, then, for sure, he had the same question as I did when I assembled the tonometer in reverse order... Now, if I had found the membrane part separately, it would have turned out a whole spare pump... But those with more hands have a pharmacy option in stock.
ok Ivy ou 2017-03-22 18:09:04
hi, thanks for your order, sorry that we can not only sell one part.
** ** 2017-03-22 05:38:03
Hello, friend! With this order everything is well. I have a question: Can I order in Your shop (in a different order) only dedicated for pictures of this pump? Ie I don't need the whole pump, and I need only part of it…
For reference, the dimensions of the original pump
Addition Later, analogues were found on EBay a little cheaper (as of 2017-04-06) for $5.99
ebay.com/itm/161372767630
for $5.81 ebay.com/itm/172247645649 It is interesting that a review of Ali was not published, although it is listed on the list of published ones. Perhaps because I mentioned eBay in the review...
What do the numbers on the blood pressure monitor mean?
After measuring the pressure, numbers are displayed on the tonometer screen - indicators of pressure (upper/systological and lower/diastolic) and heart rate. All home blood pressure monitors have the same sequence of this data, regardless of the manufacturer.
Let us recall the norms of pressure and heart rate indicators with age correlation.
Heart rate - pulse
To obtain correct data, the pressure is measured three times on one arm with an interval of one minute. Some modern tonometers have the function of independently determining the average value calculated from three pressure measurements.
When measuring pressure, it is important to follow the rules:
- The wrist tonometer is worn at a distance of 1 finger from the hand.
- The Velcro strap is fixed so that there is no pinching of the hand.
- The cuff tonometer is attached to the arm at a distance of two fingers from the elbow bend so that the elastic tube passes through the center of the palmar surface of the hand;
- During the measurement, you must sit at a table - your hand should lie on a flat surface in a relaxed state, and the cuff should be at heart level.
- The cuff is secured with Velcro without squeezing or excessive loose space.
While measuring blood pressure, after pressing the button, it is forbidden to talk, move, move your arms, or clench your fists. Feet are on the floor; you cannot cross your legs.
Stages of recovery
procedure for receiving equipment, performing diagnostics and troubleshooting
Carrying out diagnostics
- Free diagnostics of the device verbally or on site within 15 minutes.
- The device must be left for comprehensive diagnostics.
Price negotiation
- We agree on the cost and timing of repairing the device before starting work
- When there are no spare parts, more problems are identified - we coordinate
Recovery
- The device is being repaired at a service center.
- Device repairs
usually take up to 7 days, in difficult cases up to 25 days.
Issuance and verification
- The repaired device is checked and tested.
- A “Certificate of Work” is issued with a guarantee for the work performed
- of the device is possible .