Welch Allyn Blood Pressure Monitor

Blood pressure monitors (also called sphygmomanometers, blood pressure meters, and blood pressure gauges) are medical equipment used to measure a person’s blood pressure. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood against arteries. Blood pressure monitors are composed of an inflatable cuff that collapses and then releases the artery under the cuff in a controlled manner. The monitor uses a mercury or aneroid manometer to measure the pressure in the artery.

To obtain a blood pressure reading, the blood pressure cuff is typically placed around a person’s upper arm. The cuff is inflated to apply pressure and collapse the artery and is then released. Blood pressure measurements consist of two numbers: systolic pressure (top number) over diastolic pressure (bottom number).

Systolic pressure measures the force of blood against artery walls during a heartbeat. Diastolic pressure measures the force of blood against artery walls while the heart is at rest between two beats.

Welch Allyn produces a range of home blood pressure monitors, digital blood pressure devices, and professional blood pressure monitors. Welch Allyn, Inc. is an American manufacturer of medical diagnostic devices and patient monitoring systems. Welch Allyn blood pressure monitors generally include the name “Welch Allyn” on the top of the device’s front face.

• Wikipedia: Sphygmomanometer
• American Heart Association: Understanding Blood Pressure Readings
• Mayo Clinic: How to Use a Blood Pressure Monitor