Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood being pumped against the walls of the arteries. The heart contracts, pushing the blood through the valves and relaxes to refill it with blood again.

Sphygmomanometer is the medical term given to a Blood Pressure Apparatus, used to measure the blood pressure of an individual.

The basic manual sphygmomanometer consists of an inflatable cuff attached with tubes and an air control valve with an inflation bulb. This cuff is also attached to a manometer (a gauge filled with mercury or a dial gauge) which shows the pressure reading. This manual apparatus is typically used with a stethoscope.

The cuff is usually inflated to a high pressure in the upper arm so that no blood can pass through the artery above the elbow. The pressure is very slowly released until the blood squirts through little by little. A stethoscope is used to hear and mark the reading when the squirting starts (high) and stops (low) with ongoing slow loosening of the pressure valve till its released completely. The systolic (high) and diastolic (low) pressure recorded makes a blood pressure reading.

In this day and age, digitally enhanced blood pressure monitors are used by everyone for domestic purposes. Since blood pressure may not have any symptoms before it is dangerously high or low, it is advisable for patients to check their blood pressure regularly. These digital equipments are compact and easy to use with either automatic inflating cuffs or those, which come with an inflation bulb.

Though digital monitors are becoming immensely popular and an essential tool to have around, these monitors are not as accurate as when compared to the manual apparatus. However, this can definitely be used as a guide and an indication for when an approaching visit to a medical practitioner is unavoidable when it shows a low or high blood pressure reading.

Well, you might realise that having a successful general practice involves having some specialised diagnostic equipment readily available. Or the other scenario might be that you’re your “old-faithful” EKG machine has decided to retire unexpectedly and it is broken with no repair possibilities.

Some things have changed since you last had a look at the technology and features provided. Listed are some factors you will need to take indo consideration before buying your new EKG machine.

1. Paper Use

What paper does the new machine use and what are the dimensions of the paper? You will find that certain electrocardiograph machines use 6 cm sheets or half sized sheets to do print outs on.  It is even possible to find EKG machines that make use of smaller paper that are able to provide you with a full print in 3 x 4 + 1 format.  However, the preferred used paper for EKG printouts by the majority of cardiologist remain the letter sized paper which is 8.5” x 11”. This may be a more expensive choice but for filing and record keeping purposes this is the best paper option to use.

2. Data Capturing Capabilities

The ideal is to have an EKG machine that allows you to enter specific patient information via a keyboard.   It is common sense that an EKG are used by several medical personnel and with printed patient information on the EKG printout it does not only serve to be more professional, but also prevents wrong identification added to a printout with obvious serious implications.

3. What View Do You Have?

With a screen at your disposal fitted to the EKG machine, you will be able to see that all leads are in good working order. This feature also allows you to ensure that the base line is stable before starting to record the EKG.  If all 12 leads are visible, you will be able to view all activities in real time.

The GE Voluson 730 Pro Bt02 4d Ultrasound Machine is state of the art, highly advanced piece of medical equipment that combines real time 4D imaging capabilities and 3D scanning and provides simultaneous visualization of all three planes. It helps analyze and explore images in different planes and renders them with intricate details and amazing clarity and resolution.

The inbuilt sophisticated analytical tools help interpret, analyze and process the data to provide optimum diagnostic capabilities. The main domains of use cover abdominal, obstetrical, gynecological, cardiac and vascular. Additionally it is also used for diagnostic examination of small parts and for breast examination. The machine is bulky and looks like a supercomputer riddled with buttons, consoles, pads, dials and knobs which shout its superior technological advantages.

The cart that it is fixed onto is movable and has small wheels at the bottom that allow portability. The machine is ideal for medium to large medical facilities that seek advanced and extremely versatile and accurate medical equipment.

It comes with an alphanumeric keyboard that affords easy data entry and manipulation of its functions and a 15 inch high resolution non- interlaced, flat, CRT monitor that renders high quality images with color, clarity and detail. Additional buttons and dials and knobs are available for calling up various functions and for selecting different modes of operation.

The other features include the 3D/4D static real time imaging with a frame rate of 15 frames per second and a state of the art user interface with on screen menu’s that makes the navigation process hassle free. The rendered images are optimized through automatic tissue optimization. The machine comes with 4 active probe ports and an option to archive images on CD or hard drive which can store up to 40GB of data.

It provides three different modes for tissue imaging and also has a digital Beamformer and 512 system processing channel technology with CINE memory that gives the capability of storing up to 3000 2D images. It uses power Doppler imaging and tissue Doppler imaging for data gathering.