Cuff design is a problem
Pros:
Inflation machine and heartbeat measurements perform well.
Cons:
Cuff design is bad and does not fit well compromising BP readings.
The Bottom Line:
Do not purchase. Readings inaccurate, memory resets when using AC cord. Cuff does not fit well.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I recently purchased this unit at a national retailer. The product appears to function as advertised, however, there appears to be a design problem with the cuff. This automatic type unit contains a sensor device in the cuff that detects heartbeat and blood pressure. When placed on your arm the cuff does not allow the sensor device to lay flat and obtain good contact with your arm. The only way to wear the cuff with uniform pressure around your arm is to wrap (and velcro) the cuff at an angle. Imagine wrapping a paper towel around cone, it only lays flat if it is wrapped at an angle. Once wrapped at an angle there is uneven pressure on the cuff and sensor when the unit inflates. I get varying measurements that could only be explained by erroneous readings. Either the readings are inaccurate or my blood pressure is fluctuating by 30-40 points withing a 15 minute period of rest. The only way that this cuff will fit comfortably and uniformly around the circumference of your arm is if your arm is a perfectly round cylinder. If the circumference of your upper arm varies, the cuff will not sit flat.
The device does seem to measure heart rate accurately. Also, the inflation unit inflates reasonably quickly, but inflates generally to an uncomfortably high psi. My wife also tried the unit (she is a nurse) and experienced the same poor fit and the same varying pressure readings.
The transparent LCD-like display is generally easy to read, but certain backgrounds make reading the display difficult. There is more glitz than function with the see-through display. There also appears to be no way to turn the unit off. The battery life appears fairly long but the unit stays on unless the batteries are removed. There is no "Off" switch. The unit does come with a power cord, however, plugging and unplugging the unit, even with new batteries, causes the memory readings, current date and time to reset. Prior blood pressure readings are lost and all of the date and time settings have to be reprogrammed.
Overall the design of this unit is poor and I would not recommend it.
drugstore.com
