12
9
THE BLOOD PRESSURE ARM
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE INSTALLING THE BATTERIES
Take the Blood Pressure Electronic Control Unit from the box and turn it over, placing it face down onto a
padded work surface. Locate the “Open” compartment on the back of the panel where the batteries are
to be installed.
(See figure 1.)
Place your thumb or index finger on the “Open” compartment and push up.
This will open the battery compartment. The compartment is marked as to the “+” and “–” positions of
the batteries. The battery bracket is now accessible to the user.
Install six “AA” batteries as indicated by the orientation diagram embossed in the bottom of the bracket.
It is recommended that alkaline batteries be used for increased battery life. After the batteries have
been properly installed, reassemble the Blood Pressure Simulator by simply reversing the disassembly
procedures. Place the unit face up on the work surface and turn it on by pressing the on/off switch on
the top right of the unit.
(See figure 2.)
Observe the display and verify that a readable display is present,
indicating proper battery installation.
Note:
The control box has a battery saving feature which will turn
the unit off after about 8-10 minutes if no keys are used within that period of time.
Figure 1
Compare the results of reading the systolic and diastolic blood pressures on the gauge with the respective
settings on the simulator. If the readings were accurate, they should compare favorably with the preset
values. If the auscultatory gap had been selected, then an absence of an audible pulse would have been
noticed during what would have been the phase 2 Korotkoff sound. It is this lack of an audible pulse that
is considered an auscultatory gap. Note that in reality the auscultatory gap can be present in either the
phase 1 or phase 2 Korotkoff sounds. If it is desired to demonstrate the sounds heard while measuring
a subject’s blood pressure to the trainee or group of trainees, an auxiliary amplifier/speaker system is
available (LF01189U). If the auxiliary speaker is used, the speaker is plugged into the EXT AUDIO AMP
jack located next to the ARM output jack at the top of the unit. Adjust the volume control to increase the
output of the auxiliary speaker amplifier, and proceed with the blood pressure measurement sequence
as it would normally be performed, except that the stethoscope need not be used. Instead, listen to the
sounds as they emanate from the speaker amplifier, noting the differences in the Korotkoff phases being
presented.
The Nasco
Life
/
form
®
Child Blood Pressure Simulator is programmed to demonstrate the five Korot-
koff phases, including an auscultatory gap, which can be heard during auscultation of a subject while
measuring the subject’s blood pressure. Each is distinctly different and present for only a portion of the
measurement sequence.
LOW BATTERY INDICATOR
When the battery supply diminishes to a level near the point that the unit will no longer function properly,
the “low batt” segment of the systolic pressure display will activate when the pressure in the sphygmoma-
nometer cuff reaches above 20 mmHg. At this point, the batteries should be replaced as soon as possible
in order to insure proper operation of the unit. Refer to the section titled “Installing the Batteries.”
CALIBRATION PROCEDURES
To calibrate the simulator, set the unit up as described in the section titled “Using The Nasco
Life
/
form
®
Child Blood Pressure Simulator.” Apply the cuff to the simulated arm. Set the control box systolic pressure
to 150 mmHg and set the diastolic pressure to 70 mmHg. Proceed with a simulated blood pressure
measurement. Note the discrepancy in the readings between the gauge and the control box. Set the
systolic “offset.”
Example:
If the blood pressure reading was taken and the sounds started at 148 mmHg,
then the offset is +2. If the sounds started at 152 mmHg, the offset is –2. For this example, assume that
the sounds started at 148 mmHg. Press and hold the Calibration key until the systolic correction window
appears.
(See figure 12.)
Using the arrow up key, set the correction to +2. Set the diastolic offset.
Example:
If the blood pressure reading was taken and the sounds stopped at 72 mmHg, the offset is –2;
if the sounds stopped at 68 mmHg, the offset is +2. For this example, assume that the sounds stopped at
72 mmHg. From the systolic window, press the Menu key to change the diastolic window.
(See figure 13.)
With the arrow down key, set the correction to –2. Press the Menu key again and the message “CALIBRA-
TION COMPLETE” will appear. The main menu window will be displayed.
Figure 12
Figure 2
On/Off Switch
The next step is to connect the simulated arm and speaker assembly along with the sphygmomanometer
cuff and gauge assembly included with the unit. First, locate the end of the pressure line attached to the
sphygmomanometer that has the male luer fitting attached to it. Attach this to the female luer fitting at
the top of the unit marked CUFF.
(See figure 3.)
After the pressure line fitting has been properly installed,
locate the plug that is at the end of the wire which extends from the simulated arm assembly. Insert the
plug from the arm into the jack at the top of the unit marked ARM.
(See figure 4.)
At this point the Blood
Pressure Simulator is ready for use. The unit has been factory calibrated for use with the accessories
included in the kit. No further calibration adjustments should be necessary at this time. If the unit is to be
used with a sphygmomanometer other than that supplied with the unit, or if recalibration is necessary at
a later date, then see the section titled “Calibration Procedures.”
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 13
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