Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, yet we frequently depend on a single blood pressure reading obtained at a doctor's office. To properly take a blood pressure measurement, a patient needs to be relaxed and seated for five minutes. Blood pressure may rise due to this or might be caused by white-coat hypertension, a phenomenon where blood pressure measurements in a doctor's office are higher than at home. It affects 15 to 30 percent of individuals.
So how does the ViSi Mobile get more accurate blood pressure readings? It is a patient-worn, portable, battery-operated, physiological monitoring device to measure arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and MAP) using a Cuff. Measurements may be initiated manually (one at a time), automatically at selectable predefined intervals of 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes or continuously. It is powered by a rechargeable battery lasting at least 12 hours, the Monitor is a lightweight (weighing approximately 125 grams) portable patient vital signs monitor featuring a high resolution, full-color display touch screen with visual and audible alarms and alerts.
Here is a walk-through of a few things to note from troubleshooting to recalibrating.
- Before connecting the cuff module to the wrist monitor to calibrate, view the ECG rhythm and SpO2 pleth waveform and check for good quality waveforms.
- Do not use the ViSi Mobile Cuff Module on a patient's arm where the use of a blood pressure cuff is contraindicated.
- The ViSi Mobile Monitor, Thumb Sensor, Cuff Module, and the Chest Sensor must all be connected to the same arm for the System to function correctly.
- Avoid touching the ViSi Mobile Disposable Cuff during cuff inflation as it may disrupt the measurement
- Changes in posture and arm height can affect ViSi cNIBP accuracy. Improper cuff size or application may lead to inaccurate readings. The cuff should be at the same level as the patient's heart. If the cNIBP measurement is questionable, retake the measurement. Ideally, recalibrate in the same position as the initial calibration.
To troubleshoot:
- If the pie doesn't fill, do not focus troubleshooting on the blood pressure cuff, NIBP hose adapter and/or cuff module. Focus troubleshooting on the thumb sensor and/or chest sensor
- Thumb sensor: check orientation and placement, white tab should be palm side and facing down.
- Pleth waveform: observe for the uniform waveform.
- Chest Sensor positioning: chest sensor should be oriented with leads hanging down.
- ECG waveform: check for the quality of tracing and visible 'R' waves.
- Electrodes: Check for proper placement and adherence to skin
- No NIBP Measurement: Check battery, Make sure the Cuff Module is plugged securely into the monitor, from NIBP settings screen, select an automatic interval.
To recalibrate for continuous monitoring:
When the red bar is displayed on the screen, it indicates the Monitor will measure continuous blood pressure (cNIBP) when the Chest Sensor and Thumb Sensor are connected to a Monitor.
- Connect the ViSi Mobile Chest Sensor, Thumb Sensor, and Cuff Module and navigate to the Vitals Signs screen.
- Have the patient positioned in a supine, semi-Fowler's, or side-lying position during cNIBP calibration.
- The Start Cuff button will change to the Calibrate cNIBP button. When the patient's PAT, posture, and arm height are stable for approximately 30 seconds, the Calibrate cNIBP button appears with a red cuff indicating cNIBP is ready to be calibrated.
- Note: When the patient's PAT, posture, or arm height is not stable for approximately 30 seconds, the Calibrate cNIBP button is disabled. The button will be disabled until the patient's PAT, posture and arm height are stable.
- When the criteria to calibrate cNIBP has not been met, a pie symbol will be displayed on top of the disabled "cNIBP Calibrate" button. The pie will fill and empty to reflect the readiness of the calibration criteria: patient's PAT, posture, and arm height are stable for approximately 30 second
- The patient should not move until after the red cNIBP measurements are displayed
- Touch Calibrate cNIBP on the Vital Signs screen
- The Cuff will start to inflate, indicating the calibration process has started.
- After a single NIBP measurement has been taken, the ViSi Mobile Monitor will calibrate cNIBP. The NIBP measurement will be displayed in white during the calibration process.
- After cNIBP has been calibrated, Systolic, Diastolic, and MAP measurements will be displayed in red. The displayed measurement will be refreshed every 3 seconds, The calibration process takes approximately 1 to 2 minutes to complete.
- If the calibration is not successful, the monitor will use the previous calibration curve. If no previous calibration curve exists, the NIBP measurements will continue to show in white text. The failure will be indicated by a "Calibration Failed" alert.
- After the calibration process is completed, it is acceptable for the patient to change position.
- Remove the Cuff from the patient and the ViSi Mobile Cuff Module from the Monitor
- The continuous measurements will continue to display/update even after the cuff has been disconnected.
