MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Blood Pressure Monitoring Using the 26PC SMT
PRODUCT
Additional Pressure Sensor information is available on the web at:
http://content.honeywell.com/sensing/prodinfo/pressure/
26PC SMT Series
CONTACT US
For application assistance, current
specifications or name of the nearest
Authorized Distributor, check the
Honeywell web site or call:
1-800-537-6945 USA
1-800-737-3360 Canada
1-815-235-6847 International
FAX 1-815-235-6545 USA
INTERNET
www.honeywell.com/sensing
info.sc@honeywell.com
BACKGROUND
Blood pressure monitors measure the pressure flowing through the blood
vessels against the walls of the arteries. If blood flow is normal, then blood
pressure is normal (average 120/80). If blood flow becomes restricted in some
way, blood pressure goes up. If increased blood pressure goes undetected, the
person is at risk of severe medical problems.
APPLICATION
The most common method for measuring blood pressure is with a pressure cuff
hooked to a mercury manometer. A health care professional manually pumps
the cuff to put pressure on the artery. He or she then uses a stethoscope to
time the noise of the blood rushing through the artery (onset is systolic pres-
sure), and the noise of the blood slowing to the resting mode (diastolic pres-
sure).
Today, blood pressure monitoring has become much easier and more efficient
due to automated monitoring equipment. This equipment currently is in place at
most hospitals and pharmacies. To simplify the process even more, an “at-
home” solid-state blood pressure monitor is now available. This trend toward
smaller, more portable medical equipment has resulted in the need for smaller
electronics to control and operate the equipment.
HONEYWELL’S SOLUTIONS TO CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS
Honeywell offers the 26PC SMT (Surface Mount Technology) Series pressure
sensor. This small, low-cost, high-value pressure sensing solution takes the
place of the health care professional having to place a stethoscope under the
pressure cuff to
hear
the noise of the rushing blood. The sensor measures
blood pressure faster and more accurately than manual devices, and is used
directly with printed circuit boards (PCBs). The blood pressure monitor has an
on-board processor to cycle through the test, record results and output the
results to a digital read-out screen. Instead of watching the mercury fall in the
manometer, the pressure sensor acts as the mechanism to provide a visual aid
and noise monitor of the pulse of blood flowing through the arteries.
Based on the long-established reliability and accuracy of Honeywell’s 26PC
pressure sensor, the 26PC SMT offers reduced size with true surface-mount
capability. This means lower installation costs to the customer. Cost also is
contained because the sensor uses only five components and incorporates
one, simple assembly process.
The calibrated 26PC SMT is easy to use and works in conjunction with
Honeywell’s functional switches. These switches “zero out” the monitor (auto-
matically setting the reading back to zero), reducing the need for operator
interface.