The History Of Blood Pressure Monitors
From early 19th-century mercury manometers to our modern electronic devices, the blood pressure monitor has come a long way. Let’s take a look at the history of this important medical device.
Early mercury manometers were used to measure blood pressure. These devices used mercury to measure the pressure in the arteries. The first mercury manometer was developed by French physician Nicolas Andry in 1733.
German physician Samuel Siegrist improved on Andry’s design in 1847. Siegrist’s mercury manometer used a U-shaped tube of mercury. The mercury was allowed to flow into the tube until the pressure within the tube equaled the pressure in the artery.
The first mercury manometer that could be used on humans was developed by Austrian physician Karl von Vierordt in 1856. Von Vierordt’s device was a mercury manometer with a hand-held bellows attached. The mercury manometer was placed under the arm and the bellows was used to pump air into the mercury.
The first direct measurements of blood pressure were made using a mercury manometer by Russian physiologist Sergei Botkin in 1869. Botkin’s mercury manometer was similar to von Vierordt’s device.
The first accurate, non-invasive blood pressure device was developed by Italian physician Scipione Riva-Rocci in 1896. Riva-Rocci’s device used a cuff placed around the arm. The cuff was inflated and then released. The change in mercury level in the mercury manometer was used to calculate systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
In 1901, German physician Karl August Wunderlich published the first study on blood pressure. Wunderlich’s study used the mercury manometer to measure blood pressure in over a thousand patients.
In 1924, American physiologist Harvey Cushing improved on Riva-Rocci’s design. Cushing’s device used a mercury-filled rubber balloon instead of a mercury manometer. The mercury-filled balloon was attached to a rubber tube. The tube was connected to a pressure gauge.
The first electronic blood pressure device was developed by Japanese engineer Akira Hoshikawa in 1931. Hoshikawa’s device used a cathode ray tube to measure the changes in blood pressure.
The first automated blood pressure device was developed by American engineer Ned Levine in 1953. Levine’s device was a mechanical device that used a stethoscope to listen to the heart and a mercury manometer to measure blood pressure.
The first electronic blood pressure monitor was developed by British engineer Alec Hart in 1958. Hart’s device used a loudspeaker to amplify the sound of the heart and an electronic pressure sensor to measure blood pressure.
The first portable blood pressure monitor was developed by American engineer Wallace Gordon in 1962. Gordon’s device was similar to Hart’s device but was small enough to be carried in a suitcase.
The first home blood pressure monitor was developed by American engineer Clair Linsteadt in 1967. Linsteadt’s device was small enough to be placed on a tabletop.
The first digital blood pressure monitor was developed by Japanese engineer Hiroshi Oishi in 1971. Oishi’s device used a pressure-sensitive switch to measure blood pressure.
The first wrist blood pressure monitor was developed by Japanese engineer Masao Oishi in 1974. Oishi’s device was similar to Oishi’s earlier digital blood pressure monitor but was small enough to be worn on the wrist.
The first automatic blood pressure monitor was developed by American engineer Frank Wolf in 1976. Wolf’s device used an inflatable cuff and a stethoscope to measure blood pressure.
The first home blood pressure monitor with a display was developed by American engineer George Graetz in 1977. Graetz’s device was similar to Wolf’s device but included a display that showed the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.
The first clinical blood pressure monitor was developed by American engineer Ronald A. Roth in 1981. Roth’s device used an inflatable cuff and an electronic pressure sensor to measure blood pressure.
The first home blood pressure monitor with voice output was developed by Canadian engineer Clarence Bacon in 1982. Bacon’s device was similar to Roth’s device but included a voice synthesizer that announced the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.
The first ambulatory blood pressure monitor was developed by British engineer David Barker in 1985. Barker’s device was similar to Roth’s device but was small enough to be worn on the wrist.