INFORMATION
Part numbers for FLO-LAB and MINI-LAB replacement parts

FLO-LAB 2100

MINI-LAB 3100

VASCULAR CUFFS

To order any of the parts listed above, please call 1-800-547-6427 and press 0 on the voice menu.

NOTE: SoftCheck cuffs can be reused but should not be expected to last as long as regular blood pressure cuffs.  Most people consider them disposable after a use or two.  They have Velcro closures.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Appropriate sized cuffs should be used to obtain blood pressure readings. Using cuffs that are too small gives falsely elevated pressures. Parks recommends the following:

• 12 cm segmental BP cuffs should be used for arms, legs, and ankles.
• 10 cm segmental BP cuffs should be used for wrists and forearms.
• 1.9 cm digit BP cuffs should be used for the second-fifth toes and smaller fingers.
• 2.5 cm penile BP cuffs (an inch longer than digit BP cuffs) should be used for larger toes and fingers.

DISCUSSION: Making true pressure measurements non-invasively depends upon having the proper cuff width with respect to the cross sectional area of the limb.  In other words, you wouldn’t use the same cuff on a thin person that you would on an obese one.  In diagnosing vascular disease, ratios of pressures at different sites and drops in pressure from one measurement site to the other are our concern more than true pressure values.  To get true arterial pressures above the knee you would need much wider cuffs.  The problem is that there would only be room for one measurement site.  Some 30 years ago it was decided that it was more important to get two measurements above the knee so that a pressure gradient could be detected if there were disease in the femoral artery.  Which width you use depends on whose protocol you follow.  Generally 12 cm cuffs are used.  The old standard for disease was a pressure drop of 30 mm Hg between any two measuring sites, however a drop of 20 mm Hg is now more commonly used.

All values and techniques for diagnosing disease must come from medical literature and medical doctors. Any recommendations we give are solely to help get you started with the right equipment and give you some idea of what to do and what to look for.