Use of patient simulators to characterize the repeatability and reproducibility of automated oscillometric blood pressure monitors.

Objectives: Automated oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitors can be critical health assessment tools if they are accurate and can provide repeatable and reproducible readings. Commercial patient simulators are capable of screening for poorly performing oscillometric BP monitors. A valid screening bench test method to identify unreliable and underperforming BP monitors could advance surveillance of these devices and support regulatory decision making.

Assessment of the durability of medical examination gloves.

This study determined the durability of various types of medical examination gloves using a laboratory test developed by the researchers. Results of this testing are compared with a simulated clinical method, also developed by the researchers, found to produce failures at rates similar to actual clinical use. Ten types of exam gloves were tested.