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Omron Healthcare, Inc. has unveiled a portable blood pressure machine for the professional market, dubbed the HBP-T105 Series. The recently launched monitor sells from $900 to $2,000 depending on the configuration.

"The problem with most blood pressure machines," says Chuck Crisafulli, senior marketing manager for professional products, "is that they can be very uncomfortable because they squeeze everyone's arm with the same amount of pressure.

"Omron's blood pressure machines use patented technology (called Smart Inflation technology) that in a nutshell, allows the system to sense when the patient's artery has been closed," Crisafulli says. "This means that the person with lower blood pressure experiences less pressure than those patients with higher pressure who need more pumping."

Crisafulli speculates that if patients are more comfortable, they complain less and might even have less 'white coat syndrome,' which would yield a more accurate blood pressure reading.

The monitor has a built in industry standard: HL7, so if someone wants it to communicate with medical records, or with other machines, there is no margin of error, Crisafulli says. "Our customers hold on to these products for about seven years and are afraid the product will become obsolete during that time. We've built in the technology to allow the product to last," he says.

He says the technology in the devices is capable of monitoring non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP, Systolic, Diastolic and Mean) seven-second temperature (Alaris technology) and blood oxygen saturation (Spo2, Nellcor and Masimo technologies). "Not everyone needs all the bells and whistles."

What is more, the design is user-friendly. A large LED display allows a wide viewing angle with color-coded parameters for increased visibility. Easy-to-see function buttons include black lighting for quick and efficient navigation even in low light conditions.

Crisafulli says that Omron, a Japanese company that makes consumer monitors, made its first foray into the professional market when it acquired Colin Medical of San Antonio, TX two years ago. Crisafulli had been selling professional monitors for Colin at the time of the acquisition.