Do-it-yourself tonometer repair: what are the causes of breakdowns and how to repair?

It is no secret that blood pressure is an important indicator for the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, the entire body system and human vitality. In the family there will always be at least one person suffering from hypertension. Therefore, the house should have a tonometer for regular monitoring of the main indicator of health. Especially the apparatus is required for the elderly and those engaged in heavy physical labor. As a rule, devices are prone to breakdowns, especially often mechanical ones break down. types of tonometers. Therefore, the problem of how to repair a tonometer with your own hands is quite relevant.

Types of devices

The devices under consideration are divided into three types. Each has certain modifications, and also differs from the others in the principle of operation. All species have positive and negative sides. Mechanical offers high precision and low cost. But it takes skill to learn how to use it yourself. Semiautomatic operation is much easier, and it breaks less frequently. An electronic blood pressure monitor has a higher cost and higher accuracy. Even a child is capable of measuring pressure. It is enough to put on the cuffs and press the button, after a while the result will be displayed on the board.

As a rule, device repair consists in changing the component assembly. Why do you need to buy a new mechanism and replace it with a broken one. For example, it is impossible to inflate the cuff with air. This means that the non-return check valve in the pear has broken. Changing only the valve is pointless; you need to replace the entire assembly, along with the tubes.

Electronic and semi-automatic machines at a price higher than a mechanical device several times. For these types of devices, not too frequent malfunctions are noted. Often occur:

• malfunctions in the mechanism itself;
• absence or delay in displaying indicators;
  

  Problems in displaying indicators

• impaired cuff filling with air;
• formation of incorrect indicators in comparison with other types of devices.

Serious breakdowns are best eliminated at the service center, because a warranty card is issued for repairs, and it is forbidden to do repairs yourself before the expiration of its validity. You can change the pear, cuff, batteries yourself, the warranty card does not apply to them.

How to fix the tonometer correctly: features and recommendations?

If you decide to save time and money and repair the tonometer yourself, you must first find the malfunction in the device. If a person often uses it, then it will not be difficult to determine a broken part. If the problem is air leakage from the system, then it must be detected. Having found the place of the air passage, this element is simply required to be replaced with a new one. If after that the pressure measurement went well, then everything worked out.

How to repair a mechanical tonometer with your own hands?

What breakdowns can a mechanical device have and how to fix them yourself:

• The cause of the breakdown is the loss of the pressure gauge needle. Here you can’t fix the breakdown yourself. It is recommended to buy a new pressure gauge and replace it with a broken one.
  

  Pressure gauge in a mechanical tonometer

• Air leaks in the device - you need to find the place of leakage. This may be a place in the hose connections, in the pear, cuff. Defective item must be replaced.
• In the supercharger, the air bleed valve sticks, which is located on the back of the faucet - they bleed air during the process. It is necessary to replace the pear - if the tube passes air, then cut out the holey section, and attach the pipe to the pear.
  

  Valve sticking in pear

• The faucet quickly poisons the air - replace either just it or the entire supercharger.

Buy the part you need for mechanical tonometer You can in the online store, ordering by phone, or in the medical equipment store.

Features of repair of electronic equipment

Breakdowns and repair methods for electronic devices:

• When unrealistic indicators are displayed on the board, it is first necessary to replace the battery. If this does not help, you need to look for an air leak in the cuff, pear and the pipe connecting them. Here, repairs are carried out according to circumstances: replacement with new parts or elimination of leaks.
  

  Quick fix - battery change

• If you tried to fix the breakdown, everything that can be replaced, and air passes, then you need to carry the device to a service center or even buy a new tonometer. The device itself is considered a durable device, but the camera and pear in it are designed for 2-3 years of use.
• Most often, the cause of the malfunction of the semi-automatic tonometer lies in the supercharger, which supplies air to the cuff, or in the cuff itself. They just need to be replaced with new ones. But the tap for bleeding air works without breakdowns for a long time.

Automatic devices to disable is not so simple. If you don’t drop the tonometer, do not hit it and do not shake it with force, then it will last for many years. The electronics inside the camera are quite fragile and require a delicate and careful attitude.

Leaky cuff repair

If the problem is air bleeding, then you need to find a place for the gap. When it is located directly on the cuff, it is not necessary to replace it; it can be repaired. How to repair an airtight cuff of a tonometer:

• If the hole is small, and the cuff is strong and worn out, then you can solder with a hot glue gun.
• A piece of a patch of rubber or other suitable material can be glued onto the gap with rubber glue.
• Take a strip of thick aluminum and bend it in half. Insert a damaged place between them and pinch it with metal, help yourself with pliers. Coat this place with glue.

When the air leaves the factory soldering place, it can be vulcanized with a soldering iron at 180 degrees. It is important to remember that cuff repair is cheaper than replacement, but it will not last too long after the intervention. Therefore, be prepared to replace this item.

How to disassemble the AND tonometer?

The AND UB 201 tonometer is a bracelet-type device for measuring pressure readings. Most often, the cuff in this model fails. To repair or replace it, it is necessary to remove it correctly. This is done in the sequence:

1. Batteries are removed from the camera.
2. Remove the clamps that secure the cuff (they are on both sides of the case) by prying them with a screwdriver.
3. Pulling on the cuff, release it from the tonometer body, to which it is attached with two more latches.
4. The housing cover is attached with two bolts at the back, they need to be unscrewed with a screwdriver. Carefully open the cover and remove it.
5. To completely disassemble the tonometer, you should press in the recesses at the top of the case with the same screwdriver, and it will easily fall apart.

The assembly of the body is in the reverse order. It is important to put all its parts in place and fasten to special “pins”.

The question is considered in detail, if the tonometer does not work, what to do.You can contact the service center and have it repaired, but it will take a lot of time and extra money will be spent. Failure associated with the replacement of any element, you can fix it yourself - buy a new part in a medical equipment store and put in place a faulty one.