Mobile Blood Pressure – Assessment Summary

iHealth BP3

Positives

Hardware:

• Nice colors; handsome
• Most Comfortable cuff on the arm, soft material; feels comfortable during inflation
• Has a smooth operation and takes BP reading during the up inflation cycle.
• Comes with Adult and Large Adult Cuff; easy to change out
• Dock is sturdy & solid
• Internal proprietary battery that charges by plugging in; lasts for @ 100 readings per charge

Software:

• Very nice iPad interface – Intuitive, Simple navigation, Very good instructional help
• Excellent graphical display with pulse wave
• Has WHO blood pressure classification scheme with charts and graphs of all BP readings
• Best tools for BP tracking, trending, analytics, etc. Can average over a selected date range.

Negatives

Hardware:

• Requires docking station and clumsy to line up the connectors
• Need to remove iPhone from Otter or other case in order to fit onto the dock/port
• Depressable button has no apparent function other than to indicate battery level.
• Floppy cuff that rotates a bit around the arm when you try to cinch it; so you need to reposition it.
• Cuff end can curl over and stick to Velcro.
• If the battery fails, you need to send it into the manufacturer.
• On one person, the cuff inadvertently inflated to 280 before deflating (their BP was 100/65).
• Slowest reading time … 43 sec. (vs. Withings 35 sec.)
• With two people doing this, the pt. could pull their arm and knock the iPad out of the dock.

Software:

• Confusing battery instructions and indicators:
• Says it shows battery charge level? “Application should now recognize the iHealth Dock and display the battery capacity.” LED display button on docking station flashed differently based on the battery charge status; this is confusing. Instructions note “Pulsing” vs. “Twinkling”
• Does not have 3 reading auto mode (but can average over select date range, if selected)

Withings BP-800

Positives

Hardware:

• All-in-one unit
• Nice bright colors of green & white
• Easy to put on the arm; can use the canister to reposition the cuff
• Easy to plug into iPhone (no docking station needed); dongle attachment
• Cuff style: partial spring
• Very nice iPad interface
• Uses standard Alkaline batteries, 4 x AAA
• Faster reading time … 35 sec.

Negatives

Hardware:

• Firm, tight cuff; most snug when inflating
• 4 Alkaline batteries to replace

Omron BP791IT

Positives

Hardware:

• Comfortable cuff
• Nice neutral color – gray/blue combination
• Cuff style: partial spring
• Thumb guide is nice
• Takes BP on down cycle
• Large letters
• Errors noted as “E1” – Arm cuff not applied correctly
• Allows for two users and saved readings. User “A” and “B”
• Faster reading time … 35 sec.
• 5 year Warranty (vs. 1 year for Withings & iHealth)

Software:

• Once the software is loaded, it dumps all of the BP data into Microsoft Health Vault.

Negatives

Hardware:

• Large, bulky to carry as “mobile”
• Integrates to Microsoft Health Vault via laptop, not cell phone
• Some glare on Screen
• May press button too fast and therefore it does not come on and think it is not working.

Software:

• To utilize with Health Vault, it requires you to download:
• For the average user, this is a somewhat complicated process to connect the system to Microsoft Health Vault.
  • Microsoft Health Vault drivers for Omron BP791IT (32 or 64 bit) See: http://www.omronhealthcare.com/service-and-support/connected-health/
  • Health Vault Connections Center
  • Once rebooted you need to freshly reconnect the device
  • It then auto detects
  • Then there is a “Download” screen
  • Then, asks to Select data for User “A” or “B”

Omron HEM-670IT

Positives

Hardware:

• Small, easiest portability wise
• Wrist cuff is easiest to put on; comfortable & soft
• Nice neutral color – gray
• Three average mode
• Daytime & Evening average button
• Fastest reading time … 30 sec
• 5 year Warranty (vs. 1 year for Withings & iHealth)

Software:

• Once the software is loaded, it dumps all of the BP data into Microsoft Health Vault.

Negatives

Hardware:

• Have to hold arm across chest to obtain an accurate reading
• Positional – sometimes difficult to get it to read
• Most difficult to position for people with very thin arms
• Smaller text to read and it is dark on blue green LED
• Some readings not as reliable
• Some glare on Screen

Software:

• To utilize with Health Vault, it requires you to download:
• For the average user, this is a somewhat complicated process to connect the system to Microsoft Health Vault.
  • Microsoft Health Vault drivers for Omron HEM-670IT (32 or 64 bit) See: http://www.omronhealthcare.com/service-and-support/connected-health/
  • Health Vault Connections Center
  • Once rebooted you need to freshly reconnect the device
  • It then auto detects
  • Then screen “Download”