EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Erka Sphygmomanometers

Any ideas on how you dismantle an Erka Erkameter 3000 mercury sphyg?

Not one we usually get in our dept and I can't work out how to get it apart so help would be gratefully appreciated.

If I were you, I wouldn't attempt to dismantle any mercury sphygmos as you will be very likely to spill the liquid metal and have the hassle of clearing up the spill.

Dispose of it using a specialist contractor and replace with an aneroid sphygmo.

Err, why would you want to dismantle it?

If it’s failed a static pressure test then it is either very old and the mercury has become fragmented and contaminated or it has been over pressurised and mercury is sticking to the filter at the top of the column which will cause a vacuum effect. If the filter at the top has got mercury sticking to it, try tapping the top of the column as this sometimes dislodges the mercury.

If it was me, given the low replacement cost, I wouldn’t bother trying to fix it I’d simply replace it.

With regard to replacing it I would suggest one of the following; please note the following list is based on ease of use and are my own personal preferences, and does not take into account any local policies that may affect your purchasing decision.

UM-101 Mercury-Free Sphygmomanometer
Looks like and works like a mercury column, without the mercury

Erkameter 3000
Mercury column

ERKA Perfect Aneroid Sphygmomanometer with auto release valve
Small pocket sized aneroid

You have probably noticed that the aneroid device is last, this is deliberate. In my personal opinion there are only a few pocket sized aneroid devices that I would consider as being accurate, reliable and robust. More often than not, cost is the presiding factor which means that the user ends up with a cheap, unreliable aneroid that will need recalibrating on a three-monthly basis to ensure that the readings are accurate. Some of these cheap aneroids (pocket, desk and wall) don’t have a marker for zero they have an elongated 0, this is because they can’t get the needle to point to marker line that indicates zero and typically they go out of sync very quickly.

If it was me, given the low replacement cost, I wouldn’t bother trying to fix it I’d simply replace any and all manual devices with the UM-101 Mercury-Free Sphygmomanometer.

PLEASE NOTE:
I freely admit that I work for a specialist importer, supplier and distributor of blood pressure devices and I did not join the EBME forum to sell my products. I joined the forum so that I can provide clear, unbiased and impartial advice and information.

Our department performs annual services on mercury sphygs mainly Pymah and Accosson but there are the odd Erkameter 3000 out there. The main reason for wishing to pull this one apart was to clean the inside of the tube as it was a little dirty and is part of our normal service routine.

I am aware of the 'dangers' associated with dismantling sphygs, I have been doing it long enough but we are in an area where every penny counts so sphygs are serviced as opposed to being replaced even thought it probably isn't too cost effective.

two comments:

I am surprised your establishment / Trust can afford to pay salaries, to service sphygs, where you can buy them for around £20 each.

Secondly, it is interesting to see comments from a commercial company, then he / she declares that this is impartial!!!

I thought this was a forum to share professional views?
alex

This is a forum to share professional views.

Alex, can I get a job at your hospital as money seems to be no object there
It must be if you can afford to change all of your mercury sphygs every twelve months.

Whether we service sphygs or not is immaterial as it still doesn't answer my original question, how do you get a 3000 apart?

I am sure you have heard of COSHH regulations and withdrawal of mercury from hospitals several years ago.

I hope this helps you to justify to your management to invest in non-mercury sphygs.

alex

I don't think I'd want a job at Alex's hospital, if they change everything every 12 months sooner or later they'd probably end up changing Alex!

Anyway has the COSHH regulations and withdrawal of mercury had any effect, Mercury sphyg's are still popular but with the latest regulations and now that disposal is getting more expensive that will probably change.