One of activities in the development of the advanced oscillometric generator (aOSG) was the identification of commercially available simulators of oscillometric signals and, where possible, investigation of their strengths and weaknesses. 23 simulators from 11 producers were identified.
The evaluation summarised in the table below was strictly done based on manufacturer specifications (from manuals where these were available; alternatively, promotion material was used) and does not take into account the performance evaluation of the simulators. An in-depth comparison of the performance of all the devices in the table does not exist in the literature, but comparisons between some of these devices is available [1,2].
While new and compact simulators are available on the market, they are limited in the options offered concerning NIBP simulations and rather manufactured for quick and basic evaluations of BP device or patient monitors. Their advantage is generally the option to quickly test a (wide) variety of vital signals which often comes at the expense of accuracy or user-customised options.
None of the currently available commercial devices supports external files (e.g. real life oscillometric signals), which is for the purpose of our project an essential requirement. While some of the devices from Clinical Dynamics and Fluke describe their devices as being able to simulate physiologically correct waveforms, this is to be understood as idealised-shaped envelopes. The impossibility of such devices to work with external data was confirmed during our discussions/negotiations with both companies.
Manufacturer: Clinical Dynamics
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| AccuPulse Benchtop NIBP [link] | • built-in adult and neonate mandrels • self-system leak test • over-pressure test mode • relatively wide simulation range • NIBP dependent calibration tables • user defined calibration tables • adjustable preset calibration data (Pulse Rate, Envelope Shift and Amplitude) | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • relatively big compared to other commercial devices • motion artifacts and arrhythmia are not available |
| AccuPulse Handheld NIBP [link] | • light weight • self-system leak test • over-pressure test mode • user defined calibration tables • adjustable preset calibration data (Pulse Rate and Amplitude) • simulates physiologically correct waveforms • optional artifacts (e.g. motion, arrhythmia) | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • user-defined option is only available with a software upgrade • Arrhythmia and motion artifacts are only available with a software upgrade |
| AccuSim Handheld [link] | • light weight • self-system leak test • over-pressure test mode • user defined calibration tables • adjustable preset calibration data (Pulse Rate and Amplitude) • simulates physiologically correct waveforms • optional artifacts (e.g. motion, arrhythmia) | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • user-defined option is only available with a software upgrade • Arrhythmia and motion artifacts are only available with a software upgrade |
| AccuPulse Plus [link] | discontinued |
Manufacturer: Fluke
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| BP Pump 2 NIBP Blood Pressure Simulator [link] | • testing adult and neonatal NIBP • arm and wrist cuff types • fleak test • high and low pressure test modes • preset data for different categories of patients (e.g. healthy, geriatric, exercising, etc) • user-definable systolic and diastolic values, heart rate and pulse volume • simulates physiologically correct waveforms • artifacts (e.g. respiratory artifacts, arrhythmias) | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals |
| CuffLink NIBP Analyzer | discontinued | |
| ProSim 4 Vital Sign and ECG Simulator* [link] | • basic testing of patient monitors • fast • compact and light • leak test • pressure relief test • preset data for different categories of patients (adult and neonate) • arrythmia simulation | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • not meant for in-depth verification • only for quick checks and trouble shooting • no possibility for user-defined values • there are only 6 presets to work with (4 adults, 2 neonates) |
| ProSim 8 Vital Signs and ECG Patient Simulator* [link] | • basic testing of patient monitors (8 vital parameters) • compact and light • leak test • pressure relief test • neonatal and adult mode • user-definable BP parameters and envelope • arrythmia simulation | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals |
Manufacturer: Pronk Technologies
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| SC-3 SimCube NIBP Simulator [link] | • small and light • the manual comes with a NIBP dependent calibration table • over-pressure test | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no possibility for user-defined values • a limited no. preset values are available for neonates and adults • no presets for low BP values • no leak test available |
| SC-4 SimCube NIBP Simulator [link] | • small and light • the manual comes with a NIBP dependent calibration table • over-pressure test | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no possibility for user-defined values • a very limited no. preset values are available for neonates and adults • no presets for low BP values • no leak test available |
| SC-5 SimCube NIBP Simulator [link] | • small and light • the manual comes with a NIBP dependent calibration table • leak test • over-pressure test • | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no possibility for user-defined values • a very limited no. preset values are available for neonates and adults |
Manufacturer: Rigel Medical (Seaward Group)
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| Rigel BP-SiM [link] | • small and light • wireless connectivity • leak tests • over-pressure tests • manufacturer specific envelopes • | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no possibility for user-defined values • a very limited no. of preset values are available for infants and adults |
| Rigel UNI-SIM* [link] | • small and light • testing of 6 vital signs • wireless connectivity • leak tests • over-pressure tests • manufacturer specific envelopes | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no possibility for user-defined values for NIBP tests • a very limited no. of preset values are available for infants and adults |
Manufacturer: BC Group
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| NIBP-1010 [link] [link 2] | • small and light • systolic and diastolic shift option (to allow for manufacturer dependent adjustments) • | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no leak test • no possibility for user-defined values for NIBP tests • a very limited no. of preset values are available for neonatal (1) and adults (4) |
| NIBP-1020* [link] | • small and light • systolic and diastolic shift option (to allow for manufacturer dependent adjustments) • | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no leak test • no possibility for user-defined values for NIBP tests • a very limited no. of preset values are available for neonatal (1) and adults (4) |
| NIBP-1030* [link] | • small and light • systolic and diastolic shift option (to allow for manufacturer dependent adjustments) • leak test | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no possibility for user-defined values for NIBP tests • a very limited no. of preset values are available for neonatal (1) and adults (4) |
Manufacturer: Gossen Metrawatt
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| Seculife BP PRO* [link] | • small and light • systolic and diastolic shift option (to allow for manufacturer dependent adjustments) • the shift option comes with a warning not to be used irresponsibly • testing of other vital parameters • leak test | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no possibility for user-defined values for NIBP tests • a very limited no. of preset values are available for neonatal (1) and adults (4) |
Manufacturer: Contec, Niscomed
Manufacturer: Datrend Systems
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| vPad-BP NIBP Simulator [link] | • small and light • leak test • over-pressure test • relatively high no of presets: 7 adult presets, 6 neonatal presets • manufacturer and device dependent settings (for manufacturers not yet included: envelope customisation possible) | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • no artifacts options |
Manufacturer: VNIIOFI
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| upkd-3 [link] | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • not commercially available • very little information online • the little information is available only in Russian | |
| upkd-2 [link] | • no possibility to work with real oscillometric signals • not commercially available • very little information online • the little information is available only in Russian |
Manufacturer: Metron
| Type | +++ | — |
|---|---|---|
| QA-1290 [link] | • advanced versions can work with real oscillometric signals • adult and neonate oscillometric NIBP monitors • individual settings for systolic BP, diastolic BP, heart rate, and the pulse volume/amplitude • programmable customised patient conditions • motion artifacts and arrhythmias | • discontinued • while compatible with a wide variety of monitors, the simulator was optimised for one particular device (Criticon Dinamap Blood Pressure Monitor). |
References:
[2] G. Gersak, Med Biol Eng Comput (2009) 47:1221–1228, DOI:10.1007/s11517-009-0532-2