
FASTSphyg by Koven
OPERATION
1. Ask the patient to sit or lie comfortably with legs uncrossed. Make sure the arm is
level with the heart and that the arm and back are supported. The patient should
relax comfortably for ve (5) minutes before testing and should be instructed not to
talk or move during the measurement.
2. Wrap a properly sized pressure cuff, comfortably snug around the patient’s bare limb
or digit. Arm cuffs should be positioned with the middle of the cuff on the upper arm
at heart level.
3. Use extender tubing to connect the sphyg to the cuff. Insert the tubing connector
and twist clockwise to secure to the sphygmomanometer. When properly attached,
less than 1/16” of connector shaft will remain visible.
4. Apply a Doppler probe or stethoscope to the artery and listen for steady pulse
sounds.
5. Press the actuator button to begin cuff ination. There will be a slight delay before
ination begins. This allows the device to determine the proper cuff size. However,
there will be no delay if using a digit cuff.
Keep the actuator button depressed until the desired pressure is obtained. To avoid
parallax error, the operator should view the guage face in a direct line. The cuff
should be inated approximately 20 mmHg past the point where waveform motion
and/or sound ceases (K5). Release the button to stop cuff ination. Press the
actuator button again to continue ination.
6. Gradually deate the cuff at a rate of 2-3 mmHg per second by pressing down on the
trigger until sound and/or waveform motion returns.
7. The point where sounds and/or waveform motion returns is the systolic pressure.
Note the millimeters of mercury reading at the point where sounds and/or waveform
motion ceases. This is the diastolic pressure.
8. After measurement is complete, open the trigger valve fully to release any remaining
air in the cuff. Disconnect the tubing from the cuff by twisting the connector counter-
clockwise.
NOTE: For correct cuff sizing, refer to your cuff manufacturer’s guidelines.
NOTE: Before inating the cuff, be sure the trigger valve lock mechanism is
released.
NOTE: In children ages 3 - 12, inate the cuff until sound is mufed (K4). K5
should be used for pregnant female patients, unless sounds are audible when
the cuff is deated, in which case K4 should be used.
NOTE: Altering the pressure applied to the trigger valve during deation affects
the deation rate.
NOTE: For rapid deation, squeeze the trigger valve until it clicks and locks
into place.
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