Most of us know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. With a quarter of a million new cases each year in the U.S. alone, it is likely we are all touched by this terrible disease. We’re proud to do our small part by contributing annually.

Study after study has demonstrated the value of regularly monitoring your blood pressure at home. The 2013 WHO paper on hypertension urges home measurement. But how do you go about selecting an instrument when there are dozens of brands and models?

Okay, blood pressure probably isn’t that much fun, and hypertension is downright somber. But just because this key vital sign is serious doesn’t mean the device that measures BP – the sphygmomanometer – can’t be fun. So say hello to our new Designer Cuff.

Unlike choosing a stethoscope, where the selection often comes down to personal preference and budget, aneroid sphygmomanometers are produced in vastly different designs for fairly specific applications. Let’s start by identifying 3 basic aneroid designs.