Three types of Sphygmomanometer

Mercury Sphygmomanometer

The mercury sphygmomanometer is the most conventional form of blood pressure apparatus, and it can be considered the golden standard in the health industry. 

Mercury sphygmomanometers are made up of manually inflatable cuffs that are attached to measuring units with mercury-infused tubes. 

While operating the device, it is important to place the apparatus on a flat surface and in an upright position to get the correct readings. 

These devices are very delicate and require special care, and if accidentally dropped can cause rupture of mercury, rendering the device useless and potentially hazardous.

The biggest advantage of using mercury sphygmomanometers is that they are quite easy to use, and if used properly, can last a lifetime. 

The device can produce the most accurate results without requiring much readjustment. 

Due to the toxic nature of its contents, however, the use of mercury sphygmomanometers have been banned in some countries, and other forms of sphygmomanometers are being used instead.

Aneroid Sphygmomanometer

Aneroid means “without fluid,” and as the name suggests, this type of BP apparatus doesn’t make use of any mercury and is therefore considered the safest alternative to mercury sphygmomanometers.


Its recording procedures are pretty similar to that of the mercury sphygmomanometer, except the stethoscope’s attachment to the cuff.


In the aneroid device, the cuff is attached to a dial gauge with tubing. The gauge head contains mechanical parts that convert the cuff pressure into gauge-based reading.


 Additionally, there are various other types of aneroid sphygmomanometers depending on how they are used. These include:
pocket-aneroid sphygmomanometers,
palm aneroid sphygmomanometers,
 and clock-style aneroid sphygmomanometers.


Ultimately, the benefit of using aneroid sphygmomanometers is the affordability of the apparatus, as well as its compact and handy nature.

However, similar to other devices used to measure blood pressure, aneroid sphygmomanometers make use of a delicate mechanism and therefore necessitates careful handling.

Aneroid sphygmomanometers also require recalibration by experts, to avoid cases of faulty reading.

Automatic Digital 

Sphygmomanometer

The automatic digital sphygmomanometer is the most technologically-advanced sphygmomanometer design to date. 

These devices use an electronic pressure sensor to measure the blood pressure, and the readings are presented on a digital display. 

Similar to mercury and aneroid sphygmomanometers, digital sphygmomanometers also come with inflatable cuffs, but there is a difference in the procedure for measuring blood pressure. Unlike the other two types, automatic digital sphygmomanometers evaluate and measure the fluctuations of arteries.

 These devices are perfect for home use as they are easiest to operate. To avoid the risk of inaccurate readings, periodic counter checks with conventional mercury sphygmomanometers are recommended.