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Welcome to W. A. Baum Co. Inc., manufacturer of the Baumanometer® sphygmomanometer, recognized throughout the world as the standard by which other blood pressure instruments are calibrated.

News

New Product Release - The Baum Bariatric Inflation System

Bariatric Patients have special needs

Often the upper arm of a bariatric patient is conical or V-shaped. This inhibits the smooth application of a standard (rectangular) blood pressure cuff because they do not conform to the conical shape of the limb. A gap at the bottom of the cuff near the elbow is a common occurrence and is a clear indication of a misapplied cuff.

The Baum Bariatric Inflation System is curved, easy to apply and conforms naturally to a conical limb. The result is correct application of the cuff and even compression of the artery.

“Although both aneroid and electronic instruments have some advantages of portability and ease of use, few of these instruments have had adequate validation. Still fewer of these instrument’s are calibrated regularly. To be sure, these instruments have a place in patient management, particularly with respect to their use as home monitoring devices. However most of these instruments have not been adequately validated over a wide range of blood pressures, ages, and clinical conditions to warrant routine use in hospitals and outpatient settings.”

Hypertension magazine, Vol. 37, no. 2 (February 2001)
“To subject a patient to a lifetime of treatment based on measurement from a device which may be inaccurate is bad medicine and bad public policy.”

ABCnews.com, 6/20/02

(NAPS)-You look good, even feel good-but not so fast. The best measure of true health may be the numbers inside your body-and of those numbers, doctors say blood pressure ranks among the top. According to the American Heart Association, 50 million Americans over age 6 (one out of five) suffer from high blood pressure. Almost a third of them don’t know it. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can cause heart and kidney disease, stroke, even death. Within the past ten years, deaths from high blood pressure have risen almost 50 percent.

Doctors agree that getting an accurate reading of your blood pressure is very important for managing your health. There are three different types of instruments used to measure blood pressure: aneroid (circular), digital (electronic) and mercurygravity (column) manometers. Recently, doctors have questioned the accuracy of some of these devices.

“The gold standard for accurate blood pressure measurement is mercury,” says Dr. Paul Thompson, director of preventive cardiology and cardiovascular research at Hartford Hospital and professor of medicine at the University of Connecticut. “Over time,” he continues, “digital and aneroid devices can become decalibrated or fall out of balance due to metal fatigue and other sources of variability.Because the weight of mercury and the effect of gravity never change, we know a mercury-gravity reading is always accurate.”

Doctors rely on mercury-gravity manometers for scientifically accurate readings. “When you go to your doctor’s office, the first thing you should do is look to see how your blood pressure is being measured,” advises Dr. Thompson. “If it’s with a mercury-gravity manometer, you can relax. If it’s being measured with an aneroid or digital instrument, simply ask: ‘When was the last time this machine was calibrated for accuracy? ‘A lot of doctors’ offices never calibrate their devices.”

Doctors recommend the next time you have your blood pressure taken, ask when the device was last calibrated. High blood pressure can’t be cured, but in most cases it can be controlled. Having your pressure accurately measured is one way to keep on track to good health.

Letters

Inez E. Fuller, R.N.

Ms. Grace Lancia
W.A. Baum Co., Inc.
620 Oak St.
Copiague, N.Y. 11726

September 26, 2002

Re: Receipt of flat cover spring

Dear Mrs. Lancia:

Thank you very much for your immediate response to my request for a flat cover spring for a desk model Baumanometer U6 79 56. Installation was quick and simple to do.

You may be interested in knowing that my family physician, member of a large group of medical doctors, has just replaced all late model dial-faced blood pressure apparatuses with wall mounted mercury column Baumanometers. Many thanks for still being there! I, personally, feel more confident in the readings.

Very truly yours,
Inez E. Fuller, R.N.
Raleigh, NC

Mr. James Baum
Vice-President of Marketing and Sales
W.A. Baum Company Incorporated
Copiague, NY 11726-3292

January 29, 1990

Dear Mr. Baum:

I read, with interest, your letter of January 17, 1990, and am writing to you to thank you for your expeditious repair of my Baumanometer instrument, serial #208154. I was also delighted to receive the photocopy of the ledger entry indicating that this was shipped to my grandfather, Dr. Lee Otis Vickery, of Lena, IL, on September 2, 1936.

You may be interested to know that this blood pressure unit has been in continual service since that time with the exception of the years that my father served in WWII. It took 50 years of continual operation before requiring repair.

I acquired the instrument from my father when he retired from general practice in mid-1984, at the same time that I began my neurology practice here in Camp Hill, PA. I have on a number of occasions spot-checked it for accuracy with another unit, and have found it extremely reliable. I enjoy having and using the instrument, not only because of its reliability, but also because it serves as a reminder of my medical heritage.

Again, thank you for your attention to it, and I too feel it has many miles to go before it sleeps.

Sincerely,
Patterson, Yanofsky, Vickery & Levin, LTD.
Associates in Neurology
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
W.A. Baum Company Incorporated
Copiague, NY 11726-3292

March 20, 1995

Dear Sirs,

Several years ago I purchased a desk model Baumanometer, model number 0661-0120. I have used this model every day and it has been reliable and trustworthy. Unfortunately, from using it so often the latch in the bottom of the case which allows the cover to become stationary in the upright position, has broken. Since this latch is non-functioning there is no way to keep the cover upright. Consequently, I am unable to use the Baumanometer without taping it in place.

The latch appears to be soldered in place. The portion of the latch which has a bend in it, allowing the cover to snap in place, has broken off. How can this be repaired? There is nothing wrong with the rest of the unit.

This unit is essential for my work. I run health clinics in public housing every day and am lost without my trusty Baumanometer. Can you advise me what to do? I desperately need your help.

Respectfully,
Marianne Farrar, R.N.
Manchester Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Manchester, N.H.
W.A. Baum Incorporated
Copiague, NY 11726-3292

November 24, 1999

Dear Sirs,

I’m so disappointed to have to return these. I know I had the best instruments, but my county board is so paranoid and so afraid of our union they will do anything to prevent a lawsuit over a Hg spill even if it prevents us from giving good nursing care.

Thank God I’m retiring in three months. I’ve worked here over 34 years and the political and bureaucratic nonsense just escalates day by day.

Keep trying to educate people.

Thanks,

Sue Morse, R.N.
Administrator
Grundy County Home
Morris, IL