The New Centron Diagnostics cBP301 Central Blood Pressure Meter is now available from UK Distributor P.M.S (Instruments) Ltd.

The Centron cBP301 measures Central Systolic Blood Pressure and combines central and brachial blood pressure measurements in a stand alone, non-invasive unit using a single upper arm blood pressure measurement cuff.

The cBP301 uses technology developed at King’s College London and has been validated against invasive measurements of central aortic blood pressure and non-invasive measurements obtained from radial tonometry.

Central blood pressure – blood pressure near the heart – is thought to provide a better measure of cardiovascular risk than the conventional measurement of blood pressure in the upper arm. It is emerging as a new “target” for blood pressure treatment. A simple technique for determining central blood pressure will, therefore, be invaluable for future clinical trials relating to central blood pressure.

cSBP can be measured directly using an invasive pressure sensor such as a Millar MikroTip placed in the aortic root but this is impractical for most purposes.

Most existing non invasive central blood pressure devices involve holding a pressure sensor (radial tonometer) over an artery.

Radial tonometry requires a skilled operator, specialist equipment and is relatively time consuming and expensive. The Centron cBP301 estimates central systolic blood pressure by obtaining a peripheral blood pressure waveform from a brachial blood pressure cuff.

Although such a waveform differs from that obtained using an intra-arterial sensor or from that obtained by tonometry, an appropriate transformation (patent pending) can be used to estimate cSBP with similar accuracy as that achieved by tonometry. This approach allows cSBP to be estimated at the same time as a routine oscillometric measurement of peripheral blood pressure with no extra equipment or expertise required in minutes.

The peripheral blood pressures are derived using fully validated oscillometric technology.

The Centron cBP301 monitor uses an appropriately sized upper arm cuff and is fitted to the patient in the same way as an arm blood pressure monitor, making it easy-to-use and requiring no specialised training. The device will produce both traditional arm blood pressure as well as central blood pressure.

 Its quick and simple user technique, provides a groundbreaking platform that allows the measurement of Central Blood Pressure to be made both in research and in clinical practice.

The Centron cBP301 is supplied with a carry case an adult (23-33cm circumference), large adult (31-40cm circumference), cuff hose, 4 Lithium batteries and a 12 month warranty.

Parameters measured include

Central Systolic Blood Pressure (cSYS)

Systolic Blood Pressure (SYS)

Diastolic Blood Pressure (DIA)

Mean Arterial Blood Pressure

Heart Rate

Guilcher A, Brett S, Munir S, Clapp B, Chowienczyk PJ. Estimating central SBP from the peripheral pulse: influence of waveform analysis and calibration error. J Hypertens. 2011.