CONTEC ABPM50 Handheld Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor

The device provides quite accurate and reproducible data, but the instructions are woeful. The package is not ready for prime time. It badly needs full instructions written by a native English speaker; readily accessible software (presently only found by devious search paths); and BP cuffs with D-loops that allow self-application (surely anyone using the device would want the ability to take the cuff off and put it back on alone, at least to allow for a shower).
First, some basics. ABPM should really stand for “Automatic” blood pressure monitor, not “Ambulatory”. None of these devices, by this maker or any other, can measure the BP while you are ambulating. In fact, once the cuff inflation begins, you must stop moving the arm and allow it to hang motionless until the cuff deflates. Otherwise, the measurement will fail and an annoying alarm will begin. Also, be aware that BP is always varying, and sometimes greatly, depending on your mental and physical activities. The purpose of these devices it to look for trends: what happens during sleep, or exercise, or as a medication takes effect, etc. Used this way, the results can be very valuable.
The first accompanying figure shows ten readings taken roughly 2 minutes apart on both arms at the same time — one using this device, and one using another maker’s cuff and device. This device inflates to above the systolic pressure, then measures during deflation; the other measures during inflation, and stops when the systolic signal disappears. Therefore, one method may be less “real” than the other (of course, both are approximations to the pressure actually existing in the artery). As the figure show, though, both are very consistent. The diastolic values are practically the same, and so are the pulse rates (not shown). The Contec device consistently reads the systolic pressure roughly 10mmHg lower than the other device. This is not necessarily wrong or bad; remember, it is trends that are important; and the error could be in the other device, too. [It was previously confirmed that the pressures in both arms were the same, so these comparisons reflect the device measurements and not the subject’s abnormalities].
The software is quite good, especially the reports for printing. There is considerable scope for editing data, setting limits and times, and programming the machine. The second figure shows 32 hours of data, just one page of the standard 5-page printed report. (Unfortunately the “night-time” shading is too dark and cannot be modified). The 3rd figure shows the same data in histogram format.
Some brief comments: I have worn the device continuously for up to 32 hours, and several 24-hour sessions, and it performs as desired — no better nor worse than other similar machines. I did purchase a separate BP cuff to allow self-application, and some new fitting for hoses to match (all available on Amazon), so I could shorten the very long hose supplied. Two AA batteries lasted for 4 or 5 days of recording. Note that the minimum interval between measurements is 15 minutes — not 5 minutes, as suggested in the descriptions supplied — but 15 minutes is as often as most would want anyway. The software works fine with Windows 10, but cannot be reduced to less than full screen when in use (annoying, but not a serious problem as it does its work very quickly and then can be closed).
All in all: the builders made a good device, but the marketers have a lot of work to do to make it user-friendly.

I normally do not provide long reviews, but in this case it is necessary. First of all this appears to be an excellent device, however it is lacking documentation and has at least one problem I am still dealing with. I acquired this device to monitor my wife’s blood pressure, as she has been wrestling with changes of medications since recently having a stroke, paralyzing her left side. Setting up the device is fairly intuitive and I was able to get it working rather quickly. Our goal was to have my wife wear it during the day and have it take a reading every half hour. This worked as advertised. We were able to access a list of the readings on the device using the list option. Then I attempted to connect the device to a Windows PC using the USB cable they provided. It never did connect. I emailed my problem to Contec and received a rather prompt reply requesting that I download the latest copy of their software at the address they provided. I uninstalled the copy I had and did a re-install of the new software. This is where I encountered my first serious problem. The new software that you download is not a normal ZIP file, it is a RAR file. Windows cannot open it. You will need to install an application that will unpack and open a RAR file. There are several in the Microsoft store, including free ones. Once I did that the software did load properly. There is no mention of this in any of the provided documentation. I connected the device, using the USB cable and was able to download the data into the software. Beware though the device continues to say it is connecting to the PC and never does say it is connected. But it is. Voila – A great set of reports appears on the monitor. So far so good. After scanning the reports, and frankly being impressed, I clicked on one of the icons to prepare a report that can be printed. Serious problem number two. The report is great and would certainly provide a provider with some great information, however I still have not been able to print it. I have a new Canon printer that works great. It prints everything we throw at it, except for this report. It returns an error message that says the report has problems and cannot be printed. I’ve tried everything I can think of, no luck. I have contacted Contec and have not heard back yet. Once you generate the report you are not given any option except to print it. You cannot email it, save it, or share it in any way. It is worthless on my PC. I need to be able to share it with our provider. Hopefully they will provide me with a solution to the problem. The main objective of the software is to provide information to a health care provider, and short of hauling your entire PC into their office, there is no way to accomplish this. Sorry for being so long winded, but hopefully my experience might help someone. Don’t give up on it and return it. The device provides a lot of valuable information that you have no other way of getting. Update!!! My printing problem has been resolved and I have changed my rating from a 4 star to a 5 star. Contec support was excellent. They reviewed my problems, did not attempt to tell me it was all my fault, provided me with some updates to their software and everything works just fine.

he comprado más de 15, son duraderos y han mejorado porque ahora las baterias recargables calsan mejor

I need a 24hr blood pressure monitor, because I have supine high blood pressure. I bought this device, despite the reviews that said the instructions were difficult.

I should have hit “pause” on that thought.

The instructions are not difficult, they are obtuse, badly translated, and downright comical. “This cuff is consumable” is just a sample.

There is no way to turn on the ambulatory function, and see that it is working. I waited 30 minutes for a measurement that never came.

If I could get this to work, I will change my review. I set a message to the manufacturer, and this is day 3 of no response.

Anyone else have suggestions?

Update!!

I finally got it to work, and I’m wearing it now. I have a full night’s list of readings, and will have a full day by tonight. The secret is that there are TWO ABP menu items, and y ou must choose the right one, and then highlight it (make it turn red), and then choose “begin”.

And, as I realized during the night, the Awake feature is not the time you wake up, but the time the monitor starts checking, so use awake and sleep as the start and stop features.

I have changed my star rating to 5.

I’ve just received my product and it DID NOT come with a CD. I’ve just found out that I cannot return it!!! . It was promised in the description that it comes worth a CD. Why should I go through the Internet to search.

I will use the product and give supplementary review after few days.

I work for a transport company and needed a reliable bp device to check vitals while I got patient ready for transport.