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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
An aneroid sphygmomanometer is a hand-operated instrument for measuring blood pressure indirectly: a dial gauge, connected by tubing to an inflatable cuff and a squeeze bulb. The Red Cross procurement catalogue describes it as an “instrument used to measure indirect arterial blood pressure.” It is used by clinical staff taking manual readings and by the buyers who specify it for clinics and programmes.
This page covers the specification a humanitarian procurement catalogue publishes (dial size, scale, stated error, overpressure rating, materials), how US regulation classifies blood pressure measurement systems, and what a procurement specification expects on the label.
What an aneroid sphygmomanometer is
It is the mechanical, manual member of the sphygmomanometer family. The examiner inflates the cuff with the bulb, releases pressure slowly, listens with a stethoscope and reads the pressure on the gauge. Our guide to the blood pressure cuff explains the auscultation method and how it differs from automatic oscillometric monitors; this page is about the gauge-based instrument as a whole product.
How it is built
The International Committee of the Red Cross and IFRC Standard Products Catalogue entry for the adult aneroid model (code XMEQSPHY01) lists four assemblies:
- Aneroid pressure gauge with an air release valve (the gauge has no stop pin).
- Rubber bulb with a palm-fitting handle. It has a one-way valve against inadvertent leakage and an adjustable screw valve for controlled release.
- Connector and connecting tube.
- Cuff with an inflatable bladder.
The same entry names the materials: a hardened copper-beryllium diaphragm in the gauge, a stainless steel handle, nickel-plated connector and valve, a nylon cuff with hook-and-loop (Velcro) closure, and latex for the tube, bulb and bladder.
Specifications that matter
| Specification | Value stated for the adult aneroid model |
|---|---|
| Dial diameter | 63 mm |
| Unit and scale | mmHg, linear scale 0 to 300 mmHg |
| Maximum error | ±3 mmHg across the range |
| Overpressure tolerance of the diaphragm | up to 600 mmHg |
| Cuff bladder | 22 × 10 cm, airtight |
| Cuff care | washable at 30 °C |
Source: ICRC/IFRC Standard Products Catalogue, XMEQSPHY01 (page last updated 17 February 2019, checked 29 October 2026). These are the values of one specified product, not a universal requirement for every aneroid instrument.
Types and variants
The same catalogue family lists the adult aneroid set and two variants that change the cuff or tubing:
| Item (catalogue code) | Typical use | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Adult aneroid sphygmomanometer (XMEQSPHY01) | Adult blood pressure measurement | Gauge, bulb, tube and 22 × 10 cm bladder cuff |
| Two-tube manual set (XMEQSPHYRIA) | Manual blood pressure measurement with a cuff | Supplied with a 27 to 35 cm cuff |
| Replacement adult femoral cuff (XMEQSPHYRIAC14) | Replacing the cuff on an existing set | For limbs of 42 to 54 cm; cuff 54.5 cm long and 14 cm wide |
Mercury instruments and automatic oscillometric monitors are the other families. The cuff guide covers how automatic devices differ: they inflate and read the pressure electronically instead of relying on a stethoscope and the examiner’s technique.
Standards and regulatory status
- European standards. The catalogue entry states conformity to EN 1060-1-1A:2002 and EN 1060-2:1995, with a CE mark and notified body number on the product.
- US classification. 21 CFR 870.1130 defines a noninvasive blood pressure measurement system as a device that provides a signal from which systolic, diastolic, mean, or any combination of the three pressures can be derived, and places it in Class II (performance standards) (eCFR, checked 29 October 2026).
- How a listing looks in FDA’s device database. The FDA AccessGUDID record for one aneroid sphygmomanometer set with a nylon cuff carries product code DXQ (“Blood Pressure Cuff”) and a flag that the labeling is required to contain natural rubber latex information under 21 CFR 801.437 (record checked 29 October 2026).
What a procurement specification expects on the label
The Red Cross catalogue entry requires, beyond the instrument itself, the CE mark with notified body number, a guarantee certificate, and instructions for use and maintenance in several languages. When you compare quotes for an aneroid set, those documents are the checklist the catalogue sets.
Latex and handling
The catalogue specification names latex for the tube, bulb and bladder, and the US device record above is flagged for natural rubber latex labeling. Staff or patients with latex sensitivity are a reason to read the product’s labeling before use. The cuff in the catalogue specification is washable at 30 °C; follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for any other cleaning.
Common mistakes
- Treating the cuff as one size. The catalogue lists separate cuffs (adult, 27 to 35 cm, and 42 to 54 cm femoral). Our cuff guide explains why a cuff that is too small tends to overestimate and one that is too large tends to underestimate blood pressure.
- Reading the scale as unlimited. The scale in the specification runs 0 to 300 mmHg, while the diaphragm is rated to tolerate overpressure up to 600 mmHg, so the rated tolerance is not a working range.
- Ignoring the stated error. A ±3 mmHg maximum error is part of the specification; it is a property of that product and says nothing about a unit in service. The instructions for use govern checking and maintenance.
Where it fits in a clinic
An aneroid instrument is one component of a vital-signs set-up. See equipping a point-of-care diagnostic station and choosing diagnostic and patient monitoring equipment for the surrounding equipment, and what a medical thermometer is for its companion device. Supplies are listed in the diagnostic, monitoring and imaging equipment category.
Frequently asked questions
What does an aneroid sphygmomanometer measure?
Indirect arterial blood pressure. The Red Cross catalogue describes it as an “instrument used to measure indirect arterial blood pressure,” built from an aneroid gauge and an inflatable cuff.
What is inside the gauge?
For the catalogued adult model, a hardened copper-beryllium diaphragm that can withstand overpressures of up to 600 mmHg, with a linear 0 to 300 mmHg scale and a stated maximum error of ±3 mmHg.
Is a blood pressure measurement system regulated in the US?
Yes. 21 CFR 870.1130 classifies noninvasive blood pressure measurement systems as Class II (performance standards).
Do aneroid sphygmomanometers contain latex?
The catalogued model uses latex in the tube, bulb and bladder, and the FDA device record cited below carries the natural rubber latex labeling flag. Check the labeling of the specific product.
Sources
- ICRC/IFRC Standard Products Catalogue, “Sphygmomanometer, aneroid, adult” (XMEQSPHY01), page last updated 17 February 2019, checked 29 October 2026: itemscatalogue.redcross.int
- 21 CFR 870.1130, Noninvasive blood pressure measurement system, eCFR, checked 29 October 2026: ecfr.gov
- FDA AccessGUDID device record, aneroid sphygmomanometer with nylon cuff, DI 00073796112004, checked 29 October 2026: accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov
