Copiague, New York, April 30, 1999 - The Baumanometer® mercury-gravity manometer, long acknowledged as the world's most accurate blood pressure instrument, also sets the standard for safety, says John Baum, President of W.A. Baum Co., since 1916 manufacturer of the healthcare industry's most relied-upon manometer. Based on the immutable law of gravity, Baum's instrument construction has earned a reputation for excellence and longevity (information: (631) 226-3940).

"Baumanometer® clinical sphygmomanometers have been accepted as the gold standard of accuracy in blood pressure measurement. But it is sometimes overlooked that accuracy also means safety when it comes to patients' health. You can't get a more reliable blood pressure reading than with a mercury-gravity Baumanometer® instrument," Mr. Baum said.

Product Design
Baumanometer® instruments are distinguished by at least eight proprietary features that allow healthcare professionals to use them with complete confidence. Among the most notable features: large diameter reservoirs fitted with crimped nozzles, secured by stainless steel clips to prevent mercury escape; Mylar® clad glass tubes that maintain their structural integrity even if the inner glass is broken; and unique filter cap assemblies that prevent leakage.

In addition:
The Baumanometer® calibrated tube is made of glass - not plastic. Plastic has an affinity for mercury, which can lead to erroneous readings. Instrument housings are made of metal - either aluminum alloy die-castings or extrusions, which are resistant to heat, chemicals, solvents and abrasion.

The Air-Flo® Control Valve is designed to work even at low pressures and is easily cleaned or repaired.

Latex-free inflation bulbs, bags and tubing are available.
The unit's Calibrated® V-Lok® Cuff is stain resistant, dimensionally stable and available in six sizes.

The manufacture of every Baum instrument requires over 125 operations (such as milling, drilling, threading, broaching, grinding, and more) that have been continuously refined over the past 82 years.

Elemental Mercury Classification
W.A. Baum Company has obtained mercury certifications from the natural resources and environmental protection offices of many states (technical references are available from the Company on request).

Baumanometer® instruments contain approximately two teaspoons of elemental mercury. The triple-distilled, elemental mercury contained in Baumanometer® instruments is not classified as a hazardous waste. In the unlikely event that a small spill should occur, detailed spill clean up information is available from the Baum Company.

According to Mr. Baum: "The Baumanometer® instrument is a perfect example of how a mercury-gravity manometer can be an asset, not a liability, in the healthcare environment. It is a diagnostic instrument designed for years and years of service. It is not a product designed with a short service life, destined for the waste stream. Our instruments can be and have been repaired and recycled repeatedly for more than 82 years. Baumanometer® instruments will withstand the tests of use, time and safety."

Safety of Elemental Mercury
Elemental mercury is a naturally occurring substance found indigenously in many environments. Many people confuse elemental mercury with other compound forms of mercury, including methylmercury.

In a 1994 article in the American Journal of Health, Dr. C.E. Grim and J. Garcia of C.R. Drew University, wrote: "The gold standard for blood pressure measurement is the mercury manometer. There is an alarming effort, of unknown etiology, to remove these devices from medical practice and to replace them with less accurate aneroid or electronic devices ? We have reviewed the world's literature on mercury toxicity and could not find a single instance in which anyone has been harmed by the mercury from a manometer used in a health care setting? The actual risks of toxicity from the mercury in the mercury manometer seemed to be dwarfed by the consequences of the widespread use of inaccurate aneroid devices."

Exposure to elemental mercury in non-medical settings has also produced no documented health impact upon the exposed groups. A 1993 account of up to 100 Canadian students who played with elemental mercury (found at an abandoned recycling building) reported "no acute medical effects" among the exposed. An ongoing 1996 study in the Seychelles Islands monitored more than 1,500 children of women exposed to mercury-contaminated fish during pregnancy. Findings revealed no adverse effects on development during the children's first two-and-a-half years.

Longevity, Accuracy and Reliability
In 1990, Dr. Jon L. Vickery of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, wrote to W.A. Baum: "I was also delighted to receive the photocopy of the ledger entry indicating that my Baumanometer® instrument was shipped to my grandfather on September 2, 1936. You may be interested to know that this blood pressure unit has been in continual service since that time ... I acquired the instrument from my father when he retired from general practice in mid-1984 ... 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."