As we celebrate our 48th year in business I’ve recently taken a nostalgic look back over the various innovative products PMS have introduced to the UK healthcare market since 1975.
Some of them really were ahead of their time and have led to the development of subsequent products still in use today. Here I take a look back at a few of the more notable ones.
1994 – A&D Medical TM-2421 24 Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring System
The UK’s first dual method, Korotkoff Sound/Oscillometric 24 hour BP monitor, it proved to be very popular from 1994 to 2007 when it was replaced by the improved A&D TM-2430 24 Hour BP monitor.
1995 – E – Z Therm The 3 Second Thermometer
This was one of the UK’s first Tympanic thermometers. It was very popular and sold in large numbers. The fast measurement time meant it was popular for use in children and as a replacement for Mercury thermometers.
1997- A&D Medical UA 767 Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
The classic low cost and easy to use three in one digital BP monitor that gave systolic, diastolic and heart rate simultaneously on a large LCD display. Clinically validated it was popular with GPs and Hospitals as well as being used for clinical research. The latest generation is the A&D Medical UA-767 + AFib still one of our most popular digital BP monitors used extensively by the NHS.
2003 – Meditech Merlin ECG watch
Ahead of its time and before Smartwatches were available the Merlin watch was a low-cost ECG event recorder designed to capture transient arrhythmias. It was easy to wear and activate and could store up to 15 minutes of ECG recordings. PMS sold the watch until 2013 when it was discontinued by Meditech. It led to the development of the Meditech CardiUP3! Holter ECG. The latest AliveCor KardiaMobile 1L and 6L are great examples of how mobile ECG technology has moved on.
2009 – Tidi Disposable Cuff Barriers
Originally introduced by PMS as a cost-effective alternative to expensive single use blood pressure cuffs and as a hygienic solution to using fabric cuffs. They are still by the NHS today and were especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Introducing these products helped establish the PMS Instruments ethos of being At The Heart Of Healthcare Technology and to the development our innovative product range which still includes 24 hour blood pressure monitors, waiting room and digital blood pressure monitors, and mobile, resting and Holter ECG monitors.