The primary blood pressure monitoring system for use with great apes was the "Tough Cuff". The Tough Cuff was developed by Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech) and BloodVitals tracker Emory University. In July 2009, BloodVitals insights Zoo Atlanta acquired the primary prototype of the Tough Cuff, which was designed for use in grownup male gorillas. What is the Tough Cuff? The Tough Cuff refers to the casing that holds the inflatable blood strain cuff in place. The Tough Cuff diameter is 6.5 inches and was designed particularly for BloodVitals insights the scale of an adult male gorilla’s arm. It may go with bigger orangutan males and male chimpanzees, however isn't an correct match for females or different apes with smaller arm sizes. Why use a troublesome Cuff? Adult great apes are estimated to be no less than 7 occasions stronger than a human, if not stronger. Therefore, zoo professionals rely on protecting caging to work together with non-anesthetized nice apes.
Having cage mesh barriers makes it impossible to take blood stress on an amazing ape like you would on a human. In order to work around this subject, zoo professionals use a cage mesh "sleeve" which permits an ape to increase his or her arm outwards for varied training activities. A tricky Cuff is used to keep a blood stress cuff in place within the cage mesh sleeve. How can I acquire a tough Cuff for adult male gorillas? Zoo Atlanta has found a good firm, Medical Engineering, Inc., to manufacture the Tough Cuff and Cage-Mesh Sleeve. Because the handbook labor involved in producing one cuff or multiple cuffs is relatively related, the value varies relying on how many cuffs are being manufactured. For that reason, the good Ape Heart Project has provided to help coordinate orders from a number of zoos with the producer, real-time SPO2 tracking Bruce Harshe of Medical Engineering, Inc., BloodVitals in order that the individual value for each establishment will be much less.
How can I get hold of a tricky Cuff for smaller apes like orangutans? Several zoos throughout the country, including however not limited to Zoo New England, Houston Zoo, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® , San Francisco Zoo, and wireless blood oxygen check Cameron Park Zoo, have created inserts for the Tough Cuff to minimize the circumference for smaller apes, produced smaller Tough Cuffs, or created their own cuff-holder devices. Cameron Park Zoo created a 5.25 inch Tough Cuff to use with feminine orangutans at their zoo. The device is produced for them by Larry Cobb at Alpha Technology. See Cameron Park Zoo’s Blood Pressure supplies and notes (PDF) for ordering information. Disney’s Animal Kingdom® and Houston Zoo have each created their own blood stress monitoring gadgets. What are the dimensions for the cage mesh sleeve that holds the Tough Cuff in place? The cage-mesh sleeve is the protective space that separates staff from the ape’s arm and holds the blood strain cuff parts in place. The sleeve is attached to the ape holding area/enclosure by way of an attachment plate which aligns with a 8″ diameter arm gap.
At Zoo Atlanta (pictured right here), our mesh sleeve measures 42″ x 8.5″ x 8.5″ inches. Does the GAHP have any suggestions for blood strain monitors? The GAHP doesn't advocate any particular blood stress monitors. Generally, whatever your zoo’s veterinary division uses may be used for blood stress monitoring. Why are finger-cuff blood stress monitors solely used with bonobos? Bonobos are the smallest of the good apes. Their fingers are much more slender than gorillas and even orangutans and chimpanzees, and it appears that finger cuff displays will not be as correct in thick-fingered apes. It is feasible that finger-cuff monitors may very well be used in different great apes like orangutans and chimpanzees, however this needs to be further investigated. For now, the GAHP is only working with bonobo-holding institutions within the United States to review finger-cuff blood strain. Please go to the Bonobo Blood Pressure Monitoring Project page for more information.