At this writing, two companies make monitors for home use that meet validation criteria according to either the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, the British Hypertension Society, or both. Specific models vary by features such as cuff size, cuff contour, whether cuff inflates automatically, memory, and printing capability. Details are available at the manufacturers' Web sites. (Ambulatory blood pressure monitors aren't listed here because patients don't purchase them.)

A&D Medical, 1555 McCandless Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035, (408) 263-5333, http://www.lifesourceonline.com/products/BPMonHome.cfm

Omron Healthcare, Inc., 300 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, (847) 680-6200; (877) 216-1333, http://www.omronhealthcare.com