The von Recklinghausen oscillotonometer is a manual device which allows systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure to be measure without a stethoscope. It consists of a double cuff, comprised of a small black cuff and a large red cuff arranged within a restraining cover, such that when applied to the upper arm, the black cuff overlaps the red cuff by about 2 cm. The cuffs are connected via black and red rubber pressure tubing, respectively, to the metal block at the base of the dial. At the base of the case there is a metal block incorporating an adjustable leak valve and a control lever. The pressure tubings are connected to the respective bellows via the control lever. In addition, there is an inflating bulb with an adjustable leak valve.

The larger, occluding cuff performs the usual function of the sphygmomanometer cuff. The smaller, sensing cuff amplifies the pulsations, seen as oscillations of the needle on the pressure gauge. The control lever simply switches the dial between the two cuffs.