Pulse Oximeters And How They Are Used

There are several types of pulse oximeters. All measure the same thing – blood oxygen saturation level (SpO₂) and pulse rate (BMP) – but they do it in slightly different ways.

Finger Pulse Oximeter

The fingertip version of a Pulse Oximeter clips on to your fingertip, passing two wavelengths, red and infrared, through your skin. A photodetector tracks the oxygenated blood, which absorbs the red light, and the deoxygenated blood, which absorbs the infrared light, then calculates a percentage based on these two measurements.

Hand Held Oximeter

Hand held units provide the same functionality of finger pulse oximeters but are slightly larger and provide a larger data display. These units are often capable of storing and reporting long histories of data, so they are very useful for long-term tracking of a chronic condition.

Pediatric Oximeter

This specialized hand-held unit has a probe for measuring the blood oxygenation of infants and children. The state of New York recently mandated Pulse Oximeter testing of all infants before they are sent home from the hospital as a preventative screening to check for congenital heart defects.

Sleep Unit Oximeter

If you suffer from sleep apnea or sleep hypopnea, collecting data during your sleep cycle can help your doctor monitor your health. These units are also sometimes used for suffers of COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

All of these pulse oximeters can provide valuable medical information, whether used at home or by health case professionals. They can keep a patient safe while they under anesthesia during surgery, check the health of newborns, and help asthma suffers avoid an attack during workouts. They can help you return to a healthy level of exercise after recovering from illness. They are even used by divers and performance athletes to help them achieve their peak. For such an inexpensive, simple to use device, a pulse oximeter is an indispensible tool.