Pulse Oximeters

We stock a large range of pulse oximeters but we get many questions about them such as:
1. Who needs one and what are they for?
2. How do they work?
3. Are they accurate?
4. Which model should I choose?
5. How should an oximeter be used?

We shall address the first question here and subsequent issues will be covered in later posts.

1. They are regularly used by paramedics, GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals to give an instant reading of blood oxygen levels. They measure the percentage of haemoglobin that is oxygen-saturated (hence the term SATS). In recent times, the widespread availability of pulse oximeters has led to them being used by members of the public and the price of them has fallen dramatically. We often get doctors and patients telling us that the results they get from our monitors are the same as the ones they get from £3000 machines in hospitals and clinics.

They are very useful for patients with COPD and asthma to determine the severity of the condition. The illness can then be managed correctly.
For example a COPD patient may be able to diagnose an exacerbation and then present to the GP or hospital if necessary.

Patients with sleep apnoea (apnea), which is a condition where breathing can stop for short periods while asleep, often use pulse oximeters. They usually prefer wrist-watch types so that they can be worn through the night. Alarms can be set for low oxygen levels and the data can be recorded to memory and then printed out from a home computer to help manage the condition.

Pulse oximeters can also be very useful in neonatal care as babies have a much smaller safety window for oxygen levels.