Things To Know About Recording Pulse Oximeter

By Annabelle Holman


Data collected over time through pulse oximetry can be used to check two types of information about a patient. The two pieces of information are blood oxygen saturation percentage and the heart rate. This method is non-invasive and does not involve penetrating the body in any way. For patients receiving CPAP therapy for apnea, a recording pulse oximeter can be used to determine the efficiency of the therapy.

Apnea activities lead to a drop in blood oxygen percentage during the night when they are taking place. Such drops can be recorded by oximeters with recording capability and used to compare with previous recordings made. The efficiency of therapy can be determined basing on the variations found in the recordings. Te extra features incorporated in modern devices make it important to own one of them. For example, spot checks for heart rates and oxygen saturation are possible in modern brands.

Instant checking of the two parameters assists one to determine the effects of changes in air pressure and altitude on brain functions. The parameters are also normally a concern to individuals taking part in strenuous activities such as exercise. Before buying an oximeter, the buyer should check the presence of following features.

The first factor to consider is the display the device has. Ordinary devices will normally show only two pieces of information, the heart rate and blood O2 concentration in LED display. However, in more advanced devices, additional information may be displayed in a better display. The additional information may include perfusion index, pulse meter, pulse waveform, battery level indicator, and various menus. The menus open different functions depending on the model of the device.

An alarm function is incorporated in all good devices. The user is normally warned by the alarm when threshold values fall or exceed a given level. Threshold values are normally set by the users themselves. Therefore users receive a warning to know that the threshold blood oxygen saturation or heart rate has been surpassed or has dropped. Users are also warned when batteries fall below a certain level.

Users can choose from two major types of batteries. Standard alkaline and rechargeable lithium ion batteries are the two major types of batteries in use today. The rechargeable type is rechargeable upon being discharged hence can be reused. This makes them durable and cost effective unlike the alkaline types which become useless once they get discharged. Some oximeters can use both lithium ion and alkaline batteries. This gives users a wider range of flexibility to operate in.

Comfort is a factor that must never be overlooked. A good gadget is one that allows some level of comfort to the user. Although most clip-based designs are placed on the finger, one should ensure that they are comfortable even after hours of using the gadget. If there is any form of discomfort, the fingers can always be switched.

Additional functionalities may be checked after ensuring that the important ones are present. Normally oximeters have accompanying software that is installed on a PC. Devices with wireless capability transmit recorded data to the PC in real time. Caregivers and other third parties can benefit from such capabilities.




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