The Features To Look For When Buying A Recording Pulse Oximeter

By Tracie Knight


The technology of pulse oximeter has been in existence for long and was first made commercially available in the 1970s, when they were bulky and clumsy weighing up to 35lbs. By then, they were very uncomfortable to use and each unit was quite expensive, retailing at about $10, 000. The situation has drastically changed, one just needs a few dollars to acquire a fingertip model of a recording pulse oximeter.

Their working is based on scientific principles that have been in place for long. Ideally, oxygenated blood absorbs the red light at 660nm significantly different from 940nm where the deoxygenated blood absorbs infrared light. With this in mind, the gadgets are designed to emit the two light rays (red light and infrared light from) from LEDs. These are passed through the body tissues and absorbed by the data readings obtain includes the oxygen level in blood, the pulse rate and cardiovascular conditions.

Not all of these devices work in the same manner. It is therefore important to understand features of an ideal oximeter before setting off to buy one. The decisions should be based on the brand name or prices only, rather, focus on getting high quality devices at significantly lower price tag.

To start with, the model must be FDA approved. Given that pulse oximeter falls in the class II classification of medical gadgets, it must have FDA approval before it can be sold to the public. Presently, the greater part of them have FDA approval, but just for confirmation, it is advisable to run through the FDA medical Device Database, enter the model name or manufacturer name and get details regarding its approvals.

The next and most important issue to consider is its accuracy and reliability. Given that its primary purpose is to measure oxygen saturation and the pulse rate, all efforts are focused on finding the device that is able to give the most accurate results in a consistent and reliable manner within its operation range. By comparing it with those used in medical centers, you should be able to select a better option.

Other than this, simplicity also matters. As much as possible, the user guide should be enough to guide you through without having to hire services from an expert which significantly increases expenses. What this means is that the ideal device is very easy to use, read and interpret data. Additionally, its size should also be comfortable to carry around and store as required.

In addition to these, there are several other features that go a long way in assisting you make the right choice. These include its memory, Ability to connect to a computer or phone to allow for data access and analysis. The devices that have multi-person memory status are also considered deal since data for more than one person.

Other issues that should also put into consideration are the battery lifespan, the case for the device, its logbook, the ease of storage and general appearance among others. If all these are put into consideration, then the value for money is likely to be realized.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment