What is a pulse oximeter?
A pulse oximeter is a device that determines the level of oxygen in the blood. The most common version of the pulse oximeter is a small device which can be easily connected to the index finger. There are different models of this device, which can be either attached to the wrist or held in the palm of the hand. The oxygen saturation is expressed as a percentage, which is also known as SpO2.
What is oxygen saturation?
The main purpose of the red blood cells is to deliver oxygen to the body’s tissues. These red blood cells contain the protein haemoglobin, which carries the oxygen in blood. Oxygen saturation measures the amount of oxygen that is carried by the haemoglobin.
How does a pulse oximeter work?
When you place the device on the index finger, the measured values are being displayed within seconds. The pulse oximeter precisely shows the determined percentage of SpO2 in your blood and your heart rate.
The device is able to measure the percentage of SpO2 in the blood by looking at the difference in colour. Haemoglobin, after the oxygen has bound, is more reddish than haemoglobin without bounded oxygen. The pulse oximeter measures the difference in colour by passing infrared light through the skin. After the light is being reflected, the difference in colour between the light it emits and the reflected light is determined. Based on this, the corresponding saturation value is determined.
Why purchase a pulse oximeter?
You maybe suffer from heart- or lung disease, or you are an athlete and you are often being confronted with breathing problems? Presumably, it would be interesting to you to purchase a pulse oximeter. In this way, measuring the oxygen saturation gets much easier for you.
Key benefits of pulse oximeters
A fast way to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood Quickly visible whether appropriate assistance is necessary Small and light Quickly informed about your heart rate
Find your pulse oximeter above.