Claims made by producers of pulse oximeters make it hard to select the right gadget. This is usually the case especially if one is ignorant about the important features a good gadget should have. The information in this article should be able to help potential buyers in picking the right CMS pulse oximeters. All important features are highlighted although further research can be done to have more knowledge.
A pulse oximetry gadget becomes useful in a wide range of circumstances and reasons. The immediacy of checking heart rate and blood oxygen concentration is one of the major reasons. Checking these two parameters is vital especially when one is exercising or when flying because the normal functioning of brain is affected in some people by changes in air pressure and altitude. Efficiency of CPAP therapy in patients with sleep apnea can also be determined by wearing the device at night when going to bed.
The recording function should be the first feature to check for. This function is responsible for maintenance of a list of values recorded over a specific period of time. Variations in measurements can be determined over time. By observing the record, one can tell the time when apnea activities take place during the night. This is because, during apnea activities, heart rates increase and oxygen concentration in blood drops.
Another factor to check is the accuracy of the device. Normally most devices allow a certain level of error in their readings. The error margin is normally highest in the low-end devices hence one should make the choice carefully. The margin should not exceed two percent. To determine the level of accuracy, one may have the heart rate and blood O2 saturation measured through other means and then the values compared to those of an oximeter.
One should also check for the kind of display the device uses and the details displayed. Low-end devices normally use the ordinary LED display and only display the two parameters the gadget is meant for without additional information. Better devices use better displays and also display pulse waveform, battery level indicator, menus, pulse meter, and perfusion index value in addition to the two parameters.
Setting of threshold heart rate and O2 saturation percentage values should be possible in the device chosen. All devices that allow setting of threshold values also have alarm systems. The alarms alert the user when the values rise or fall below the threshold. This way, serious conditions can be avoided by taking preventive measures. Low battery levels are also revealed by the alarms.
Like all electronics, oximeters should also have reasonable warranty periods. The normal warranty period is two years. If the warranty is less than two years, it is advisable to seek other options especially if the product costs high. This helps to avoid loses due to the mistakes of the manufacturer.
Oximeters that use rechargeable lithium ion batteries should not have been on the shelves for over a year at the time of purchase. This is because too much discharging in these kinds of batteries damages them. Choosing a product that can use both rechargeable and alkaline batteries is an added advantage.
A pulse oximetry gadget becomes useful in a wide range of circumstances and reasons. The immediacy of checking heart rate and blood oxygen concentration is one of the major reasons. Checking these two parameters is vital especially when one is exercising or when flying because the normal functioning of brain is affected in some people by changes in air pressure and altitude. Efficiency of CPAP therapy in patients with sleep apnea can also be determined by wearing the device at night when going to bed.
The recording function should be the first feature to check for. This function is responsible for maintenance of a list of values recorded over a specific period of time. Variations in measurements can be determined over time. By observing the record, one can tell the time when apnea activities take place during the night. This is because, during apnea activities, heart rates increase and oxygen concentration in blood drops.
Another factor to check is the accuracy of the device. Normally most devices allow a certain level of error in their readings. The error margin is normally highest in the low-end devices hence one should make the choice carefully. The margin should not exceed two percent. To determine the level of accuracy, one may have the heart rate and blood O2 saturation measured through other means and then the values compared to those of an oximeter.
One should also check for the kind of display the device uses and the details displayed. Low-end devices normally use the ordinary LED display and only display the two parameters the gadget is meant for without additional information. Better devices use better displays and also display pulse waveform, battery level indicator, menus, pulse meter, and perfusion index value in addition to the two parameters.
Setting of threshold heart rate and O2 saturation percentage values should be possible in the device chosen. All devices that allow setting of threshold values also have alarm systems. The alarms alert the user when the values rise or fall below the threshold. This way, serious conditions can be avoided by taking preventive measures. Low battery levels are also revealed by the alarms.
Like all electronics, oximeters should also have reasonable warranty periods. The normal warranty period is two years. If the warranty is less than two years, it is advisable to seek other options especially if the product costs high. This helps to avoid loses due to the mistakes of the manufacturer.
Oximeters that use rechargeable lithium ion batteries should not have been on the shelves for over a year at the time of purchase. This is because too much discharging in these kinds of batteries damages them. Choosing a product that can use both rechargeable and alkaline batteries is an added advantage.
