Exploring the Different Types of Pulse Oximeters and Their Uses

A pulse oximeter is a noninvasive device primarily used to measure and track blood oxygen levels and indicate any forthcoming issues. These pulse oximeters track not just saturation levels in blood but also help determine one’s heart rate. This blog will focus on understanding what exactly a pulse oximeter is and listing its different types and their uses. In today’s fast-paced world, it is imperative to keep a check on our holistic health with the help of these medical devices.

What Is A Pulse Oximeter?

Pulse Oximeters are noninvasive devices that measure saturated oxygen levels (spO2) in the blood. They are also used to track heart rate and can alert us of potential health risks with their accurate readings.

Although pulse oximeters are recommended for people with major heart or lung problems, doctors also suggest these compact devices to people suffering from chronic shortness of breath and sleep disorders. The right amount of saturated oxygen must reach the blood cells effectively for the human body to function efficiently. The pulse oximeter is an electronic device that measures these saturation levels carried to the blood cells.

Types Of Pulse Oximeter

Ever since the pandemic, specific medical devices have been handy and super-useful for healthcare professionals and common man alike. One such compact device is the pulse oximeter. Used to measure blood oxygen levels and heart rate, the uses of oximeters stretch beyond just these functions.

With the ever-increasing need for advanced and multi-purpose medical tools and devices, the types of pulse oximeters have also surpassed the basic prescription and over-the-counter pulse oximeters. Let us discuss the different types of pulse oximeters and their uses.

Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

As the name suggests, the fingertip oximeter can be clipped onto the finger to read the oxygen level accurately. The light from one side of the device reflects onto the skin, and the chip inside reads the oxygen level and the heart rate. This is one of the most commonly used oximeters, showcasing the results on a digital screen

Uses:

• Monitoring Respiratory Conditions
• Physical Activity and Fitness
• Home-Health Monitoring

Handheld Pulse Oximeter

A small, lightweight device measuring the oxygen saturation of arterial blood, this is one of the more standard types of pulse oximeters. Consisting of a probe that attaches to a person’s fingertip, earlobe or toe, this oximeter displays real-time results on a display unit. The functioning of a handheld oximeter is similar to that of the fingertip oximeter, where the probe emits light and tracks the oxygen saturation level in our haemoglobin.

Uses:

• Home Healthcare
• Clinical Settings
• Fitness and Sports
• Remote Patient Monitoring

Benchtop/Tabletop Pulse Oximeter

The benchtop or tabletop pulse oximeter comes in handy primarily for monitoring post-operative oxygen saturation levels. This machine comes with a probe and a display monitor which, as the name suggests, is set up on the table. This oximeter operates on the principle of spectrophotometry, where specific wavelengths of light pass through the patient's tissue, and the sensor calculates the oxygen saturation based on the absorption of light.

Uses:

• Monitoring Oxygen Saturation
• Early Detection of Hypoxemia
• Post-Operative Monitoring

Phone-based/Bluetooth Enabled Pulse Oximeter

Phone-based or bluetooth enables pulse oximeters are a widely used device, especially since the Pandemic. The easy mobility and techno-savvy features make it a great choice for on-the-go patients. A great device for remote health and fitness tracking, this oximeter can be connected to a smartphone, where the finger probe provides accurate readings, directly into your phone. Dedicated applications for different devices can be installed on the smartphone for a smooth process.

Uses:

• Remote Health Monitoring
• Fitness Tracking
• Sleep Apnea Detection

Benefits Of Using A Pulse Oximeter

It is common knowledge that the healthiest lungs pump the most oxygen. However, when the capacity of the lungs to transport oxygen into the bloodstream decreases, it becomes challenging for the body to carry on its regular functions. Oxygen saturation can drop significantly due to many reasons like pneumonia, suffocation or choking, sleep apnea, emphysema, etc.

The oxygen level drop in the haemoglobin proteins of red blood cells indicates the need for medical attention. Pulse oximeters help in detecting these drops accurately. A few other beneficial uses of pulse oximeter are:

• Low Power Consumption: This device consumes lower power, with variants like the finger pulse oximeter with up to 160 hours of runtime.
• Accurate Readings: Designed with the best technology, pulse oximeters are often a prime choice for their accurate readings.
• Compact, Lightweight and Portable: Due to their shape, size and considerable health benefits, these devices can be easily carried and are great for on-the-go patients.
• Early detection of Low Blood Oxygen Levels: Using high-quality pulse oximeters like TenTab’s Contec Handheld Pulse Oximeter CMS-60C can help detect dropping blood oxygen levels early, therefore making a quick decision.

FAQs: Pulse Oximeter And Their Uses

What is the normal SpO2 and pulse bpm?

Tracking blood oxygen levels is the best way to monitor fluctuations or health issues caused by low oxygen saturation. Pulse oximeters help showcase these levels accurately. According to standard healthcare guidelines, the normal SpO2 or blood oxygen level is between 95% and 99%, whereas the standard heart rate is considered to be 50-90 bpm or beats per minute.

How many types of oximeters are there?

There are various types of pulse oximeters, each designed to cater to specific needs. Fingertip, Handheld, Bench-Top, Phone-Based, Watch and Multimodal are the different types of pulse oximeters currently in the healthcare industry.

Can Pulse Oximeters detect heart attacks?

Although pulse oximeters are extremely useful devices in measuring oxygen saturation levels and notifying any health issues, their use is quite limited. Pulse oximeters cannot detect heart attacks, however, they can predict an underlying cause that might trigger such an event which can be avoided.