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20 December 2013

The Uses And Functions Of A Wrist Pulse Oximeter

By Harriett Crosby


The wrist pulse oximeter is a device that is used to find out the levels of oxygen in a person's blood at any time of the day or night, and is ideal for personal use. It also measures the heart rate of a patient. These facts sometimes need to be known for various reasons that relate to someone's health.

When there is a worry that someone's oxygen levels could fall too low, oximeters will need to be used. Medical facilities are equipped with such appliances, and usually have them fitted in various sections, such as the intensive care and casualty areas. The oximeters that have been designed in the form of a wristwatch are more useful for persons who are not in a hospital environment.

Wristwatch oximeters are not cumbersome in any way, and have all the features of a hospital's unit. They have a memory of possibly up to eighty hours, which means that every reading can be stored. However, when the memory is full, the information must first be deleted or transferred before the device will work again. These wristwatch devices have been approved for usage by the FDA.

Oximeters for home use are most often purchased by persons who need to keep a constant track of their oxygenation percentage. This could be necessary during times of rest, or because they suffer from asthma. The device works with a probe that does not penetrate the skin, and that normally fits over someone's finger. It shines red and infrared light.

Although a large amount of the light is taken in by body tissue, the bit that is not will show the hemoglobin saturation levels. The reading is shown in a percentage, and a healthy level of oxygen is indicated at between ninety-five and ninety-eight percent. It is still fine if the level of oxygen reaches as low as ninety percent, but below this level the patient will need to receive oxygen for respiratory distress relief. The body's cells are unable to function properly when oxygen levels are this low.

In some cases, oximeters cannot be used. This is when a patient has a very faint heartbeat, or when the patient's heartbeat is fairly irregular. Oximeters need to be able to detect a strong pulse for an accurate reading.

The patient who requires the test should also not be moving around, as motion could cause the device to give an unreliable response. The light is disturbed by movement. The device should not be used around other very bright lights, as this could effect its own light. One reading is often not sufficient to determine an accurate level of oxygen.

Computer programs will need to be purchased along with the wrist pulse oximeter, but they are easy to find. The long battery life and the fact that they can be used even whilst wearing nail polish are additional advantages. They will also have a guarantee of quality.




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