Why use Pulse Oximetry? | pulse oximeters
Monday, October 27th, 2008
Pulse oximeters provide a non-invasive and continuous method of determining the amount of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in a person’s blood supply. They became available in the 1930s with the advancements in light emitting diode (LED), microprocessors, optical plethysmography and spectrophotometry. This is a noninvasive, portable and inexpensive method of continuously monitoring oxygen saturation and heart rate with good accuracy.
It has a pair of LEDs facing a photodiode through a translucent part of a patient’s body, usually a fingertip or an earlobe. To put it in layman’s terms, it is that little thing the doctor puts on your finger when you are in the hospital, to monitor how much oxygen you get. To get more technical, it has a red LED with a red LED with wavelengths of 660 nm on one side and the other is infrared, 905, 910, 4940 nm. The absorption rate differs between the oxyhemoglobin and its deoxygenated form that allows for calculations. The absorbance of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin is the same (isosbestic point) for the wavelengths of 590 and 805 nm; earlier oximeters used these wavelengths for correction for hemoglobin concentration.
The 7500 Pulse Oximeter is a portable or tabletop unit that that can be used in the doctor’s office, clinics or hospitals. The 8500 Pulse Oximeter is a handheld unit that many nurses may carry with them on their rounds.
The main uses of pulse oximetry is:
- Noninvasive arterial oxygen saturation monitoring.
- Pulse rate monitoring.
- Following of saturation and pulse rate.
WhoDoctors, nurses and hospitals need this type of equipment to make sure that you are getting enough oxygen and that your pulse rate stays steady. A change in either your oxygen level or your pulse rate could mean that you are going into distress and the medical staff need to take action quickly. This is a very good reason for pulse oximetry unit.




