Thursday, August 21, 2014

Buying Tips For Recording Pulse Oximeter

By Deanne Shepard


Pulse oximetry is important in many situations making it necessary to carry the device everywhere. Recording pulse oximeter is an oximetry device used for measuring the level of saturation of blood oxygen and the rate of heart beat. The word recording is used because the device is able to record and maintain a list of values in memory. Memory is normally in form of a computer, which runs the software that accompanies the device.

Modern devices are always increasing in the level of sophistication that it is necessary to have some background information about what to look for when buying them. This article presents some of the basic components to consider when making a purchase. In general, the factors to consider include battery type, size, comfort, perfusion index, display, accuracy, warranty, wireless or Bluetooth capability, and compatibility with other devices among others.

The most common devices in currently can only use 2 battery types, the rechargeable lithium-ion and alkaline battery. Alkaline batteries are permanently fixed in the gadget preventing them to be serviced. They also cannot be recharged. They may take years before they need to be replaced. Depleted battery can affect performance and accuracy of a device. Lack of batteries to replace depleted ones also limit the life of certain models.

Rechargeable batteries are on the contrary cost effective because they last longer. Power is depleted as they are used and must be recharged. Most devices can still be used as they get charged. Recent technology allow some gadgets to be able to use both kinds of batteries. The user is therefore presented with more flexibility in terms of choice of power source. It is better to settle for such brands of devices than ones that are specific in the kind of battery they can use.

Devices with alarm systems have added advantage because they are life-saving. The life-saving capability comes in because the gadget can be set by the user to notify them upon the occurrence of certain events. For instance, the user gets notified when their blood oxygen saturation level or heart rate falls or rises beyond a given level. This feature can be very vital for people under critical medical conditions.

All values recorded by the gadget are presented to the user through the display interface. The display chosen should be clear and readable with minimum effort. Expensive models normally have superior displays as opposed to LED displays in cheap models. Additional data like battery level, pulse meter and waveform, menus, and perfusion index should also be displayed.

Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities allow the gadget to automatically download recorded values on a computer. The download can be set to happen at predetermined time intervals. This ensures that no data is lost and a record of values is maintained for future use and reference. Such capabilities are useful to health workers in homes because they can keep track of the blood oxygen saturation and heart rate in a patient without disrupting them.

Cost is dependent on quality and features incorporated in the device. Quality should not be traded for cost when making a purchase because that can be dangerous. Some of the most accurate devices cost very highly.




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