A pulse oximeter is a compact device that is used in modern medicine very often.
The smart device displays two main indicators – the pulse (the rhythm of the arteries, which is felt due to the work of the heart) and SpO2 – the amount of oxygen in the patient’s blood. Oxygen, which is transported throughout the body thanks to hemoglobin, ensures the normal functioning of body cells.
If it is not enough, a person will feel a breakdown, dizziness, headaches and weakness.
Table of Contents
How to choose the right pulse oximeter for medical use ?
Are you in a hurry?
Look at the short review of the most popular pulse oximeters for medical use.
| Wellue O2 ring | 
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| Viatom Handheld Pulse Oximeter
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| ChoiceMMed MD300C21C
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| Roscoe Medical Finger Pulse Oximeter
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| Wellue Smart Fingertip Pulse | 
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When choosing a pulse oximeter for a medical use pay attention to the following aspects:
Design.
The design of the equipment must not be very complicated. It must have a body, a sensor and a display, and usually medical pulse oximeters run on batteries or conventional batteries.
Accuracy
The device itself does not pierce the skin, but shines through it, conducting quantitative spectrophotometry. The error of high-quality devices usually does not exceed 1-2%.
Adjustability
If the device will be used by several people, then it is necessary that it can be adjusted to different finger diameters.
Otherwise, the device will not be firmly attached, which will adversely affect the accuracy of the result. The size of the display is also taken into account – for the elderly or for people with vision problems, you need to buy devices with a large screen.
Modern pulse oximeters give a result approximately 10 seconds after the measurement is taken.
When I chose pulse oximeters for medical use to include in the review I took into account all these points above. I also paid attention to the value for money – products with low accuracy were not included in the review, as well as too expensive models.
Best pulse oximeter for GP (general practitioner)
Pulse Oximeters in the format of smart rings is the future, what is available today.
Some capabilities of the rings are superior to the best fingertip pulse oximeters and even smartwatches.
You won’t surprise anyone with smart pulse oximeters anymore: many manufacturers produce smart wearable devices and they are all quite similar.
I have already tested new products for several weeks and I am ready to share my impressions and experience of using the Wellue O2 ring and Oura Gen 3. These two models may be the best pulse oximeters for GP(general practitioner).
1.Wellue O2 ring
The Wellue O2 Ring is a silicone ring pulse oximeter for general practitioners(medical use).
It is with an integrated SpO2 sensor to measure oxygen saturation and a heart rate sensor. The tracker ring is an additional device for monitoring the health of people with heart and lung diseases, sleep apnea attacks.
The pulse oximeter has a built-in vibration alert system for changes in blood oxygen levels and heart rate for user feedback. And also O2 Ring uses Bluetooth Low Energy to connect to the phone of the patient.
The tracker ring can be worn by a patient throughout the day, but will be most beneficial at night, especially for people who experience episodes of obstructive sleep apnea, the main manifestation of which is snoring. In obstructive sleep apnea, the level of oxygen saturation in the blood drops and hypoxia occurs.
The O2 Ring responds to changes in oxygen levels with a vibration that helps wake the wearer to change their position to a more comfortable position or to breathe and fall asleep again.
The tracker ring stores up to 40 hours of information about the level of oxygen in the blood, heart rate and movements during sleep.
The patient can sync O2 Ring data with the ViHealth app by installing it on their phone.
In the application, they can set the vibration volume level so as not to wake the sleeping person nearby, as well as oxygen thresholds and heart rate, after consulting with the doctor. For example, for a user with COPD, a blood oxygen saturation threshold of 70 to 80% can be set, depending on the stage of the disease.
The ViHealth application graphically shows the level of O2 saturation in blood as a percentage and how much time the user has been in, for example, in hypoxia and this reports can be easily shared through the application with the doctor
2.Oura Ring Gen 3
You have access not only to the data, but also advice on how to improve saturation level and general health.
The second thing I noticed after using it: I became less distracted from work with the transition to a smart ring. With a smartwatch or other wrist pulse oximeters , you always want to check something on the screen, run some program, etc…
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The ring has far fewer distracting triggers. You enter the application in the morning, check your sleep, saturation level and see the goal for the day, and further in the day you can be distracted at most at lunch and in the evening to also check the indicators / charge.
Training with a smart ring is convenient if the size is right. If the ring dangles slightly on the hand, this is not a great idea of working out with it , because you are worried about how not to lose it.
It can determine workouts and saturation level, but not as accurately as a smart watch. Apple is better in this regard.
Best pulse oximeter for Medical Use
Mostly, medical use pulse oximeters looks like a fingertip. They are worn on the finger and in the sensor, which is worn on the finger, there is an LED – a source of infrared radiation.
Infrared waves, penetrating through tissues and blood vessels, are partially absorbed by them. The degree of absorption depends on the level of saturation of the blood with hemoglobin.
The photodetector captures the slightest changes in the color of the blood. The data is processed in the microprocessor, and then the saturation indicators are displayed on the display.
1.ChoiceMMed MD300C21C
The device has a compact body, while equipped with a fairly large display.
It is launched by pressing the corresponding button on the case. There are 10 brightness levels, so the device can be used in any light level. Measurement values are displayed in large print. To conserve battery life, it has an automatic shut-off when not in use.
I chose this device as the best for medical use in terms of price and quality, and also because it is easy to use. The auto-off function allows you to save battery. The device is suitable for people with low vision due to the large print.
Pros
- Bright display, large numbers, ease of use
- Slight measurement error
2.Pulse Oximeter PULOX PO-100
It is the greatest model for medical use.
There is no age limit for using the model. The pulse oximeter has a small but clear color display with adjustable brightness. An audible signal notifies about the measurement process and its completion.
A pair of batteries will last for 30 hours of use, which will allow you not to think about replacing them for a long time. The measurement time is quite long. It is worth considering that the indications may differ on the left and right hands of one patient.
Pros
- Easy to use, compact, suitable for children
- Can show different results on two hands, but you have to wait a long time for the measurement(30-40 sec)
3.Wellue Smart Fingertip Pulse. Personal Experience
It is an FDA-approved Fingertip Pulse Oximeter that is popular for medical use.
It monitors SpO2 (oxygen level), PR (pulse rate), PI (perfusion index), and waveform accurately.
It has continued saturation checking.
A very interesting device, useful for domestic use and medical use. Especially for quick real-time heart rate measurement.
It is also very convenient that the device does not need to be turned on / off. When you place your finger on the sensor inside the pulse oximeter, it turns on, when you pull it out, it turns off.
It also has a memory for 10 measurements. If you press the button in the off state, you can see the history.
I tried the device on different people and in different situations.
Saturation readings can change for a short time during measurements by 2-3 points, but I have never dropped below 96.
I measured in conditions of severe drowsiness and high physical exertion, while holding my breath ( though I couldn’t hold our breath for longer than 30 seconds), and concluded that this did not affect the saturation readings.
As for checking the quality of measurements, I found this method on the network: you need to raise your finger above your head during measurements. A good pulse oximeter will turn off after a while, and a bad one will show incorrect, underestimated data. Mine turned off =)
Best pulse oximeter for Clinical Use and Best pulse oximeters for medical professionals, nurses, medical students
For clinical use Computerized Pulse Oximeter with Reflective Signal Technology or simply saying portable computerized pulse oximeter are used.
These are the pulse oximeters for long-term monitoring of blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate with a soft probe.
The main competitive advantage of this diagnostic tool is the use of a unique reflective technology for recording incoming signals.
In addition, special attention is paid to the functionality and performance of the pulse oximeters for clinical use.
- You need to remove nail polish to use the pulse oximeter
- The device is automatically activated when it is placed on the finger and will be turned off immediately after removal.
- Maximum comfort during operation is also provided by a large and informative display equipped with backlight
Scope of portable computerized pulse oximeter:
- Screening measurements of saturation during a medical examination of a patient with suspected chronic respiratory failure.
- Dynamic control of saturation during the treatment of patients with chronic hypoxemia.
- Saturation control during stress tests. Hypoxemia is one of the significant reasons that limit exercise tolerance.
- Saturation control in emergency conditions at the prehospital stage and when it is impossible to transport the patient to the intensive care unit.
- Self-monitoring of saturation of patients with respiratory failure at home.
- Prevention of the development of acute respiratory failure.
1.Viatom Handheld Pulse Oximeter
It is a great computerized pulse oximetry for clinical use. It is Portable and very convenient design for monitoring the amount of oxygen in the blood and various additional indicators.
The product has well thought out ergonomics, but the design is quite simple. It is easy to understand the functional side of the device, respectively, it is simple to use it. The display diagonal is 3 inches, if necessary, it can be connected to other diagnostic systems. The device is able to work with any sensors released by this company and supports OxiMax technology.
Signal processing is digital, takes little time, and provides high accuracy of indicators.
There is an original function that allows you to study the patient’s sleep pattern, and alarms in this case can be turned off. The amount of oxygen is measured in the range from 60 to 100%. From one set of batteries it can work 80 hours, the data can be transferred to a personal computer.
But the price is expensive.
Pros:
- Simple design with good ergonomics;
- There is a cable for connecting to a personal computer;
- Saves battery life
- A sleep study mode is provided.
Final Words
The review of the best pulse oximeters for medical use has come to its logical conclusion.
I hope that the data collected by me and my experience will be enough for you to choose the optimal device that will fully meet your needs.
Pulse Oximeters for medical use will be very useful for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, lungs and a number of other pathologies. When using it, it should be remembered that the diagnostic procedure will not replace a visit to a specialist and passing a number of other examinations.
FAQ
What is a medical grade oximeter?
It’s an indicator in pulse oximeter of how much oxygen from the air we’re breathing into and then how much oxygen gets into the blood.
What is the main use of pulse oximeters?
It finds out how many percent of hemoglobin is saturated with oxygen. Blood oxygen saturation in healthy people is 95-100%. Saturation of 94% or less is a reason to see a doctor. It helps to detect sleep apnea.
Are cheap pulse oximeters accurate?
Many low-cost(сheap) pulse oximeters sold to consumers demonstrate highly inaccurate readings.
Which finger is used for the oximeter?
Usually the right middle finger and right thumb show statistically high measurements.
