Features To Look For When Buying CMS Pulse Oximeters

By Annabelle Holman


Manufacturers of pulse oximeters are currently many and each claims that their products are the best in the market. These claims make it very hard to select the right product for personal use. This becomes even harder if one has no idea about the features the device should have. This article contains useful information concerning the features to ensure are available in CMS pulse oximeters before buying.

First, there are many reasons why it is useful to use a pulse oximetry device. One of the reasons is the immediacy with which one can check their heart rate and blood oxygen concentration. This is important especially during exercise or to pilots because normal brain functioning may be affected by changes in altitude and air pressure in some people. Patients with sleep apnea should also wear the device when going to sleep to determine the efficiency of CPAP therapy.

The recording function should be the first feature to check for. This function is responsible for maintenance of a list of values recorded over a specific period of time. Variations in measurements can be determined over time. By observing the record, one can tell the time when apnea activities take place during the night. This is because, during apnea activities, heart rates increase and oxygen concentration in blood drops.

Another aspect of great importance is the accuracy of values measured and displayed. Most devices allow a given degree of error in their readings. Highest error margins appear more in cheap devices hence one should know. Regardless of the type of product, error margins should not exceed 2 percent. Other means can be used to confirm accuracy of a device.

One should also check for the kind of display the device uses and the details displayed. Low-end devices normally use the ordinary LED display and only display the two parameters the gadget is meant for without additional information. Better devices use better displays and also display pulse waveform, battery level indicator, menus, pulse meter, and perfusion index value in addition to the two parameters.

Setting of threshold heart rate and O2 saturation percentage values should be possible in the device chosen. All devices that allow setting of threshold values also have alarm systems. The alarms alert the user when the values rise or fall below the threshold. This way, serious conditions can be avoided by taking preventive measures. Low battery levels are also revealed by the alarms.

A reasonable warranty period should accompany the oximeter purchased. Warranties normally last at least two years for these products. One should seek other options if the warranty does not run for at least two years especially in the high-end models. This protects the buyer from the negligence of the manufacturer.

Oximeters that use rechargeable lithium ion batteries should not have been on the shelves for over a year at the time of purchase. This is because too much discharging in these kinds of batteries damages them. Choosing a product that can use both rechargeable and alkaline batteries is an added advantage.




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