Different Types of Oximeters

Oximeters are essential for measuring pulse rate and oxygen levels in the blood. It can be attached to various body parts, such as fingers of hands, legs, ears, wrist, and forehead. They are often used by sports enthusiast and people who need to monitor their oxygen levels. Doctors, sleep labs, medical centers, EMTS and professionals in emergency rooms also use oximeters. There are many types of pulse oximeters available that you can choose from. And thus sometimes, people are confused on which oximeter is best for them. Some of the types to consider are fingertip, wrist, tabletop and handheld oximeter. You can also choose between oximeters for adults and child.

Fingertip Pulse Oximeter (Hand And Leg)

The finger pulse oximeter is a non-invasive instrument that displays pulse rate and measures blood oxygen levels. Many instruments have multi-directional displays. The equipment can be clipped to the finger on your hand or your leg and may be equipped with internal memory that stores readings. Most fingertip oximeters are small and can be easily carried on person at all times.

Wrist Pulse Oximeter

The wrist worn oximeter is very easy and comfortable to use. The patient can wear it on the wrist. These are portable oximeters. However, when purchasing them for home use, it is recommended that PCI compliance should be ensured for accurate readings.

The patient can opt for a wrist oximeter that has features like long battery life (in case of portable oximeters), enhanced memory and which is also Bluetooth enabled. Some of the wrist equipment contains features making overnight studies easy.

Ear Pulse Oximeter

If the finger pulse oximeter is unable to take pulse reading from your finger, it can also be attached to the earlobe. But there are separate ear probes that need to be purchased.

Forehead Pulse Oximeter

Research has established that monitoring pulse at the forehead may be a better option than the earlobe or finger. Forehead probes need to have good attachment methods and digital signals for accurate reading. If they follow PCI compliance, then they can be a better alternative as they provide better readings than the other aforementioned body parts.

On observing the forehead pulse oximeters available at present, a favorable monitoring response time has been observed. It was also observed that while the response time is fast, signal strengths are low and therefore, there is a margin for error. But, new probes are being manufactured for better results.

Adult vs Pediatric Oximeters

Different oximeters are used for adults and children. The above oximeters can be used for adults as they can be adjusted and attached to different body parts. However, in children, it is more difficult to keep them stable.

Pediatric oximeters can read heart rate and measure oxygen levels from the fingers of the hand or feet. A handheld oximeter is best suited for pediatric purpose. It comes with a sensor that has been manufactured after consideration of the weight and the size of the child. In some cases, pediatricians also use forehead or ear oximeters but only if the weight of the child is over 50 lbs.

Portable vs. Tabletop Oximeters

While oximeters are easily available, their size varies according to the place of their use. For example, a person wishing to use an oximeter at home would want a portable or handheld instrument for ease of use. Similarly, professionals in emergency rooms would also prefer more portability, while a physician would want a tabletop oximeter in his office.

When measuring heart rate or oxygen levels, care should be taken so that the readings are as accurate as possible.

• Fingers should be clear of any pigment or nail varnish.
• Patient movement should be avoided.

In addition, any bright light shining on the probe affects the reading as does carbon monoxide poisoning and poor perfusion.

Concord Health Supply carries a wide selection of pulse oximeters for purchase. If you have any questions or want to know more about which oximeter is the best for you, please call us at 1.888.970.2999.

Deluxe Handheld Pulse Oximeter Review

The Deluxe Handheld Pulse Oximeter melds innovative and advanced features with a simple-to-use interface. The oximeter consists of an elegant color interface, which displays the SpO2 numbers, PI, Pulse Rate, Pulse Bar and waveform in an easy to read manner. One of the best advantages of this handheld oximeter is the extensive storage available. Included with the system is the ability to store the information of up to 127 patients, as well as having 72 hours’ worth of memory at your disposal.


This oximeter comes with an alarm system which is intricately designed to give the user direct access to what they want to know. With the Deluxe Handheld Pulse Oximeter, you are allowed to adjust the alarms any way you see fit, as they can be adjusted for SpO2, PR, Probe OFF, and low-battery indicator. The modes through which you can sense the alarm are audible, visual, and information allowing the pulse oximeter to be adaptable to any situation. You'll also be glad to know that there is a battery-saving auto power-off mode that allows you to set the power-off time to any moment between one minute and fifteen minutes.

Some of the most useful features of the deluxe handheld pulse oximeter are:

• 2.8” color display
• 3 types of display mode
• Adjustable sound and visual alarm included
• 3 AA batteries included with product
• Comes with AC charger and charger stand
• 18 hours of use per each set of batteries
• Measurement Range:
• SpO2: 70-100%
• Pulse Rate: 30-235 bpm
• Free shipping

The low power consumption with this oximeter is one of the distinct advantages associated with the system, as it allows for an ample amount of time in-between charges. This allows you the benefit of not having to recharge the device so often that it becomes an annoyance. While it can be used by anyone, it's particularly useful for adult and pediatric patients. By purchasing the Deluxe Handheld Pulse Oximeter with Concord Health Supply, you ensure that you receive the best quality at the best price. This product also qualifies for FREE shipping when ordering through Concord, which helps you to save even more.

Uses and Benefits of Pulse Oximeters

A pulse oximeter is a device that is specially designed to measure pulse rate and arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) in a non-invasive manner. Both pulse rate and oxygen saturation level are considered vital signs of a person and they are measured in a variety of situations including operating rooms, emergency medical situations, flight training and high altitude adventure sports. Oximeter is an inexpensive option to receive an accurate reading in a matter of seconds. It measures the concentration of oxygen in the blood by the finger. A two-sided probe is placed over a finger. The device then keeps track of the finger tip's pulsating capillaries. Ideally, this reading should be somewhere between 96 percent and 100 percent. If the reading is under 90 percent, there may be a cause to be concerned and you should contact your medical professional.

Why should one use oximeters?

Low oxygen saturation in the blood, also known as hypoxemia, could potentially prevent your body from functioning like it should. Vital tissues could be harmed, causing confusion, fatigue, shortness of breath and even death. Thus it is important to use oximeters to monitor your blood situation level. In the earlier days, it was difficult to measure your blood oxygen level outside of a hospital setting since the machine being used was large required a cart to move it around. It was also relatively expensive and not everyone could afford to own one. However, pulse oximetry has advanced a great deal in the past few decades. Nowadays, oximeters are portable, compact, easy to use and come in a wide variety of price ranges.

Who can use oximeters?

Pulse oximeters can be used for various reasons by both adults and children. They are frequently used by mountain climbers, pilots, athletes and other people who spend a significant amount of time at high altitudes. The device helps them to guard themselves against hypoxemia. The red blood cell count in these activities can be increased by the reduced level of oxygen which affects their endurance.

Pulse oximeter can be used to monitor the circulatory problem known as peripheral vascular disease (PVC) that is especially common in diabetics.  Diabetes patients also have a high risk of getting sleep apnea.  Treating sleep apnea successfully can also help them to control their diabetes. Sleep apnea causes someone to have difficulty breathing while they sleep. This results in the person being deprived of oxygen which could possible result in depression, weight gain, heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes or a stroke.

Pulse oximeters are frequently used to monitor patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, asthma and various other respiratory problems. It is recommended that people who suffer from respiratory problems have their levels of SpO2 checked on a regular basis. 

In addition to at-home and sports use, medical professionals such as doctors, and emergency responders. Using one can enable a person to know more about their own health in a simple and inexpensive way and prevent any major health issues.

If you would like to buy oximeters online or learn more about the different types available, please visit Concord Health Supply Online Store.

Disclaimer: Please talk to your doctor before using oximeters.

Nonin PalmSat 2500 Oximeter without Alarm Product Review

The Nonin PalmSat 2500 Oximeter without alarm is the next generation handheld pulse oximeter. It uses advanced technology to provide accurate measurement of blood oxygen saturation level and pulse rate readings, yet is small enough to comfortably fit in your hand. The PalmSat 2500 Oximeter displays blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate readings on a clear, easy to read LED digital screen. Designed to be versatile and easy to use, you can feel good knowing you are purchasing the best, highest-quality oximeter available on the market. You also have two options to choose from: with alarm or non-alarm version for your specific needs.

The main features of Nonin PalmSat 2500 handheld pulse oximeter includes  

• Simple easy to use 2-way button operation
• Compact size - 7.5 oz. unit for easy handling
• 72 hours of data storage
• Up to 100 hours of battery life
• 3 flexible power options: AA batteries, rechargeable batteries, or AC power with charger stand
• Works with Nonin's full line of PureLight® sensors
• Low battery indicator

Advanced technology combined with algorithms based on years of clinical experience make the Nonin PalmSat 2500 Oximeter a smart design and a smart buy.  It has a wide range of functionality and is perfect to use in a variety of locations and settings such as: hospitals, emergency services, nursing homes, Pre & Post Op, physician’s offices to name a few. The device can also be easily connected to a PC to transfer data stored within its memory for analysis, report generation, and storage.  When you purchase The Nonin PalmSat 2500 Oximeter from Concord Health Supply, you are sure to save money and get FREE shipping on your order. Feel good knowing your results are accurate each and every time with this Nonin oximeter.