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How Does A Pulse Oximeter Work?

A finger pulse oximeter is a blood oxygen monitor using red and infra red light to measure the percent of oxygen that is saturated within an individual's blood hemoglobin. Red blood cells are red because they contain protein chemical called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin contains iron, which is utilized for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. When blood passes through the lungs, oxygen molecules attach to the hemoglobin making them oxyhemoglobin. Hemoglobin releases oxygen while blood passes through the body's tissue becoming deoxyhemoglobin. The empty hemoglobin molecules then bond with the tissue's carbon dioxide or other waste gases, transporting it away; during this process, the color of blood changes. The finger pulse oximeter detects these changes through two light emitting diodes and two sensors on the opposite side of the finger. One diode sends out red light while the other sends out infrared light. Oxygenated blood absorbs light at 660nm (red light), whereas deoxygenated blood absorbs light preferentially at 940nm (infra-red). The relative absorption of light by oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin is processed by the device and an oxygen saturation level is reported. The body naturally delivers oxygenated blood in arteries and returns deoxygenated blood in veins. To ensure only the oxygenated blood levels are measured, Finger pulse oximeters are programmed to detect pulsetile blood, which only occurs in veins thus, preventing oximeters from reading blood that has been deoxygenated.
Although simple in design and concept, the oximeter does have several limitations. Poor peripheral circulation can prevent accurate readings due to inadequate blood supply. Skin pigmentation can alter the absorption of light passing through the finger thus, changing the accuracy of the reading. To help ensure a quality reading, most oximeters are equipped with either a pulse quality indicator or a pleth waveform reading. Pulse quality meters normally are just a simple light bar that incrementally lights, on a display, depending on the quality of the pulse its is picking up. Pleth wave form will actually show the user the strength of the pulse by displaying the peaks and valleys of the blood pulsing in the form of a wave displayed on the oximeters screen. The stronger the pulse detected, the higher the difference is between the peaks and valleys of the wave. Since an oximeter must read arterial pulsing blood to obtain oxygen saturation levels, it can also additionally be used to read pulse rates. Some people often confuse the pulse rate with the heart rate. Although both rates usually correspond, they can differ. Heart rate indicates the actual heart beating. Pulse rate indicates the number of times a pulse is felt. Poor electrical conductivity of the heart or poor circulation can cause a variation in both rates.

Author Resource:- Blood Oxygen Monitor, Oximeter Sale
Submitted 2010-08-19 19:29:04
By: Albert Baker 99 or more times read
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