ClinicalGuard.com Blog

With over a dozen separate models to choose from, ClinicalGuard.com offers the greatest variety of Pulse Oximeters for sale on the internet. Why are there so many models? Each one of our products has its own set of unique features. In the coming weeks, we will start publishing a series called “Focus On” that will highlight the unique features of each and everyone of our products.

You may have read the articles on our website explaining the principles of Pulse oximetry, how a pulse oximeter works and takes the measurements. Now, you may be looking for a little more detail on what are the differences among our products. This entry will hopefully provide an overview of the different types of oximeters available and their different purposes.

In general, there are three types of pulse oximeters. Stationary, Handheld oximeters, and Fingertip oximeters. The Stationary Pulse Oximetry systems are mainly used by hospitals as a part of a stack of patient monitoring devices. Due to these products’ specific focus on the Critical Care industry, ClinicalGuard.com currently does not carry them at this time. Instead, ClinicalGuard.com carries both Handheld and Fingertip Pulse Oximeters.

Handheld Pulse Oximeters. Handheld Pulse Oximeters usually consist of a base unit plus a finger probe. Having a base unit allows the versatility of having different types of finger probes be attached to the device. Ranging from Infant, Adult, One-time use, etc, a full set of finger probes allow easy swapping out based on the usage demand. The base unit can be placed in a secure place away from the user in setings where he or she has limited mobility.

Other features of this type of oximeter may include:

• Dual-power support for AC and DC
• Larger backlit onscreen display
• Memory to record measurements
• Printout to paper
• Connection to PC to download data

Not all of these functions are available on every handheld device, and the price will tend to be more expensive as the devices increase in complexity.

Handheld Oximeter models carried by ClinicalGuard.com include BCI 3301 Hand Held Pulse Oximeter, Handheld Pulse Oximeter OctiveTech 300AH, Handheld Pulse Oximeter OLED OctiveTech 300IH.

Fingertip Pulse Oximeters. Due to the size of the Handheld Pulse Oximeters, their use in some applications may be limited. For such situations, a smaller-sized product known as a Fingertip Pulse Oximeter may be more suitable. By incorporating the circuit board, power supply and display into the finger probe, a compact unit containing all the components required to obtain a oxygen saturation and pulse rate reading is perfect for situations where portability is a must.

Most Finger Pulse Oximeters also have very simple one-button operation. Just insert your finger, press the button, and go. After only a few seconds the reading will be displayed on the screen. The ultra-portable nature of the fingertip style oximeters make them a popular choice for home use, physicians, nurses, paramedics, and others who are on the go. The non-prescription varieties are also used extensively by pilots, athletes, climbers, and others who engage in activities where monitoring the blood oxygen level is important. Although the display on fingertip pulse oximeters is limited by the smaller form factor, there are units available in our store with backlighting and organic-LED display technologies that significantly improve the readability in all lighting conditions.

Fingertip pulse oximeters from ClinicalGuard.com include Finger Pulse Oximeter OctiveTech 300C, Pulse Oximeter OctiveTech 300CSE – Heavy Duty, Finger Pulse Oximeter OctiveTech 300PRO, CMS-50E OLED Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, Pediatric Pulse Oximeter OctiveTech 300PN, Nonin 9500 Onyx Finger Pulse Oximeter, and many more