The invention of the pulse oximeter has changed how oxygen in the blood is studied in a person
. There is no more the need to draw a blood sample from the artery. Oxygen saturation can now be calculated and studied in a much faster and safer way with this medical device.
The main purpose of the pulse oximeter is to know how much oxygen is found within the red blood cells. The blood needs oxygen to be transported to the different parts of the body. Without enough oxygen, the body cannot function well and a person will get sick. Though there are different types of an oximeter, its basic function remains the same.
The first type is the fingertip model. This is said to be the easiest version to use. True enough, a person just has to clip it on the fingernail and wait for a reading. Infrared light and red colored lights are emitted on one side while a computer screen will show the results on the other side. From the screen, the calculation will appear. People who are using the fingertip version should be careful not too have damaged fingernail (blood clot or injury) because this will not give a reliable reading. The lights will not efficiently emit through the fingers.
Another version is called a handheld pulse oximeter. It is basically the same with the fingertip version but the clip or the sensor is plugged into a computer. Obviously, it is not portable and many hospitals have one. The probe can be placed on the finger or the earlobe. The lights will also determine the ratio of the oxygenated blood over the deoxygenated blood.
For pregnant women, the unborn babys oxygen level can now be known through a fetal pulse oximeter. Determining the oxygen saturation level of the fetus is important during labor. The device is inserted into the birth canal so it can reach the babys skull. Just like other oximeters, light is emitted using a sensor, but in the fetus, the probe is placed on its scalp. The sensor is attached to a computer that will indicate the babys oxygen levels. An added feature of the fetal pulse oximeter is that it can also measure the heart beat of the baby.