Oximeter Evolution Revealed

A pulse oximeter is medical and health device that has been used in the medical field for decades since its first invention. Until then, pulse oximetry has revolutionized the concept of clinical monitoring. The very first pulse oximeter units were used in the hospitals and clinic settings since the large and bulky ones were quite expensive. The pulse oximeter was truly the very first devices which were able to measure the pulse rate and the blood saturation of a patient successfully and continuously. No other electronic monitoring device has found widespread use in the operating room more quickly than the pulse oximeter has.

This device is quite easy to facilitate as you only had to put the index finger of the patient in a probe that was connected to a large oximeter. Instantly, the device will calculate the pulse rate and the blood oxygen saturation of a patient in just a matter of seconds. Another great thing about the pulse oximeter is that it operates on a continuous basis and allows the physician to be able to gauge the health of the patient and take necessary actions if necessary.

Although it is used for so many decades, the pulse oximeter did not have any major drawbacks. The main drawback is that individual patients who were in the hospital at one point or another have to go home. While at the home, they would still need to be monitored. However, one cannot really bring home an oximeter from the hospital. They were not able to be taken from room to room very easily as these are large bulky devices. However, a change was about to arrive.

Since the technological advancement was inevitable. The pulse oximeter makes a big leap in advancement and affordability. The device became a lot smaller than the previous generations. From the size of a microwave to the size of a mobile phone, the pulse oximeter is significantly getting smaller and smaller. Due to its portability, it is then allowed patients to monitor their health whether they are at home or anywhere else. Within seconds, they will be able to get a reading of their blood oxygen saturation. Thus, one can determine whether they require supplement oxygen. The second advantage of the new chip technology is the cost. The new and improved portable pulse oximeter is extremely affordable as compared to their previous versions and can be bought just about by anyone.

Over the decades, along with the other electronic medical devices, the pulse oximeter has changed from exclusive hospital equipment to a handy and portable home monitoring device that one can access easily.