Disposable SpO2 Finger Oxygen Sensors

Finger Oxygen Sensors

AKW Medical offers a wide range of top-quality SpO2 sensors and accessories. These disposable pulse oximeter SpO2 finger sensors are designed to interface with almost all standard patient vital signs monitors. Compatible with Phillips/HP, GE/Marquette, Nihon Kohden, Spacelabs, and more.

Benefits of SpO2 Sensors

The single-use SpO2 pulse oximeter finger sensors can improve patient flow, efficiency for staff, and require no disinfection routines. Disposable pulse oximeter finger sensors fill an important need in the modern healthcare world where disinfection protocols have grown increasingly strict. 1 out of 20 patients will acquire a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) as a result of hospitalization. 100,000 deaths per year in the US are the result of HAI.

Research shows that 77% of reusable ECG lead wires are contaminated with antibiotic-resistant nosocomial pathogens. These cost-effective disposable pulse oximeter finger sensors are the solution to help you reduce the costs of your infection control program. Massimo, Nonin, Nellcor, Criticare, Datex-Ohmeda, Smiths Medical, Welch Allyn, Mindray y Datascope compatible disposable sensors are available. Seamlessly transition your entire facility into disposable finger sensors and proactively combat the growing healthcare-associated infection statistics.

What is a pulse oximeter?

A pulse oximeter is used to get our blood oxygen level. Pulse oximetry indicates how much oxygen your red blood cells are carrying. High blood oxygenation has a crucial role in ensuring that your muscles, brain and other organs receive the energy they need to work properly. Heart health is vital to longevity, as is avoiding heart disease. That’s why it’s so important to understand how to measure your current oxygen level—and determine whether it falls within an acceptable range.

How do pulse oximeters work?

Highly trained medical experts employ a wide variety of pulse oximetry monitoring tools, including finger pulse oximeters. Technological advances have made these compact, noninvasive devices able to attach painlessly to the finger. They use wavelengths of light through the finger to assess SpO2 and heart rate. Only with the guidance of their personal physicians, patients with heart and breathing problems can use personal pulse oximeters to monitor their conditions and assess the success of treatment methods. Pulse oximetry can be a useful aid in decision-making, but none of this information is a substitute for a clinical assessment, and never can be used for diagnosis by itself. Arterial blood gas measurements, which can only be obtained by arterial puncture, are still the ultimate gold standard for measurement of oxygen saturation.

What are disposable pulse oximeters?

A personal finger pulse oximeter is designed to be fast, durable and intuitive. All you have to do is place it and wait a few seconds for it to measure your current SpO2 and heart rate. However, not all pulse oximeters deliver the same level of performance and versatility. Many finger pulse oximeters are thrown off by factors such as low perfusion and can’t stand up to repeated daily use. That’s why in-home caretakers and people suffering from respiratory problems count on clinically proven self-monitoring solutions from Nonin.

How does the finger oxygen sensor work?

Infrared beams of light pass through the blood that is flowing through the finger, measuring the amount of oxygen that is in the blood. The amount of oxygen in the blood is called oxygen saturation. Measuring blood oxygen is done by measuring changes of light absorption in oxygenated or deoxygenated blood. This is a painless process. A pulse oximeter sensor is placed on the patient’s forefinger and the display on the sensor indicates the oxygen level (or oxygen saturation) in the blood. A pulse oximeter is most effective if the patient is not wearing nail polish. The pulse oximeter will thus be able to tell you your oxygen saturation levels along with your heart rate. Blood oxygen levels can indicate health of the lungs and are essential in health diagnosis.

Most commonly, a clip-like device will be placed on your finger, earlobe, or toe. You may feel a small amount of pressure, but there is no pain or pinching. In some cases, a small probe may be placed on your finger or forehead with a sticky adhesive. You may be asked to remove your fingernail polish if it’s being attached to a finger.

You’ll keep the probe on for as long as needed to monitor your pulse and oxygen saturation. When monitoring physical activity capabilities, this will be during the extent of the exercise and during the recovery period. During surgery, the probe will be attached beforehand and removed once you’re awake and no longer under supervision. Sometimes, it will only be used to take a single reading very quickly. Once the test is over, the clip or probe will be removed. A disposable or single-use is best used in a hospital where many patients will use the same machine. A hospital can ensure less spread of infection and contamination when using single-use pulse oximeter sensors. These new type of sensors are engineered to be highly accurate and limit the risk of infection. Pulse oximetry is considered to be a fairly accurate test. This is extra true when using high-quality pulse oximetry equipment found in most medical practices or hospital settings. They consistently provide results within a 2-percent difference either way of what it truly is. For example, if your reading was 82 percent, your actual oxygen saturation level may be anywhere from 80 to 84 percent. However, the quality of the waveform and assessment of the individual must be considered. Factors such as movement, temperature, or nail polish can impact the accuracy.

Which finger is best for pulse oximeter?

The right middle finger and the right thumb are the best choices when obtaining a saturation reading.

What is a normal level of oxygen saturation?

Normal pulse oximeter readings generally range from 95 to 100 percent. Values under 90 percent are considered low. Oxygen saturation that is considered low may indicate the need for supplemental oxygen. If you need oxygen, this condition is commonly referred to as hypoxemia. Patients that are experiencing hypoxemia can have symptoms such as severe shortness of breath, increased heart rate and chest pain. A pulse oximeter will show a patient’s oxygen saturation.

For people with chronic lung conditions and other breathing problems, the “normal” SpO2 range of 95% to 100% doesn’t apply. These individuals should always consult with their doctor for information on acceptable oxygen levels for their unique state of health. That being said, here are a few general guidelines on SpO2 for individuals with acute respiratory issues and chronic diseases.

Patients who are experiencing acute respiratory illness, such as pneumonia or influenza, or are having breathing difficulty like an asthma attack, may have an SpO2 of 92% or less. This may indicate a need for oxygen supplementation. A pulse oximeter is used to verify the patient’s oxygen level and pulse rate. Certain patients with chronic but stable disease like COPD will have their saturation tested through the use of pulse oximetry. If they have an SpO2 of 92% or less, a physician may refer this patient for further investigation of the need for long-term oxygen therapy. A physician must be consulted in all cases. This is not considered medical advice.

What can cause an abnormal pulse oximetry reading?

Many factors can affect pulse oximetry readings. The first is to have a stable and strong blood pressure. Blood pressure may need to be >80 beats per second in order to get a stable saturation reading. Any vascular impingement can cause abnormal pulse oximetry readings. AV fistula and decrease distal flow and prevent normal readings from being shown. If the heart is beating too rapidly this can also skew the oxygen readings. If the finger probe is compressed or not placed correctly, the readings may not be accurate. Cold and fear causing slow or rapid heart rate may also provide problematic to a practitioner trying to obtain accurate readings. Certain medication which cause the heart to fluctuate are culprits.

Why should we use single use finger sensors?Having the proper pulse oximetry sensor for your particular pulse oximeter model is important to ensure the accuracy of the readings. Here, you’ll find a wide range of reusable and disposable pulse oximeter sensor units from both Nonin and Masimo. This includes models designed specifically for adults, children and infants. You’ll find blood oxygen level sensors for fingertips, toes, foreheads and even ear lobes. We have adhesive sensors, breathable cloth sensors, adult and pediatric articulated sensors and a line of soft fingertip sensors that provide maximum long-term comfort.

A pulse oximetry probe should be disposable when it is used in a setting where multiple patients will be monitored using the same device. When used at home for a single patient, however, a reusable sensor may be safely employed.

AKW Medical Team