How to get the Best SPO2 reading?

A Pulse Oximeter Sensor (SpO2 problem) supplied by SpO2 Probes Suppliers is used to gauge the oxygen capacity in red blood cells. They are typically small clip-like devices that can be devoted to the fingers, toes, earlobes, etc. The lifeSpan of a Pulse Oximeter is about 5-7 years, whereas the SpO2 probes will last not more than 1 to 1.5 years upon steady usage. In today’s situation, more than 50% of Patient Monitors and Pulse Oximeters users buy well-matched sensors for the simple reason that they are lucrative and have interchangeability. 

Working Principle of Pulse Oximeter Sensors

Before the creation of the Pulse Oximeter, the practice was to draw blood from patients and examine the examples at regular intervals in a day using large laboratory equipment such as a blood gas analyzer.

Blood gas analyzers regulate the partial pressure of Oxygen in the blood (pO2) using biochemical sensors, and they directly calculate the proportion of the oxygenated hemoglobin to the total hemoglobin in an example of blood SaO2 (Arterial Oxygen Content).

The Pulse Oximeter was conceived in the 1980s. They made use of the pulsatile arterial blood flow, produced by the heart, by producing light rays of two different wavelengths, red at 660 nm and infrared at 940 nm. The minor size of LEDs and photodiodes makes it conceivable to mount the optical mechanisms directly on the sensor for use in patients non-invasively.

Why are SPO2 Probes essential?

Pulse Oximeter sensors (SpO₂ Probes) bought from SpO2 Probes Suppliers have been always hitting the headings ever since the advent of Covid 19 epidemic.

So, Why is there an increase in requests for these Pulse Oximeter SpO₂ Sensors? 

Well, SpO₂ sensors play a fundamental role in gauging the heart rate and blood oxygenation levels in your body.

Be it a home, hospital, medical epicenter, or critical care arrangement, presently, Pulse oximeters are the massive game changers, being the non-invasive and fast technique in the primary valuation of oxygenation levels in human blood.

The following are some things to keep in mind while using a SPo2 Probe

 1. Body Outlying application site

Usually, the SpO₂ levels are measured at the outlying sites of the human body, mainly toes, fingers, ears, and forehead. While one is facing breathing glitches or suspecting Covid, to level up the chance of precise interpretations, the sensors can be used at the outlying site that is adequate for blood perfusion.

The fingers are the possible options to be used in the medical grade sensors to get exact interpretations due to the less shaky movements and better blood perfusion. 

According to the study, the middle finger of the central hand is useful in exhibiting significant SpO₂ results. Though, poor blood perfusion sites, thrilling cold conditions of the patient, and Vasoconstriction (confines the blood flow to the outlying sites) cause disappointment in recording the levels. 

2. Correct Application of the SpO₂ sensor

The practice of correct SpO₂ sensors bought from SpO2 Probes Suppliers is tremendously vital to attain precision in the readings. Make sure the sensor correctly fits the application location. Loose fitting sensors can result in stopping the passage of light from the emitter to the site (optical bypass).

Tight fitting sensors can cause venous pulsation (CPR). Both situations can provide inconsistency in blood oxygen levels. To evade pseudo reading, the sensor probes must be aligned at the heart level.

3. Role of Gesture artifacts

Trembling, shaking, standing positions, exercise, physical energetic activities, seizures, and unbalanced positions leads to mistaken measurements due to motion artifacts. In such cases, either refinement in the stable positions for re-reading or medical assessments can be sought.

Equally, mental factors such as shock, fear, and nervousness may produce false SpO₂ sensor alarm interpretations. Furthermore, in low blood pressure cases due to low cardiac output, the sensors fail to notice the weak pulse signals.

Poor signals can be noticed when mechanical meddling with blood circulation (delimited clothes, blood pressure cuffs), thus producing inaccuracy results. 

Usually, pulse oximeters devoted to the person who is sitting upright have the chance of getting high oxygenated capacity levels compared to the other one in a reclining/ laying down position. Using the reimbursements of a motion-accepting sensor can gain significant medical performance.

4. Nail Polish/ Art

While noticing the SpO₂ levels of Women with cream or acrylic shiny glittery nail polish, nail arts, and henna dye, there is a high potential for misleading interpretations.

Even though the pulse oximeter notices the pulse waveforms, the colors in nail color/art/artificial nail act as a barricade in blocking the signals. In a nutshell, it is sensible to remove the nail polish, or in inevitable emergency cases, it is better to use another outlying site such as ear lobes.

5. Effect of Illumination 

Bright illuminations such as sunlight, high-intensity radio sources, fluorescence light, operation theatre, ultraviolet light, etc do cause an impact on the blood oxygen levels disparity due to ambient level interferences.

On the other hand, it is vital to wrap/ safeguard the SpO₂ sensor probes with a black material as it blocks the radioactivity from the light sources. By defending the process, the imprecision results can be avoided.

6. Skin Coloration 

Though skin color Melanin can engross a significant amount of light energy, the report by Food Drug Administration depicts that SpO₂ precision levels differ between dark skin and white skin colorations.

The precision difference interpretations are usually slightly smaller when the oxygenated capacity levels are above 80% and greater while the oxygenated levels are below 80%.

Further technical evidence must be backed up to address the correctness and reliability factors. Mistaken oxygenated levels might also arise due to the skin depth and poor blood circulation.