Pulse Oximeters

Pulse Oximeters for Oxygen Saturation Monitoring

Pulse oximeters measure oxygen saturation level in patient blood (SpO2) and pulse rate non-invasively, providing instant feedback on respiratory function through sensors detecting light absorption by oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin, available in fingertip portable models, handheld hospital-grade devices, continuous monitoring systems with alarms, and specialist paediatric and neonatal sensors, across hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes, respiratory clinics, emergency departments, ambulance services, and domiciliary care throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These essential monitoring devices support respiratory assessment, chronic disease management, and acute care, serving hospital wards monitoring patients with respiratory conditions, intensive care units continuously monitoring critically ill individuals, emergency departments assessing acute presentations, GP surgeries investigating breathlessness, care homes monitoring residents with COPD or heart failure, respiratory clinics managing chronic conditions, ambulance services providing pre-hospital assessment, and home care enabling self-monitoring for chronic respiratory disease, meeting MHRA medical device standards, NHS clinical observation protocols, and supporting safe respiratory care across all UK care sectors.

Oxygen saturation measurement provides critical respiratory assessment indicating adequacy of oxygenation, respiratory function, and cardiovascular status across hospitals, emergency care, care homes, and community services throughout the UK. Normal SpO2 typically ranges 95-100% with levels below 94% indicating hypoxaemia requiring investigation and potential treatment, and below 90% representing severe hypoxaemia needing urgent intervention. Pulse oximetry supports clinical decisions including respiratory disease assessment identifying exacerbations requiring treatment or admission, oxygen therapy monitoring ensuring appropriate oxygenation without over-oxygenation risking CO2 retention, cardiac disease monitoring detecting reduced cardiac output or pulmonary oedema, sleep apnoea assessment identifying nocturnal desaturation, post-operative monitoring detecting respiratory complications, and emergency assessment rapidly identifying life-threatening hypoxaemia. Pulse oximeters prove particularly valuable for conditions including COPD where chronic respiratory compromise requires regular monitoring, asthma during acute exacerbations, pneumonia and respiratory infections, heart failure causing pulmonary oedema, pulmonary embolism compromising gas exchange, and COVID-19 or other respiratory viral infections. Professional pulse oximeters feature accurate SpO2 measurement typically ±2%, pulse rate detection, clear displays showing readings, portable designs for varied applications, motion resistance algorithms reducing false readings, and varied sensor types throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Implement pulse oximeters across hospital wards conducting routine observations meeting NEWS2 protocols, intensive care units providing continuous monitoring with alarms, emergency departments assessing acute presentations, GP surgeries investigating respiratory symptoms, care homes monitoring residents with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions, respiratory clinics delivering specialist services, ambulance services providing pre-hospital assessment, and home care supporting self-monitoring for chronic conditions throughout the UK. Fingertip portable oximeters suit intermittent spot-checking in clinics, wards, and home monitoring, providing convenient measurement but requiring still positioning. Hospital-grade handheld devices offer enhanced accuracy, reliability, and features supporting clinical use. Continuous monitoring systems with alarms suit intensive care, high-dependency units, and post-operative recovery enabling early detection of desaturation. Ensure appropriate sensor types including standard adult fingertip sensors, paediatric sensors for children, neonatal sensors for premature babies, and alternative sites like ear or forehead for patients with poor peripheral circulation. Provide staff training in correct sensor application, interpretation of readings considering patient baseline particularly in chronic respiratory disease where lower SpO2 may be normal, recognition of technical factors affecting accuracy including nail polish and poor perfusion, and appropriate clinical responses to abnormal readings. Quality pulse oximeter provision supports NHS NEWS2 observation protocols, demonstrates regulatory compliance with MHRA requirements, enables early detection of clinical deterioration, and supports safe respiratory disease management throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.