Today’s pulse oximeters give healthcare professionals a more complete picture of a patient’s respiratory status, so they can provide timely, effective treatment and maintain patient safety. Here’s a look at some of the current market offerings.
Covidien Nellcor Respiration Rate Technology
Nellcor Respiration Rate technology provides an assessment of patients’ oxygenation and respiration rate trend through a single finger sensor. “The technology delivers noninvasive, continuous monitoring of respiratory status and an early warning of impending respiratory distress,” said Erich Faust, director, Respiratory Function, US, Patient Monitoring, Covidien (Boulder, Colo). “As a result, clinicians can intervene earlier and potentially improve the safety and health of patients.”
The addition of Respiration Rate to the Nellcor Respiratory Function portfolio provides a more holistic monitoring solution using a single, integrated sensor. Instead of merely knowing a patient’s blood oxygen levels, clinicians can now look at aspects of ventilation or the passing of air into and out of the body.
Nellcor Respiration Rate software uses pulse oximetry technology, sensors, and workflows to derive respiration rate based on the changes in the photoplethysmogram (pleth) waveform that occur as a result of breathing. “Breathing causes changes in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and autonomic nervous systems and results in changes in the pleth waveform,” Faust explained. “These modulations can be used to calculate respiration rate.”
Nellcor Respiration Rate technology can be used to measure respiration rates in adults in hospitals and hospital-type facilities. The technology is offered as a software upgrade to the Nellcor Bedside Respiratory Patient Monitoring System and has an accuracy of ±1 breath per minute when compared to the respiration rate derived from a capnography-based reference.
Nellcor Respiration Rate complements Spo2, pulse rate, and Saturation Pattern Detection (SPD) Alert to provide a more complete picture of a patient’s respiratory status. “Using this information, clinicians may identify evolving respiratory compromise sooner and intervene more quickly to minimize the risk of dangerous respiratory events,” Faust said.
Nonin Onyx Vantage 9590 Finger Pulse Oximeter for Clinicians
Respiratory patients often have complex conditions with comorbidities. The ability to make the right decision is often dependent on getting an accurate SpO2 reading. For respiratory therapists and other clinicians, Nonin’s Onyx Vantage 9590 Finger Pulse Oximeter provides scientifically proven accuracy in a wide range of patients.
Nonin’s oximeter technology has proven accuracy under challenging conditions, such as Spo2 changes, motion, and low perfusion. Its clinically proven PureSAT pulse oximetry technology utilizes intelligent pulse-by-pulse filtering to provide precise oximetry measurements. “Through identification of the most reliable signals, clinicians are provided with accurate information and a fast response time to physiological changes,” says Mark Goldberg, product marketing manager, Nonin Medical Inc (Plymouth, Minn).
The Onyx Vantage is quite versatile—it can be used for pediatric to adult patients and on fingers, thumbs, and toes. Quality construction provides durability.
Nonin GO2 Finger Pulse Oximeters for Personal Use
For respiratory patients and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the home environment contains many challenges that confound patients’ abilities to successfully measure and manage their conditions. “An accurate reading of SpO2 values is among the most important factors for the successful management of long-term oxygen therapy,” Goldberg said.
The Nonin GO2 brand of finger pulse oximeters for personal home use empowers COPD patients and others to live active lives. Nonin GO2 is accurate, easy to use, and durable.
Smiths Medical BCI SPECTRO2 30
The BCI SPECTRO2 30 pulse oximeter allows healthcare providers to monitor respiratory interventions. The device improves safety by offering visual, audible, and remote alarms; alerts when clinical intervention might be needed; and a remote alarm that operates through a nurse call system. With one of the largest displays on the handheld market, the screen is easy to view from wide angles. An on-board storage cradle stores and protects the sensor when not in use.
Utilizing BCI patented technology, “the SPECTRO2 30 pulse oximeter can be used to monitor oxygen saturation on a wide range of patients in the most challenging situations, including at-risk patients, sleep screening, postanesthesia recovery, analgesics monitoring, and triage,” says Arundhati Samanta, regional marketing manager, Smiths Medical ASD (Norwell, Mass).
With its unique features and optional accessories, the SPECTRO2 30 oximeter can be customized to address the needs of most clinical settings. It weighs in at just 340 grams, which includes four AA batteries; its small footprint is only 3.3 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches.
The SPECTRO2 Pulse Oximeter Series offers a variety of features and optional accessories including a docking station, protective rubber gloves, power options, and an attachable printer.
Drive Medical’s MQ3600 Vital Signs Monitor
Drive Medical offers portability in its MQ3600 Vital Signs Monitor. The Spo2 pulse oximeter combines optimal clinical performance and usability in a tabletop oximeter. The standard unit includes automated blood pressure monitoring, with an optional ear thermometer and thermal printer.
“The durable, lightweight 5.5-pound unit includes everything needed for patient monitoring,” said Craig Bright, vice president, Respiratory and Business Development, Drive Medical (Port Washington, NY).
The easy-to-use, low-maintenance unit also features a highly visible antiglare thin-film-transistor LCD seven-inch color screen, data storage, and adjustable alarm settings, making it suitable for routine use with all patient types within institutional or home settings. RT
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Karen Appold is a contributing writer for RT. For further information, contact [email protected].
