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During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are finding an increasing need for pulse oximeters to keep track of their blood oxygen saturation sitting at home. In these tough times, pulse oximeters have become an invaluable tool to checkout oxygen levels and help in some sort of early detection of COVID-19.
But deciding on a Pulse Oximeter which is accurate as well as reliable can often be tricky.
That’s why we are here to discuss the best pulse oximeters available in the market and everything you need to know about them in detail.
So firstly let’s start with the basics of a Pulse Oximeter.
Table of Contents
What is a Pulse Oximeter?
Pulse Oximeter is a small and portable device that is used to monitor oxygen saturation in the human body. In other words, the Pulse Oximeter checks how well the heart is pumping oxygen through the human body. The Pulse Oximeter reads the peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and is considered an inexpensive way of measuring oxygen saturation in clinical use.
What is the Purpose or Use of Pulse Oximeter
As we discussed before, a pulse oximeter reads the oxygen saturation in the human body.The normal blood oxygen saturation level for someone who is healthy will be around 95–100 per cent.
The oxygen level below 95 percent indicates that there is a lung problem. A level below 92 percent would suggest that the person is seriously ill and may need oxygen support or needs to be monitored in the hospital.
Thus primarily, this oxygen concentration reading is just an indication, that you might be in a high-risk zone, but no way does it confirm your chances of suffering through COVID-19.
How does a Pulse Oximeter work?
Pulse oximetry uses light to work out oxygen saturation. Light is emitted from light sources which goes across the pulse oximeter probe and reaches the light detector.
If a finger is placed in between the light source and the light detector, the light will now have to pass through the finger to reach the detector. Part of the light will be absorbed by the finger and the part not absorbed reaches the light detector.
The amount of light absorbed depends on the following:
- concentration of the light absorbing substance.
- length of the light path in the absorbing substance
- oxy-hemoglobin and de-oxy-hemoglobin absorbs red and infrared light differently
Oxy Hb absorbs more infrared light than red light
Deoxy Hb absorbs more red light than infrared light
The Oximeter takes the Ratio between these two absorbances, and calculates the amount of Oxygen Saturation in your Blood.
How to Use an Oximeter
An Oximeter is a Clip-On Accessory for your finger. This is How to Use a Pulse Oximeter:
- Open the hinge, and slide your finger inside the oximeter.
- Press the ‘ON’ Button
- Wait for 5-10 Seconds, for it to read your Blood-Oxygen Saturation and your Pulse Rate.
- The details will be displayed on the screen.
- Remove your finger to turn it off
Factors to consider before buying a Pulse Oximeter
Display
The display is the most necessary part for displaying the vital stats like SpO2 concentration and Pulse rate. Basic pulse oximeters come with LCD displays and display only SpO2 concentration and heart rate. But advanced oximeters are equipped with OLED displays and provide information like Battery level, perfusion index along with only SpO2 concentration and heart rate.
Recording or Spot Checking
All oximeters have functions for Spot Checking of the oxygen concentration, but advanced oximeters with good sensors are capable of recording vital stats, SpO2 concentration for a prolonged period of time to look at the data later.
Accurate measurement
No matter which oximeter you buy having good sensors for accurate measurement of SpO2 and Pulse rate is essential. One of the important factors to consider is the Perfusion Index of an oximeter.
Perfusion Index is the ratio of pulsatile blood flow to the non-pulsatile or static blood in peripheral tissue. In simple terms, an oximeter with a low perfusion Index can detect the weakest pulse strength, thus the lower the perfusion index the better.
Alarms and Warning Systems
Pulse oximeters capable of recording have in-built alarms which enables the user to set a time when the alarm sounds on. Advanced oximeters also have alarms for low blood oxygen level or abnormal heart rate etc.
Battery
Oximeters are usually of two types one with rechargeable lithium ion batteries and others with alkaline batteries. Oximeter CMS50DL, CMS50D, and CMS50D Plus are equipped with standard AAA batteries and the CMS50E, CMS50EW, CMS50F, and CMS50H have a built-in lithium ion battery.
Warranty
Products with long warranty and good customer service shows the product is genuine and can be relied upon. In this regard, one must look for a oximeter with at least 1 year warranty.
Now that we have the preliminary knowledge about the Pulse Oximeter, let’s see which are the best ones to buy out there in the market, based on every budget segment.
Best Oximeter under ₹1,000
DR VAKU® Swadesi Pulse Oximeter
Under ₹1,000, the DR VAKU® Swadesi Pulse Oximeter is one of the best deal ones can grab. It can determine one’s blood oxygen concentration levels of arterial haemoglobin, pulse rate accurately in under 8 seconds.
It has a large Dual Colour LED display which displays all the measurements like SpO2 blood oxygen saturation level, and heart rate.
The DR VAKU® Swadesi Pulse Oximeter requires 2 AAA batteries to be powered, which can provide up to 30 hours of continuous monitoring. Moreover, it also supports automatic power off which helps conserve battery life.
It has a dimension of 2.28inch*1.26inch*1.22inch which is very compact thus convenient to carry around at home as well as outdoors.
Overall, the DR VAKU® Swadesi Pulse Oximeter serves all the essential functions of oximeters and is very reliable along with good battery life which makes it a perfect product in this price segment.
Rating: 8.0 out of 10
Amazon | https://amzn.to/3x0Hc8F
Bonus
As the second wave of COVID-19 is creating a lot of panic, we decided to add in some more pulse oximeters under 1000. The following pulse oximeters, share similar features as the DR VAKU one, and you can check them out on Amazon, right from here.
Best Oximeter under ₹2,000
Arcatron Smart Care Pulse Oximeter
Under the ₹2,000 price bracket, the Arcatron Smart Care Pulse Oximeter offers precise infrared-based measurement for SpO2 and heart rate and rapid testing.
The Arcatron Smart Care Pulse Oximeter is equipped with a Rotatable multi-directional OLED display. It displays precision Index, SpO2 concentration, pulse rate, pulse graph, and battery level.
It also has a silica gel finger mold for a comfortable experience while testing. It is lightweight and portable weighing at 50 grams including the 2 AAA batteries which power the product. Also, it comes with an automatic shutdown to conserve battery.
In general, the Arcatron Smart Care Pulse Oximeter is lightweight, functional, accurate and a value for money product.
Rating: 8.3 out of 10
Note: This product is currently not available
Best Oximeter under ₹3,000
BPL Medical Technologies Smart Oxy Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter
The BPL Medical Technologies Smart Oxy Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter is extremely accurate and can measure the blood oxygen concentration with a minimum deviation of +/- 2 bpm.
It has a multidirectional color OLED screen that displays SPO2, pulse rate, SPO2 waveform, pulse index (strength of signal) and the battery status indicator.
It operates on 2 standard AAA batteries which are included with the product. To keep the battery consumption to a minimum and improve battery life Auto switch off is also present on it. Besides, users can set self-configured alarms on the BPL Medical Technologies Smart Oxy Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter.
Like the previous oximeters in the list, this one is lightweight, compact, and a very portable device. Besides, BPL Medical Technologies Smart Oxy Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter also comes with a 2-year warranty which can come in handy for a lot of people.
In conclusion, the BPL Medical Technologies Smart Oxy Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter is an easy recommendation for its reliability and accuracy under ₹3,000.
Alternatives: Dr Trust Model 210 Fingertip Oxy meter
Rating: 8.7 out of 10
Amazon | https://amzn.to/3dajKyf
Best Oximeter under ₹4,000
Newnik PX701 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter
Every Newnik PX701 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is tested and approved for use by the FDA and CE. It shows the reliability and accuracy of the products. But, the Newnik PX701 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter not only excels for accurate measurements but also in the features it provides.
It comes equipped with the anti-motion artifact, auto on and off, water resistance, user-configurable visual alarms, low battery indicator, and a buzzer which indicates low blood oxygen levels or abnormal pulse rate.
The large multidirectional dual-color OLED screen provides instant readings about blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate, pulse strength, perfusion index, and plethysmogram.
It comes with 2 AAA batteries, lanyard and a pouch out of the box.
To round up, under the budget of ₹4,000 the Newnik PX701 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter provides all the features one could ask for.
Alternatives: Hesley Pulse Finger Tip Oximeter (Buy here)
Rating: 9.0 out of 10
Amazon | https://amzn.to/30H4T6s
Best Oximeter under ₹5,000
Dr Trust Professional Series Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter
The Dr Trust Professional Series Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter accurately measures SpO2, perfusion index, respiratory rate, pulse rate, and pulse graph as well. The FDA and European communities have certified it. It means that Dr trust oximeter produces very accurate measurements.
It has a sizeable multidirectional OLED display with large font that can be easily read by elders.
When it comes to additional features, the Dr. Trust Professional Series Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter has it all. It comes with adjustable settings of brightness, alarms, anti-motion artifact, auto on and off, and a buzzer to inform the user about low blood oxygen levels or abnormal pulse rate.
It also has an IP22 rating, which means that it can withstand splashes of water less than 15 degree angle from the vertical.
Overall, if you one of the most reliable oximeters for measuring your blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate, pulse strength, etc. the Dr. Trust Professional Series Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter is one of the best products in the market.
Alternatives: Dr Trust (USA) Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter – 209 (Buy here)
Rating: 9.3 out of 10
Amazon | https://amzn.to/3eZdUwR
Best Pulse Oximeters Comparision Chart
| DR VAKU® Swadesi Pulse Oximeter | Arcatron Smart Care Pulse Oximeter | BPL Medical Technologies Smart Oxy Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter | Newnik PX701 Fingertip Pulse Oximeter | Dr Trust Professional Series Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Amazon) | Rs. 945 | Rs. 1,460 | Rs. 2,999 | Rs. 3,990 | Rs. 4,750 |
| Rating | 8.0 out of 10 | 8.3 out of 10 | 8.7 out of 10 | 9.0 out of 10 | 9.3 out of 10 |
| Display | Dual Color LED Display | Rotatable Multi-Directional OLED Display | Multi-Directional Color OLED Screen | Multi-Directional Dual-Color OLED Screen | Multi-Directional OLED Display |
| Features | Determines Blood-Oxygen Concentration, Pulse Rate, Has Automatic Power Off, Good Battery Life | Displays Precision Index, SpO2 concentration, Pulse rate, Pulse graph and Battery Level. It is Lightweight and has Automatic Shutdown. | Displays SPO2, Pulse Rate, SpO2 Waveform, Pulse Index, and is very portable. | Anti-Motion Artifact, Auto On and Off, Water Resistance, User-Configurable Visual Alarms, Low Battery Indicator and a Buzzer which Indicates Low Blood Oxygen Levels or Abnormal Pulse Rate. | Adjustable Settings of Brightness, Alarms, Anti-Motion Artifact, Auto On and Off, and a Buzzer to inform the user about Low Blood Oxygen Levels or Abnormal Pulse Rate. It also has an IP22 rating. |
Our Recommendation
BPL Medical Technologies Smart Oxy Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter
The BPL Medical Technologies Smart Oxy Finger Tip Pulse Oximeter provides very accurate measurements, has a good OLED screen, and is very portable. As an added bonus it comes with a 2 year warranty. At the price of ₹2,999, it is one of the best value for money products and we have no problem recommending it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Pulse Oximeters can generally have an accuracy of upto +/-2% , which is considered quite accurate
After a few seconds on no Activity, the Pulse Oximeters turn off by themselves. It is designed to save power, But all Pulse Oximeters do not have this feature.
No, all the readings are deleted as soon as the Power is turned off. It does not store Permanent Records.
A normal SpO2 Level is considered to be above 95%, which is needed to mantain adequate supply of Energy to your Muscles. Poor Oxigenation is when SpO2 Levels are below 95%.
No, it only measures Pulse and Blood-Oxygen Saturation, it does not measure CO2 retention.
Well, there’s no definitive answer to this, but if you want to make sure that you are always aware of your oxygen concentration level, then Yes, but if you think that it’s a device that will detect COVID-19 in your body, then you are wrong.
DR VAKU® Swadesi Pulse Oximeter is the cheapest one on our list , right at the top, but we would suggest that you should buy the one we recommended later on.
Conclusion
Guys we have discussed mostly all the possible points you need to know, about a Pulse Oximeter, and also we have listed the Best Pulse Oximeters to buy in India (2020). Still if you have any such query left, you can ask us by leaving a comment below, and we will make sure, we answer it.
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Also Read | How to Extend the Battery Life of Your Smartphone
Oxygen measurement on Samsung galaxy note 8..
Is it accurate and dependable??
Hi Heena. thanks for commenting, well the sensor on the Note 8 is a good one for rough measurements, and are correct up to a certain extent, but I would suggest that buying a dedicated Oximeter, will be a better choice, if you need the results, to be really accurate and correct. I hope, your query has been solved, please subscribe to our daily newsletter for keeping yourself updated, and feel free to ask any more questions that you have in your mind.