What is Pulse Oximetry?

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What is Pulse Oximetry?

For people with COPD, asthma, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and other conditions, pulse oximetry is a technology used to measure the oxygen level in your blood and your heart rate. A finger pulse oximeter is equipped with technology to rapidly detect changes in your blood oxygen level. It can help give you the knowledge you need to take control of your condition. A finger pulse oximeter is easy to use – just clip it on your fingertip to get a blood oxygen reading.

How Does a Pulse Oximeter Work?

A finger pulse oximeter functions by shining light through your finger. The sensors detect how much oxygen is in your blood based on the way the light passes through your finger. Pulse oximetry is the technology calculating the results to display a number on the oximeter’s screen that tells you the percent of oxygen in your blood. A finger pulse oximeter also measures your pulse rate.

PureSAT® Technology

Only Nonin pulse oximeters have PureSAT® pulse oximetry technology, which is precise enough to measure the oxygen level from each pulse. The many other finger pulse oximeters for sale are less precise and need to calculate an average oxygen level across numerous pulses, which often results in delayed or inaccurate readings.

Nonin Medical invented finger pulse oximetry, and has 25 years of experience. At Nonin, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality products available at a great value.


Learn More

* Survey of respiratory therapist subscribers to RT Magazine. Based on 195 respondents. Jan 2013. Nonin Medical, Data on File.

** Note: The Nonin Onyx 9500 and Onyx II 9550 finger pulse oximeters with PureSAT technology are certified for airworthiness in U.S. military aeromedical aircraft. The Nonin GO2 uses the same PureSAT technology.

† Nonin Medical, data on file. Accuracy and durability studies are also located at nonin.com/PureSAT