Pulse Oximeter Questions

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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theoldman22
Posts: 38
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2012 8:39 pm
Location: New Mexico

Pulse Oximeter Questions

Post by theoldman22 » Sat Jan 31, 2015 5:36 pm

Could someone please steer me toward a decent recording pulse oximeter?
I presently own three pulse oximeters: a CMS50D+ and a CMS50F (both recording) and a Nonin Onyx II (non-recording). I will, at times. with the Nonin on one finger and one of the CMS models on the adjacent finger, have pulse readings that differ by 15 to 20 bpm, the CMS always being higher. Feeling my pulse manually tells me that the CMS is grossly in error. Years ago another CMS50D+ and a handheld model CMS (forgotten the model number) exhibited the same characteristics.
Fairly often the displays on the CMS models will freeze—not even the pulse light blinking. Taking the sensor off my finger and putting it back on in 5 seconds will unfreeze it.
I would like to find a decent (not expecting a 0.1% accuracy laboratory instrument) pulse oximeter. If I can’t find that, I would settle for a recording pulse device that could be downloaded at the end of the session.
The reason for this inquiry is that I am trying the find the best comprise between a random pulse irregularity on one hand and O2 level on the other. Irregularity and O2 levels are low when I don’t use the VPAP—and apnea symptoms are worse. When I use the VPAP, O2 levels go up and apnea symptoms decrease and irregularity gets worse.
If my pulse characteristics can’t be handled by some devices (and that is the one common thing in this situation), that’s the way the ball bounces.
Any suggestions and/or comments appreciated.

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Julie
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Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Pulse Oximeter Questions

Post by Julie » Sat Jan 31, 2015 5:54 pm

Taking your pulse when you're awake (and slightly tense while examining machines) is very different from what happens when you're asleep, and I doubt if you're going to get accurate (or matching) readings with any consistency, and certainly not ones to match overnight results. Many of us have been using the Pulse Ox Store's meters for years, but I've never heard that they're wrong in the way that you talk about.

-tim
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Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:46 pm
Location: Melbourne Australia

Re: Pulse Oximeter Questions

Post by -tim » Sun Feb 01, 2015 5:25 am

There is an SpO2 device that works with the resmed S9 machines. It is very expensive but I managed to get one when I found DME that had been pressured into buying one which he sold me just to get rid of it. The data doesn't work with sleepyhead or it didn't last year.

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palerider
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Location: Dallas(ish).

Re: Pulse Oximeter Questions

Post by palerider » Sun Feb 01, 2015 1:36 pm

-tim wrote:There is an SpO2 device that works with the resmed S9 machines. It is very expensive but I managed to get one when I found DME that had been pressured into buying one which he sold me just to get rid of it. The data doesn't work with sleepyhead or it didn't last year.
sleepyhead has long understood spo2 data recorded on the resmed sd card, actually.

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