Using a Pulse Oximeter?

[stevec]

During my sleep study, my O2 saturation was an average of 62% with a range of 41 to 93%. I just got a M-series Pro and Encore so I can do some sleep studies and see my A/H rate.

Now I would like to acquire a pulse oximeter. I want a continuous operation monitor. A lot of folks here are using the pusleox 7500 while some are using Nellcor-type oximeters with PC software to sample the readings. Can you align the cpap readings with the pulseox readings to within a second or two? I would think that would be necessary.

What are you using? How are you using it? How's it working for you?

Also, any ideas on where to buy used or new oximeters cheaply?

Steve

[Slinky]

You can find the used Nellcor pulse oximeters all the time on e-Bay. Getting the software is another matter entirely. And its not easy to find them w/both the sensor and the cable and both of those can be expensive even when found on e-Bay.

[foggydaze]

During my sleep study, my O2 saturation was an average of 62% with a range of 41 to 93%. I just got a M-series Pro and Encore so I can do some sleep studies and see my A/H rate.

Now I would like to acquire a pulse oximeter. I want a continuous operation monitor. A lot of folks here are using the pusleox 7500 while some are using Nellcor-type oximeters with PC software to sample the readings. Can you align the cpap readings with the pulseox readings to within a second or two? I would think that would be necessary.

What are you using? How are you using it? How's it working for you?

Also, any ideas on where to buy used or new oximeters cheaply?

Steve

Hi Steve,

I have written some software which you are free to use. The plotting software can work with oximeter data from any oximeter which has been saved to a comma seperated values (.csv) files commonly used by spread sheet programs.

I also have released a program which creates the .csv files for you from most of the Nellcor oximeters you can find on eBay. Just go to the following URL for more info and downloads of the software. http://riggins.biz/MyOxiPlot/

Time correlation between oximeter data and PAP data is another matter. The Nellcor oximeters allow their time to be re-adjusted. My software automatically does this each time the oximeter is downloaded by syncing it to your computers clock. The problem arises in that the Respironics PAP units seem to have unstable clock and drift over time. To reset their clocks requires a special card and software which is not readily available.

I have had some success in plotting PAP and oximeter data on the same time scale for myself. What I do is always start the oximeter and PAP at as close to the same time as I can. I then in software use the oximeters time to determine the drift of the clock in the Respironics unit. Then when I plot the two together I correct the time from the Respironics data based on the drift. I have reasonable correlation using this method but it requires exact procedures for getting them started together and this method of correlating is thus not very precise.

foggydaze

[Slinky]

Awwww, you darn Respironics 'puter geeks!!! Why can't we get some Resmed 'puter geeks working on this kind of stuff!!! *sniff*

Now, SnoreDog, play nice!!!