Sent my Spo 7500 back, got a Nonin WristOx instead

MrGrumpy · Post by **MrGrumpy** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:08 pm

I decided to get a real pulse oximeter and sent my cheapo Spo 7500 oximeter back. Exchanged it for a Nonin WristOx 3100 with Nonin's nVision software. I got the WristOx 3100 today and there is absolutely no comparison to the Spo 7500. The WristOx is a Rolls Royce...its well made and doesnt look cheap (because it isnt cheap). I like it. I got the Nonin WristOx 3100 "starter kit" which included a bunch of disposable Model 800 JFW Flexiwrap Adult sensors. I was told these sensors stay on your finger better than the clip on standard sensor.

The cord is much nicer and more rugged than the Spo cord, you can replace it and change sensor types.

Only thing bad is the nVision software is not compatible with Vista. It downloaded onto my Vista, but some of the functions wont work with Vista. But I have access to XP, so no biggie.

All in all, I feel much better about my decision to get a Nonin WristOx and send that TOY back to where it came from!

Eric

AMinNJ · Post by **AMinNJ** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:11 pm

Hi Eric,

Glad to hear that you like the WristOx 3100. We chatted briefly about this earlier in the week, but I'm sending my SPO7500 back, too, because it was DOA. I also thought it was very cheap and looked like it would break easily, plus it only had a 12-month warranty and you couldn't change sensors, like you mentioned. Good riddance to it, looked like nothing but potential problems.

I know you purchased yours from Turner Medical, too. I have been happy with their service, except I was a little surprised they would not issue a UPS Call Tag for my defective SPO7500 and insisted I return it at my own expense. Not my fault the darn thing is defective, but what can you do?

I was considering getting the WristOx 3100 to replace the SPO7500, or even the Konica-Minolta 300i, but then decided I might be better off with a handheld model instead of a wrist model. My kids get me up a lot at night, and I would hate to forget I was wearing the wrist model and end up getting it peed on or puked on by one of the kids. Would be a lot easier for me to just take off a sensor than the whole machine.

Anyway, to get to my point... I'm looking at getting the Nonin PalmSat 2500A, but can't decide between the Profox software and the nVision software. Would you please give me some detailed feedback on what you like and don't like about the nVision software? I'd really appreciate it.

Angela

MrGrumpy · Post by **MrGrumpy** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:53 pm

AMinNJ wrote:Hi Eric,

Glad to hear that you like the WristOx 3100. We chatted briefly about this earlier in the week, but I'm sending my SPO7500 back, too, because it was DOA. I also thought it was very cheap and looked like it would break easily, plus it only had a 12-month warranty and you couldn't change sensors, like you mentioned. Good riddance to it, looked like nothing but potential problems.

I know you purchased yours from Turner Medical, too. I have been happy with their service, except I was a little surprised they would not issue a UPS Call Tag for my defective SPO7500 and insisted I return it at my own expense. Not my fault the darn thing is defective, but what can you do?

I was considering getting the WristOx 3100 to replace the SPO7500, or even the Konica-Minolta 300i, but then decided I might be better off with a handheld model instead of a wrist model. My kids get me up a lot at night, and I would hate to forget I was wearing the wrist model and end up getting it peed on or puked on by one of the kids. Would be a lot easier for me to just take off a sensor than the whole machine.

Anyway, to get to my point... I'm looking at getting the Nonin PalmSat 2500A, but can't decide between the Profox software and the nVision software. Would you please give me some detailed feedback on what you like and don't like about the nVision software? I'd really appreciate it.

Angela

Hi...

Yes I remember chatting with you. I am glad to hear you sent that toy back where it came from. As far as a replacement for it goes, I decided I would use exactly what the actual sleep labs or medical people use...mostly Nonin or other higher end, reputable brand. I was told by my DME tech guy that Respironics makes a perfectly good pulse oximeter, but I really think Nonin sets the standard for anything more elaborate than a spotcheck oximeter.

I do have a Spo Checkmate spotchecker, got it from REI last fall and its fine for what it does. I have no complaints on that Spo product...just with the 7500, it is NOT worth $499 or $459 or whatever. My opinion is its worth oh, $200. No more. My opinion...others will disagree with me.

I digress back on topic now...

OK the good thing about the WristOx is that ITS NICE! It does not look or f feel like a toy at all. Its quality stuff. As far as the nVision software, I have found that it does load onto my Vista PC but many basic functions dont work on it, ie; help function doesnt work on Vista. So I havent had an actual chance to try the nVision out yet. The nVision software says it works under the following specs and these are verbatim right off the software thing:

System Requirements:

IBM compatible
Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT 4.0, XP
1 serial communications port
16 MG Memory
10 MG free space on hard drive

Those are very basic requirements, so as long as you dont have Vista, linux or a Mac, you ought to be fine. If you dont have a serial communications port, you can buy a USB to serial converter...or Turner Medical can send one to you if you ask.

I have an old 1997 Windows PC with Windows 95 on it, upgraded to Windows 98. Im going to try and see if nVision will load onto it and work normally. If not, I will have to go buy a cheapo, used XP PC at my local used PC store just to run this software. I dont want to do that, but Im serious about kicking OSA in the butt and monitoring my condition.

BTW, the version I was sent is nVision 5.1, made by Nonin.

Again, as long as you dont have Bill Gates wonderful Vista OS <eye roll>, you ought to be fine with the software. If you do have Vista and have no other options, you might have to buy a used XP PC to run this stuff on and get the full functions.

BTW, that Konica Minolta oximeter does look nice. They've also got a table top model that is wireless...its expensive as hell but I bet it would be comfortable to use.

Oh yeah, TurnerMedical is no bs...they seem straightforward to me which is my personality and how I like to do things. I too was thinking about a tabletop oximeter, its a little cheaper than the Wristox withsoftware. But Turner Medical explained to me that for sleep studies, the cord on the handhelds is short and has a tendency to fall off in your sleep easily. I had experienced that in the sleep lab before. So they told me my best bet might be to go not just with the WristOx with nVision, but the WristOx Starter kit. That contains a bunch of these soft "Flexiwrap" sensors you can use that wont fall off in your sleep. And some other stuff as well.

Eric

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:59 am

Hey, those hand helds are all I've ever had any DME supplier OR sleep lab send home w/me for an overnight oximetry. I've never had a bit of trouble w/them. All you need to do if you are real active during sleep or need to do a lot of "ups and downs" during the night is maybe run a piece of tape around the sensor and finger. I've never had to do that but one of my sleep or titration studies the tech did that w/the finger sensor when she set me up for the night. (Even tho it wasn't a hand help oximeter they use the same finger sensor during an in-lab study).

MrGrumpy · Post by **MrGrumpy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:36 am

[quote="Slinky"]Hey, those hand helds are all I've ever had any DME supplier OR sleep lab send home w/me for an overnight oximetry. I've never had a bit of trouble w/them. All you need to do if you are real active during sleep or need to do a lot of "ups and downs" during the night is maybe run a piece of tape around the sensor and finger. I've never had to do that but one of my sleep or titration studies the tech did that w/the finger sensor when she set me up for the night. (Even tho it wasn't a hand help oximeter they use the same finger sensor during an in-lab study).

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:02 pm

Well, you see, I had my sleep evaluation in January 2006. They Dx'd OSA and wanted to schedule the titration study but I was going out of town and said I'd call when I got back.

I have COPD so when I got back in town, in denial, I guess, I asked my family doctor to order an overnight oximetry just to see how I was doing. Ha! When he got the results back he ordered 2L of 02 for sleeping! I was happy w/that. It beat sleeping w/a CPAP and mask (I thought). And I did feel an improvement. (Of course, when you are starved for oxygen thru out the night ANY extra 02 is bound to help some, duh!).

The sleep lab called a time or two but I wasn't home at the time of their call and I didn't return their calls. Then the sleep doctor called and caught me at home. He asked how I was doing and suggested that I really should come in for a titration or at least have a titration somewhere. I 'fessed up and told him I had opted for supplemental 02 instead of CPAP. He asked if I was seeing improvement w/the supplemental 02 and I had to admit that I was but .... he suggested that after I had been on the 02 supplementation for 3 months I call him and ask him for an overnight oximetry.

In due time I finally got around to calling him about the overnight oximetry. THAT is when he had me come in to the sleep lab to pick up the oximeter and do the overnight oximetry. And, of course, I was still experiencing enough desaturations that he strongly suggested I schedule a titration study somewhere if not at this sleep lab.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:09 pm

The overnight oximetries w/the hand helds were no biggie. The hand held is about the size of a paperback book. I just took it to bed w/me right under the covers. Never had a problem w/it. They run on a battery or batteries so the only "wire" is the one from the finger sensor to the oximeter.