Choosing the Best Oxygen Monitor – a Review on Products and Prices

Oxygen monitors are medical devices that are used for measuring the levels of oxygen in a person’s blood. If you need to buy an oxygen monitor, you should first of all decide what you’re looking for: do you need a cheap or a reliable model? Also, what features will suit your exact situation? For example, patients receiving oxygen therapy will need a more sophisticated and accurate pulse oximeter than people who need to check on their blood oxygenation while jogging or exercising.

There are different models of oxygen monitors present on the market. They differ in size, quality, cost and accessibility. The more complex ones (usually the tabletop type) are used in hospitals. They are rarely portable, being bigger than the monitors sold for home use and offering a professional alternative to the invasive methods of oxygen measurements which require a blood sample. Hand held pulse oximeters, on the other hand, have less features but are extremely compact and easy to use. Most of them display the SpO2 and the pulse rate, also indicating the low battery life.

The most common portable oxygen monitor is the finger model. There are also wrist and handheld pulse oximeters. They are more expensive (with the price starting from $300), but have a longer warranty than fingertip or ear lobe models. The design of these oxygen monitors is extremely user friendly. You can easily carry them with you – in your pocket or purse – and use them whenever and wherever you need.

Digitally speaking, there are basic models of oxygen monitors, as well as models that can store and download the results on your computer. The last ones are especially useful for patients receiving oxygen therapy – this way, they can make a diagram of their progress.

The price of an oxygen monitor depends first of all on the brand name. The quality and the portability of an oximeter will also have a considerable influence on its cost. For example, the Nonin oxygen monitors are more expensive than the products of other less known manufacturers.

So let’s see which are the most popular oxygen monitors and much do they cost.

The Nonin oximeters are the models that are being searched for the most. For example, the Nonin Onyx 9500 Digital Pulse Oximeter usually costs $275, but you can find it on sale for only $190-200. The latest models – Nonin 9550 and Nonin 9560 are more expensive, reacing $500. Nonin Go2 Personal Fingertip Oxygen Monitor is a less expensive model, being designed especially for personal and home use. It lacks FDA certification, but its accuracy rate of the SpO2 readings is the same as in clinically approved devices – +/- 2%. On sale, it costs about $80 (and it has a 2 years warranty!).

Masimo pulse oximetry uses four kinds of technologies for measuring the blood oxygen levels: the reusable finger probe (it can be clipped on your fingertip), the disposable finger probe, the ear probe and the disposable neonate (which is placed on the nail of the big toe). They also sell handheld oximeters. These oxygen monitors are rather expensive, their cost oscillating between $500-$800.

The Digit Oxygen Monitors come in a variety of models as well. They are suitable for pediatric care (in infants and children) as well as for adults. They can be used both by the medical personnel and patients, in clinics and at home. The price depends on the model, starting at about $60 and reaching $500 and more.

The BCI pulse oximeters are more expensive, especially the handheld models (some products reaching $1500). Their finger oxygen monitors are more affordable, with the price starting at $175.

Nellcor offers a wide range of professional hospital-grade pulse oximeters. They are either handheld or portable with a main displaying unit which has a finger tip sensor attached. They are not as compact as the oxygen monitors designed for home use, but they have extra functions, such as the measurement of the blood pressure. Prices range between $200 and $7000.

Respironics is specialized in portable oxygen finger monitors, though they also have several tabletop/portable models. The prices range between $100 and $1900.

GTek has probably the least expensive oxygen monitors on the online market. This is possible because they offer their products at wholesale prices. Even if their oximeters are cheaper, they have very good reviews, being recommended both by patients and physicians. The cheapest available model is GTek Gt-91. You can buy a good oxygen monitor at GTek starting at $40.

Besides the models mentioned above, you can find many other types of oxygen monitors on the online market or in local stores. The most important thing you should do before choosing an oximeter is get as much information as possible: check for reviews, warranties (they should be at least for one year!) and a reputable manufacturer. Also make sure that de device you decided to buy is easy to operate – you don’t want to stop using it because you don’t understand its functions.

If you browse the offers for a while, you can find advantageous discount prices. Some providers also sell used oxygen monitors. In this case, be really careful – after all, a used product does not have a warranty!

Transcutaneous oxygen monitoring is a safe, reliable, non-invasive and accurate alternative to laboratory tests, this way saving you money, time, effort and protecting you from unnecessary pain whenever you need to check on your oxygen levels. By acquitting an oxygen monitor you make a good investment in your future health and well-being.