The Handheld Oxygen Monitor – Main Applications
As I already mentioned in my previous posts, there are different types of oxygen monitors, all having in common the function of measuring the oxygen levels in a certain environment: the monitor that measures the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) is also called pulse oximeter; the one that calculates the oxygen concentration in the ambient air is called oxygen deficiency monitor; the device that determines the amount of oxygen in a certain liquid is also known as a dissolved oxygen monitor; for measuring the oxygen concentration in an internal combustion engine, specialists use oxygen sensors.
Blood oxygen monitors have different shapes and sizes. The most common gadget with this name is the finger oxygen monitor (also called fingertip pulse oximeter); when attached to the tip of the finger, this little portable device provides its user with instant readings of the blood oxygen levels and pulse rate.
However, the finger model is not the only type of pulse oximeter. In hospitals, physicians use often handheld oxygen monitors – they are more complex than the basic finger model for personal use without losing their portability. In fact, the hand held oxygen monitor is the compromise between the above-mentioned finger model and the sophisticated tabletop medical pulse oximeters.
Hand-held monitors are usually a little bigger than a cell-phone, being easy to hold and use in emergency situations, when an instant reading of the blood oxygenation could save a patient’s life. The probe (also called the clip or the sensor) is connected to the monitor by a cable.
Most handheld oxygen monitors have a finger sensor. However, these models are not suitable for all patients. There are people who have a poor blood circulation in their extremities, which can compromise the accuracy of the reading. For such cases, it is recommended to use an oxygen monitor with an earlobe probe. Being close to the brain, the ears usually have a good blood flow, being also translucent enough to allow transcutaneous measurements.
Other types of handheld blood oxygen monitors can have toe and even heel sensors (especially the devices designed for infants). Usually handheld pulse oximeters are equipped with visual and audible alarms and different display modes of SpO2 and heart rate.
Oxygen deficiency monitors come in hand held types as well. They are especially useful in different dangerous or toxic environments (such as factories or laboratories), where the oxygen concentration in the ambient air should be observed constantly in order to avoid gas poisoning and/or hypoxia. In comparison with the typical air oxygen monitors, which are attached to the walls of the room, the handheld models are battery-operated, being easy to carry around by workers who need personal protection against dangerous gases and oxygen deficiency. They can be placed in the pocket or fastened to the belt. In case the oxygen levels drop below a certain safe limit, the device will emit visual and audible alarms that will alert the workers to leave the premises immediately.
Another example of handheld oxygen monitor is the oxygen sensor used in the process of stainless steel welding. It is especially suitable for high purity welding where proper evacuation of oxygen is mandatory. The oxygen levels should be monitored until the oxygen is evacuated to 0.01% – the sign that welding can begin without risk of oxidation or discoloration. These monitors are pocket portable, also featuring a pump and a tube that can be slung over the user’s shoulder.
Many other oxygen meters and oxygen analyzers come in handheld versions as well, offering their users high portability, efficiency and comfort in their work – no matter if it’s in a hospital, on the field, in a factory or in a mechanic workshop. The oxygen monitor, no matter if it measures our blood oxygenation or the quality of the breathing air – is a great way of making sure that this fundamental element – O2 – is present in the needed quantities. This gadget is especially useful nowadays, when the industrial pollution is continually affecting the frail ecological balance of our planet.
