title: A comparison of fifteen pulse oximeters. Part I: A clinical comparison; Part II: A test of performance under conditions of poor perfusion.
abstract: Fifteen pulse oximeters were compared. Their physical characteristics, price, warranty, information handling and displays were catalogued. Times for changes in data display and susceptibility to interference were assessed. A model for comparison of oximeters under conditions of poor perfusion was developed using a tourniquet to progressively diminish limb perfusion pressure (systolic minus tourniquet pressure). The oximeters evidenced a wide variety of features and performance in poor perfusion states. Instruments lacking a beep varying in pitch with saturation or a waveform/pulse bar display of plethysmograph signal were considered less satisfactory. The majority of instruments, with some notable exceptions, performed remarkably well in a state of diminished perfusion. The study demonstrates that purchasers of pulse oximeters need to exercise care in assessing the suitability of particular instruments to their specific requirements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nairn
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Torda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow