A Review of the Best Pulse Oximeters for Hospitals

A standard of care in medicine in all healthcare facilities is monitoring SpO2 level (blood oxygen saturation levels) in patients. This test is known as pulse oximetry, where a patient is connected to devices that measure blood oxygen levels and read by a medical professional.

Pulse oximeters can be used to detect early signs of heart failure, hypoxemia, and other symptoms that relate to a patient’s cardiovascular health. It’s non-invasive, meaning it produces results without causing pain and discomfort.

These medical devices use different measurement approaches, from fingertip to palm, forehead, or even ear pulse monitoring. Depending on your medical facility’s needs, you may need to procure a standard pulse oximeter or a more specialized device to assess unique circumstances.

In this guide, we’ll review six of the best pulse oximeter devices in the market to help you find the right tools to aid your medical professionals.

How Does a Pulse Oximeter Work?

Pulse oximeters work by emitting red light and infrared light that passes through the skin from one end. Then, this light goes through finger, skin, and blood, where a sensor measures the amount of light that has passed through the finger without getting absorbed by the tissue and blood.

The reading reveals the actual oxygen saturation in a patient’s blood as deoxygenated hemoglobin absorbs more red light. In contrast, oxygenated hemoglobin absorbs more infrared light.

These readings are reasonably accurate, with just around a 2% difference from other diagnostic methods like an arterial blood gas test. However, the non-invasive nature of pulse oximeters make them a more favorable option among patients and clinicians to receive fast and current blood oxygen level readings.

Categories of SpO2 Monitoring Devices

The use of SpO2 monitoring devices at home and in hospital settings is now on the rise, with COVID-19 (a disease that causes shortness of breath and impacts blood oxygen levels) contributing to this surge. Other conditions requiring pulse oximetry include heart failure, heart attack, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes pulse oximeters into two.

• Prescription pulse oximeters: These are FDA-approved devices with a 510(k) clearance, meaning they’re accurate, safe, and effective. Prescription oximeters are suitable for hospital settings, although you can use them at home.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) oximeters: OTC oximeters are not FDA-reviewed. These are often found in stores or online, and you can buy them directly from retailers. The FDA does not recommend these oximeters for medical use; however, you can use them for sporting or aviation purposes.

Both in hospitals and home settings, you’ll come across different types of SpO2 monitoring devices, from portable fingertip pulse oximeters to multiparameter monitors.

Top SpO2 Monitoring Devices for Hospitals

Most pulse oximeters for hospital settings are much more complex and designed for accuracy. Therefore, choosing the best SpO2 monitoring devices for hospitals is crucial to ensure high accuracy, ease of use, and patient comfort and safety.

Let’s look at the top picks for the best pulse oximeters in the market:

1. Nonin Avant 9600 Tabletop Oximeter

The Avant 9600 is FDA-approved, making it one of the best pulse oximeters for hospitals, home care, ambulances, clinics, and subacute settings. This pulse oximeter showcases simple functionality and portability, making it ideal for spot-checking and continuously monitoring patients in motion or nonmotion conditions.

The Nonin Avant 9600 is versatile as you can use it to assess blood oxygen levels and pulse rate of neonatal, infant, pediatric and adult patients.

Product Specifications

• SpO2 Display Range: 0%–100%
• PR Display Range: 18 to 300 BPM
• Dimensions: 5.5" H × 7.25" W × 4.5" D
• Weight: 2.2 lbs (1 kilogram)
• Power: 7.2-volt battery pack or 12 VDC 1.5A AC power supply
• Operating Temperature: 32 °F to 122 °F (0 °C to 50 °C) 
• Technology: PureSAT® Technology
• Warranty: 3 years on the device, 1 year for battery

Features of Nonin Avant 9600

• Nurse call: You can connect to a facility nurse call system to allow users to activate call nurses.
• Powerful internal memory: This pulse oximeter offers 115 hours of memory to record SpO2 levels and pulse rate allowing monitoring for extended times. Once the memory is full, the device starts to replace the old data with the new one. In addition, you can download Nonin nVISION data management software to transfer recorded data for analysis.
• Real-time and print-on-demand options: Nonin Avant 9600 allows you to connect to a computer for real-time data output or a printer for a printout.
• Flexible alarm management options: It comes with a customizable alarm system. The alarms can notify you of crucial information, such as high SpO2, low SpO2, low battery, high pulse rate limit, and low pulse rate limit.
• Patient security mode: This helps prevent unintentional changes to settings by patients.
• Compact and rugged: It’s a lightweight and portable unit with a rugged design for durability.

Pros

• It has a user-friendly interface.
• You can use it in motion and low perfusion.
• Results are easy to read due to the large screen.
• It’s accurate and reliable.
• It’s low maintenance.

Cons

• It can translate too much motion as good SpO2 levels.
• Nonin does not indicate device prices on its website.

2. Masimo Rad-67™ Pulse CO-Oximeter®

Masimo Rad-67 Pulse CO-Oximeter is a two-in-one handheld pulse oximeter for measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) and total hemoglobin (SpHb). This device offers Next Generation SpHb technology spot-check monitoring when coupled with the rainbow® DCI®-mini sensor. 

Rad-67 is portable, making it suitable for spot-checking in emergency rooms, ambulances, pre- and post-surgery settings, homes, rehabilitation, and doctor’s offices. It measures four critical health parameters: total hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, pulse rate (PR), and perfusion index (Pi).

The spot checks displayed on the screen also have signal quality indicators. Furthermore, this pulse oximeter allows you to label parameters with unique identifiers such as patient names.

It’s imporatnt to note that SpHb levels are optional and available when you use compatible sensors with Next Generation SpHb technology. Its SpHb is not recommended for pregnant, pediatric, or patients with renal disease.

Product Specifications

• SpO2 Accuracy Range: 70%–100%
• PR Accuracy Range: 25–240 bpm
• SpHb Accuracy range: 8–17 g/dL
• Dimensions: 7.6" × 3.2" × 0.9"
• Weight: .0.81 lbs (0.37 kg)
• Power: Li-ion Battery
• Operating Temperature: 32–95º F (0–35º C)
• Technology: Signal Extraction Technology® (SET®)
• Warranty: 12 months on the device, 6 months on battery
• Price: $1,949

Features of Rad-67 Pulse CO-Oximeter

• HD Display: It has a bright, colored LCD screen with an ambient light sensor that adjusts its brightness automatically.
• Rechargeable battery: It offers 6 hours of charging time and up to 6 hours of usage time.
• Intuitive touchscreen: This pulse oximeter has an easy-to-use touchscreen which allows easy navigation.
• Wireless printer compatibility: This pulse oximeter allows healthcare providers to print results easily wirelessly

Pros

• It’s lightweight and hence portable.
• It’s easy to clean.
• It has a user-friendly interface.
• It offers Wi-Fi connectivity (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz)
• It has a large spot check.
• The storage can store up to 2,000 sessions.

Cons

• It’s suitable for spot-checking only.
• It has a short warranty.
• It’s a bit expensive.
• It has no parameter alarms.

3. OxilinePulse 9S Pro 

OxilinePulse 9S Pro is an FDA-approved finger pulse oximeter suitable for spot-checking in hospital settings and at home. It’s also a perfect monitoring device for athletes or those in rehabilitation.

Oxiline Pulse 9S Pro provides readings for SpO2, pulse rate, and perfusion index (PI). This fingertip pulse oximeter uses patented VTEC™ nanosensors to offer accurate and reliable results within 7 seconds.

Product Specifications

• Model name: Pulse 9S Pro™
• Sensor type: VTEC™ A9 Sensor
• Weight: 0.2 lbs 
• Power: 2 AAA batteries
• Technology: VTEC™
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Price: $69

Features of OxilinePulse 9S Pro

• Display: This pulse oximeter has a bright multicolored OLED screen that displays large digits.
• Battery: It uses 2 AAA batteries lasting up to 6 months. 

Pros

• It’s fast, lightweight, and easy to use.
• It’s accurate and dependable.
• It has a convenient size.
• It comes with a 30-day money-back policy.
• The display adjusts for easy reading.
• It offers value for money.

Cons

• It’s not designed for continuous monitoring.
• It’s a bit expensive.

4. CONTEC CMS50QB Pediatric Baby Pulse Oximeter

CONTEC CMS50QB is FDA-approved and has an attractive appearance, making it suitable for children. This fingertip oximeter is sized for children and is ideal for spot-checking in hospitals, homes, community healthcare, oxygen bar, and sports (before or after).

Product Specifications

• SpO2 Accuracy Range: 70%–100%
• PR Range: 30–250 bpm
• Dimensions: 46 (L) × 40(W) × 29(H) mm
• Weight: 35g
• Power: Voltage 3.6 rechargeable lithium battery
• Technology: Photoelectric Oxyhemoglobin Inspection Technology with Capacity Pulse Scanning & Recording Technology
• Warranty: 1 year
• Price: $20–$40

Features of CONTEC CMS50QB

• It has a dual-color OLED screen that displays wave, PR, and SpO2 parameters. 
• It has a heartbeat sound and an alarm.
• It comes with a low-voltage indicator.
• It powers off automatically.

Pros

• It has an attractive color and design.
• It’s a lightweight, small, and portable pulse oximeter.
• It’s easy to use and read parameters.
• It’s affordable.
• You can change the display mode.

Cons

• It’s hard to position and recognize a child’s finger.
• You have to hold down the device to get a reading.
• The alarm is too loud.

5. CMI Health PC-66H Pulse Oximeter

CMI Pulse Oximeter PC-66H is a CE and FDA-approved handheld device that measures and monitors SpO2, perfusion index, and pulse rate. This pulse oximeter is versatile as it is compatible with adult, infant, and pediatric sensors. 

You can use it for spot-checking and continuous monitoring in hospitals and homes. This handheld oximeter is affordable and offers the same accuracy and reliability as other high-priced SpO2 devices. The PC-66H sensor design is suitable for foot wrap sensor (infant) or finger.

Product Specifications

• Model No.: PC-66H
• SpO2 Accuracy: 3% between 70%–100%
• PR Accuracy: 2 bpm
• Dimensions: 5.5" × 3" × 1.2" 
• Weight: 1.650 lbs
• Power: 3 AA batteries
• Warranty: 1 year on the device, 6 months on the sensor
• Price: $199.99

Features of CMI Health PC-66H

• Easy to read display: This pulse oximeter comes with a high-resolution colored LCD to display pulse rate, SpO2, and plethysmogram.
• Portability: The device is lightweight and easily fits all its accessories in a small carry case.
• Good storage: You can store continuous oximetry data for up to 16 days (384 hours). It also allows you to transfer data to your PC for evaluation.
• Adjustable alarm: Set alarm for high/low pulse rate or low SpO2 levels.

Pros

• It’s very affordable.
• It’s accurate and reliable.
• It’s easy to connect and use.
• The manufacturer provides excellent customer support.
• It’s battery-operated, so you can use it anywhere.
• It comes with a 30-day money-back policy.

Cons

• It’s only compatible with CMI Health SpO2 sensors
• Overnight sensors are sold separately.
• It’s not rechargeable.

6. Nellcor™ Bedside SpO₂ Patient Monitoring System, PM100N

Nellcor™ Bedside SpO₂ Patient Monitoring System, PM100N is suitable for any hospital setting,  while also having uses in non-clinical settings. As the name suggests, this device can be placed at a patient’s bedside to provide continuous SpO2 and pulse rate monitoring.

It uses the latest pulse oximetry technology to capture accurate and reliable readings even during motion, low perfusion, or in case of any other signal interference. In addition, the Nellcor™ PM100N has a password feature to prevent an unintentional setting change or data deletion.

Product Specifications

• SpO2 Range: 1%–100%
• PR Range: 20–250 bpm
• Dimensions: 10.04" × 3.23" × 6.10" 
• Weight: 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs.), including battery
• Power: Lithium-ion battery, AC 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz, 45 VA.
• Operating Temperature: (41°F to 104°F)
• Technology: Nellcor™ digital signal processing technology
• Warranty: 1 year
• Price: $1,057.14

Features of Nellcor™ PM100N

• Compact Monitor: This pulse oximeter displays SpO2, pulse rate, pulse amplitude, and plethysmographic waveforms.
• Memory: The oximeter captures data every 4 seconds and offers storage for 96 hours.
• SatSeconds™ alarm management: Controlled by clinicians, this feature helps minimize nuisance alarms.

Pros

• It’s suitable for home and hospital use.
• It’s good for continuous monitoring.
• It’s versatile, as you can use it for adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients.
• Your data is safe as it offers password protection.

Cons

• It’s a bit expensive.

Choosing the Best Pulse Oximeter for Your Medical Facility

Pulse oximeters are essential tools in healthcare facilities. They’re used to monitor oxygen saturation and track the blood oxygen level in patients for accurate diagnoses.

Besides providing accurate readings for medical professionals, they also come with alarms if a patient’s blood oxygen saturation drops so emergency procedures may be enacted.

Hopefully, you will find a suitable oximeter from our list of the best SpO2 monitoring devices for hospitals. Choosing the best pulse oximeter that delivers high accuracy while being easy to use and gentle on users is important.

At Cables and Sensor, we’re not just your ordinary healthcare manufacturing business; we provide effective products at an affordable price. If ever you need additional accessories, such as EKG leadwires and SpO2 adaptor sensors for your healthcare facility, we’ve got the right tools for you.