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A Pulse Oximeter is a device for checking how much oxygen is in your blood (Blood Oxygen Saturation or [[SpO2|SpO<sub>2</sub>]]). They work by shining two different colored lights through your finger and seeing how much of each color is absorbed. A healthy person at sea level should have a [[SpO2|SpO<sub>2</sub>]] of 96-99%. A pulse oximeter is primarily used in [[Altitude Training]] or when traveling to altitude, but it is also handy for measuring [[Resting Heart Rate]]. I recommend two Pulse Oximeters – the cheap ($30) Octive Tech CEN and the more expensive CMS-60C.
=Recommended Pulse Oximeters===Octive Tech CEN==
This is one of the cheapest pulse oximeters I found, and provides the basic functions adequately. It will display current [[SpO2|SpO<sub>2</sub>]] and [[Heart Rate]], and is easy to use. It doesn't have the more advanced features of the CMS-60C or CMS-50E, such as values overnight or interfacing to a computer. I use a similar pulse oximeter to record my [[Resting Heart Rate]] each morning.
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==CMS-60C==
This is a significantly more expensive and more sophisticated pulse oximeter. Unlike most pulse oximeters the main unit and the fingertip sensor are separate. I find this makes it much easier to use for [[Altitude Training]] as there is little weight on the fingertip. Like cheaper pulse oximeters, the CMS-60C will display current [[SpO2|SpO<sub>2</sub>]] and [[Heart Rate]], but it will also record the values for up to 24 hours. However, the biggest advantage of the CMS-60C is that it will interface to a computer. I have written some custom software, the [[Hypoxic Timer]], that helps record and evaluate [[Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure]] training. The CMS-60C sensor is also easily replaceable, which is nice.
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==CMS-50E==
Before I got the CMS-60C I used the CMS-50E with my [[Hypoxic Timer]] software. I upgraded to the CMS-60C for convenience and the price is not radically different, so I would not recommend the CMS-50E unless you particularly want the compact form factor. Note that this is the only pulse oximeter other than the CMS-60C that I know will work with my [[Hypoxic Timer]] software.
<a href="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/89/1/product_info.php" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/p/89/banner.html" border="0" alt="CMS-50E OLED Fingertip Pulse Oximeter" title="CMS-50E OLED Fingertip Pulse Oximeter" width="250"></a>
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=Positioning the Oximeter=
These pulse oximeters can be positioned on the finger or the toe. While the toe is the most accurate location<ref name="AggarwalDas2010"/> there is a delay in the reading<ref name="Hamber-1999"/> that makes it unsuitable for [[Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure]].
=References=
<references>
<ref name="AggarwalDas2010">NareshKumar Aggarwal, Jyotirmoy Das, Amit Aggarwal, Pulse oximeter accuracy and precision at five different sensor locations in infants and children with cyanotic heart disease, Indian Journal of Anaesthesia, volume 54, issue 6, 2010, pages 531, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/0019-5049 0019-5049], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0019-5049.72642 10.4103/0019-5049.72642]</ref>
<ref name="Hamber-1999"> EA. Hamber, PL. Bailey, SW. James, DT. Wells, JK. Lu, NL. Pace, Delays in the detection of hypoxemia due to site of pulse oximetry probe placement., J Clin Anesth, volume 11, issue 2, pages 113-8, Mar 1999, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10386281 10386281]</ref>
</references>