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Created page with "A Pulse Oximeter is a device for checking how much oxygen is in your blood (Blood Oxygen Saturation or SpO<sub>2</sub>). They work by shining two different colored lights through..."
A Pulse Oximeter is a device for checking how much oxygen is in your blood (Blood Oxygen Saturation or 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 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.
=Octive Tech CEN=
This is one of the cheapest pulse oximeters I found, and provides the basic functions adequately. It will display current 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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<a href="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/93/1/product_info.php" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/p/93/banner.html" border="0" alt="Fingertip Oximeter Entry Level Octive Tech CEN" title="Fingertip Oximeter Entry Level Octive Tech CEN" width="250"></a>
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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 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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<a href="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/589/1/product_info.php" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/p/589/banner.html" border="0" alt="Palm Size CMS-60C Pulse Oximeter with software and probe for Sleep Study" title="Palm Size CMS-60C Pulse Oximeter with software and probe for Sleep Study" width="250"></a>
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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.
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<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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=Octive Tech CEN=
This is one of the cheapest pulse oximeters I found, and provides the basic functions adequately. It will display current 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.
<html>
<a href="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/93/1/product_info.php" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/p/93/banner.html" border="0" alt="Fingertip Oximeter Entry Level Octive Tech CEN" title="Fingertip Oximeter Entry Level Octive Tech CEN" width="250"></a>
</html>
=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 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.
<html>
<a href="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/589/1/product_info.php" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.clinicalguard.com/r27/p/589/banner.html" border="0" alt="Palm Size CMS-60C Pulse Oximeter with software and probe for Sleep Study" title="Palm Size CMS-60C Pulse Oximeter with software and probe for Sleep Study" width="250"></a>
</html>
=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.
<html>
<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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