This section provides an overview for pulse oximeters as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 5 pulse oximeter manufacturers and their company rankings.
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Figure 1. Oxygen meter overview
Pulse Oximeters are instruments used to measure the concentration of oxygen in the air.
It is sometimes referred to as an oxygen sensor or oxygen monitor. Because oxygen is essential for human life, it is extremely important to monitor the concentration of oxygen in the environment.
In addition, there are many cases in which accurate oxygen concentration control is required in various scientific and industrial fields, and instruments are manufactured to meet specific applications.
Pulse Oximeters are used in the following two major applications
In the prevention of oxygen deficiency, oxygen concentration is monitored for the purpose of life support in enclosed spaces such as tunnels. It is said that if the oxygen concentration falls below 15%, a person will have difficulty breathing, if it falls below 7%, brain function will be impaired, and if it falls below 4%, death will occur. The equipment comes in portable and wall-mounted forms.
In some industrial heat treatment processes, such as in the chemical industry, ceramics, and metals, oxygen levels must be kept low. Industrial furnace combustion processes also require monitoring and control of oxygen concentration to optimize combustion efficiency and the redox process. Pulse Oximeters for these industrial purposes must be durable enough to withstand harsh environments, such as high-temperature chemical reaction fields.
The two main operating principles of Pulse Oximeters are the "galvanic cell type" and the "zirconia solid electrolyte type. Other types include the "magnetic type" and "wavelength tunable semiconductor laser spectrometer type.
Figure 2. Schematic diagram of galvanic cell oxygen analyzer
The galvanic cell consists of a resin membrane that allows oxygen from the outside world to pass through, gold (Au) and lead (Pb) electrodes, and an electrolyte (potassium hydroxide solution). The following reactions take place at each electrode
The electrons emitted at the anode reach the cathode, where oxygen taken in from the air takes up the electrons emitted at the anode. Since the flow of electrons (current) is proportional to the oxygen concentration, the oxygen concentration can be measured by measuring the current. Since this reaction occurs spontaneously, no power supply is required to drive the sensor.
Figure 3. Schematic diagram of a zirconia solid electrolyte oxygen meter
This method uses a zirconia cell, taking advantage of the fact that zirconia exhibits solid electrolyte properties at temperatures of 500°C or higher.
Zirconia can conduct oxygen negative ions (O2-) in a solid state, and the ions are conducted from a gas with high oxygen concentration (in the air) to an atmosphere with low oxygen concentration (in an industrial furnace, for example).
This ionic conduction generates a potential difference, and electrodes are placed on the high O2 concentration side and the low O2 concentration side, respectively, to generate an electromotive force. The relationship is just like the positive and negative electrodes of a battery.
The electromotive force generated between the electrodes obeys the Nernst equation (see below), so the oxygen partial pressure at each electrode can be determined.
The temperature is measured by thermocouples attached to the zirconia.
In an atmosphere of approximately 400°C or lower, the target gas is introduced into the device via a sampling tube, and the zirconia cell is heated to a predetermined temperature using a platinum heater, etc. (sampling method). This is because zirconia requires a temperature of 500°C or higher to function as a solid electrolyte.
Different Pulse Oximeters should be used for the prevention of oxygen deficiency and for maintaining low oxygen concentrations in industrial processes.
Portable and stationary oxygen meters designed to prevent oxygen deficiency use galvanic cell batteries, which do not require a power supply to drive the sensor. The life of the sensor is approximately 2 to 3 years. However, the usable environment is limited to an atmosphere similar to the general environment, and the accuracy is about ±0.5% O2. Some products are explosion-proof.
On the other hand, zirconia-type products are used to measure oxygen concentration in high-temperature industrial processes such as industrial furnaces, etc. Under an atmosphere of 700°C or higher, the direct insertion type is used by inserting the sensor directly into the atmosphere, while under 400°C, a separate zirconia cell is used by drawing in the atmosphere gas inside the furnace through a sampling tube, etc. For temperatures below 400°C, a sampling method that draws in atmospheric gas from the furnace through a sampling tube and separately heats the zirconia cell is appropriate.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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AED Superstore, headquartered in Woodruff, WI, US¹, is a distributor of emergency medical supplies and equipment. Its product range includes automated external defibrillators (AEDs), related accessories, rescue products including allergy emergencies, bag valve masks, bleeding control, blood pressure monitoring, and cardiac screening¹. These products are designed to provide turn-key solutions for responding to medical emergencies⁴. The company also offers multiple American Heart Association Heartsaver training courses, including CPR AED or first aid training. All courses are led by its certified instructors who have worked as either a first responder or nurse.
Tri-anim Health Services, established in 1975 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, is a distributor of vital healthcare products and services. It offers a comprehensive range of products, including respiratory care equipment like ventilators and nebulizers, anesthesia machinery such as vaporizers and monitors, critical care essentials like beds and infusion pumps, and neonatal care devices like incubators and ventilators. These products serve a crucial role in addressing diverse medical needs, from respiratory issues to surgical procedures, making the company a key partner in healthcare delivery.
Masimo, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Irvine, California, is a manufacturer specializing in noninvasive monitoring technologies. Its offerings includes Masimo Freedom, a smartwatch for health tracking; Opioid Halo, the FDA-Authorized Opioid Overdose Prevention and Alert System; Masimo W1, a health and wellness watch; Denon PerL & PerL Pro wireless earbuds with Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology, and Radius VSM, a wearable bedside monitor. These products aims to enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and expand noninvasive monitoring applications.
EdanUSA, established in 2009 and headquartered in San Diego, California, is a distributor providing local services, training, and support for Edan medical equipment in the U.S. market. The company sells its equipment through a distribution network of over 100 resellers across the United States, and it stocks spare parts for all of its diagnostic machines. Some of its offerings include colposcopes, dopplers, EKG machines, patient monitors, and ultrasound devices. All of its products have FDA 510(k) clearance, licenses issued by Health Canada, the CE mark for approval, and come with a two-year manufacturer's warranty.
Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 3 | 100.0% |
4 products are listed.
A and Day Co., Ltd.
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Pocket -sized pocket oximeter with communication function ・ Communication function: Bluetooth® Low Energy / NFC ・ Pocket size that is small, lig...
A and Day Co., Ltd.
20+ people viewing
It is a lightweight and small pulse oximeter that is easy to carry and convenient to carry. You can easily measure the amount of oxygen in the bloo...
SANKO ELECTRONIC LABORATORY CO.,LTD
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The BO-300 is a portable pulse oximeter that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood flowing through the artery (arterial oxygen saturation). Yo...
A and Day Co., Ltd.
20+ people viewing
It is a lightweight and small pulse oximeter that is easy to carry and convenient to carry. You can easily measure the amount of oxygen in the bloo...