Pulse oximetry

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Abstract
The pulse oximeter provides continuous, non-invasive monitoring of oxygen saturation of functional haemoglobin in arterial blood, updated with each pulse wave. Principles A probe, containing a light- emitting diode and a light receiver may be applied to any part of the body through which there is a pulsatile arterial blood flow, the finger tip being the common option. Light is transmitted from the source to the receiver and the total amount of light passing through at any given time is measured. Because bone, tissue and venous blood are at a constant level, the amount of light transmitted through them is constant. Arterial blood flow is pulsatile and therefore the light transmitted through it is variable, producing a waveform ( Figure 1 ). Oxygenated and deoxygenated (reduced) haemoglobin absorb light at different wavelengths, allowing the oximeter to deduce the total amount of haemoglobin in arterial blood which is saturated with oxygen.

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