Pulse Oximeter

Photo of the Demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin:

Instructions:

• Place on the tip of the finger (index, ring or middle is fine).
• It is recommended to use the demo cam for easier viewing.
• Try not to move while measuring.
• Press the grey button to turn on. Hold the grey button to power off.

Concept Conveyed:

• Emits light through the finger to measure how much light is transmitted to measure the oxygen saturation in the blood. One LED is red (wavelength of 660 nm) and the other is infrared (wavelength of 940 nm). The absorption of light at these wavelengths will significantly differ between blood containing and lacking oxygen.
• Oxygenated hemoglobin allows more red light to pass through while deoxygenated hemoglobin allows more infrared light to pass through.
• Oxygen is dispersed into the blood through diffusion and hemoglobin saturation may be used to determine the efficacy of oxygen transportation in the blood.

Last updated on March 1, 2024