A pulse oximeter is a device that checks how much oxygen is in the blood.
A small clip is put on a finger, toe, or earlobe. The light beam in the clip measures the oxygen of the red blood cells that move through the cells in the finger, toe, or earlobe. The person's oxygen level can be read on the display.
The pulse oximeter often has an alarm for blood oxygen levels that fall below a safe level.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | John M. Freedman, MD - Anesthesiology |
| Last Revised | January 28, 2010 |
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