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Pulse oximeter

The pulse oximeter measures the oxygen content of 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 machine puts this information into a digital readout.

The pulse oximeter often has an alarm for blood oxygen levels that fall below a safe level.

Author Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Associate Editor Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD
- Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer John M. Freedman, MD
- Anesthesiology
Last Updated February 4, 2008

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 04, 2008
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