Advantages of Oxygen sensor for SpO2 | Disadvantages of Oxygen sensor

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Oxygen sensor used for blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurement. It mentions benefits or advantages of Oxygen sensor and drawbacks or disadvantages of Oxygen sensor.

Introduction: Oxygen sensors are used in medical field as well as automobile industry. It is an electronic device which measures proportion of oxygen level in gas or liquid. It can also be used to measure oxygen saturation in the blood of human being.

Oxygen sensor for Blood SpO2 measurement

The oxygen sensor for SpO2 measurement composed of two LEDs and one photodiode. Red and Infrared LEDs alternately transmit light which is detected by photodiode if not absorbed by the hemoglobin in the blood. The ratio of light received from Red LED and infrared LED is used to calculate oxygen percentage in blood. The SpO2 range for healthy person vary between 96 to 99% depending upon various factors including altitude.

Example:
Maxim MAX30100 used for SpO2 measurement and heart rate measurement.

Oxygen sensor for flue gas O2 measurement

The oxygen sensors are also used to measure oxygen level in exhaust gases emanating due to combustion of fuel or coal inside furnace, boiler or steam generator. The sensors use electro-chemical process to determine oxygen level in the gases. The oxygen (O2) level in fresh air is 21%. Due to combustion, oxygen level reduces and it is usually between 8.5 to 10%.

Examples:
• AlphaSense O2-A2 model (Used in combustion analyzer)
• Model OXT-FLEX and OXY-GAP are usd for oxygen content measurement within flue or stack gases.

Benefits or advantages of Oxygen sensor

Following are the benefits or advantages of Oxygen sensor:
➨It is used in wearables which measures blood oxygen saturation all the time.
➨It alerts when oxygen level goes below certain value.
➨It offers great comfort for patients suffering from cardiovascular, respiratory and other such diseases.
➨Pulse oximeters with oxygen sensors are available at cheaper prices with advanced features e.g. data logging etc.
➨In addition to medical field, oxygen sensors are used to measure oxygen level in the atmosphere. Moreover, due to its effective measurement capabilities, it is widely used in farnaces for oil combustion, coal combustion, gas combustion etc.
➨Oxygen sensors offer rapid response and accurate measurement. Moreover they are simple to design, easy to maintain and covenient to use.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of Oxygen sensor

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of Oxygen sensor:
➨The oxygen sensor for combustion engine of the vehicle are expensive.
➨Oxygen sensor for blood SpO2 measurement does not give accurate readings under certain situations which include interference from external light, poor blood circulation or cold hands, lipids in blood plasma, pulse rate changes, carbon monoxide poisoning etc.
➨Electrochemical process based oxygen sensor requires vasodilation and offers poor accuracy.