Definition of pulse oximeter
: a device that measures the oxygen saturation of arterial blood in a subject by utilizing a sensor attached typically to a finger, toe, or ear to determine the percentage of oxyhemoglobin in blood pulsating through a network of capillaries
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of pulse oximeter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Normal oxygen levels using a pulse oximeter range from 95-100%, experts say.
—
Devan Patel, USA TODAY, "Fact check: Experts say face masks don't cause oxygen deprivation, neurological damage," 18 Oct. 2020 Patients receive a pulse oximeter and check their oxygen levels every four hours.
—
Sarah Krouse, WSJ, "Covid-19 Patients Put Remote Care to the Test," 16 Oct. 2020 But he was not deterred, not even when the pulse oximeter which sounds an alarm when oxygen levels get too low started beeping.
—
NBC News, "Covid is catching up to Kansas and 'the numbers are getting worse'," 15 Oct. 2020 Normal pulse oximeter readings usually range from 95 to 100 percent.
—
Gina Kolata, New York Times, "Trump’s Covid Treatments Are Aimed at Preventing Severe Illness," 3 Oct. 2020 The clearest trigger to seek care at a hospital is shortness of breath or other signs of low oxygen levels, such as readings from a fingertip pulse oximeter in the low 90s, experts say.
—
Matthew Herper, STAT, "Trump flown to Walter Reed after Covid-19 diagnosis and getting an experimental Regeneron treatment," 2 Oct. 2020 Twice in the morning of June 19 a warning alarm sounded from the child’s pulse oximeter, a device that clips to a finger and assesses breathing by measuring the oxygen saturation of arterial blood and a person’s pulse rate.
—
Paul Walsh, Star Tribune, "Murder charges: Stearns County mom silenced disabled child's medical device alarm," 24 Sep. 2020 And on the Series 6, Apple added the ability to perform what a pulse oximeter does.
—
Jacob Krol, CNN Underscored, "SpO2 monitoring, refined performance and new colors make the Series 6 the best Apple Watch yet," 24 Sep. 2020 And of course, iFixit found the pulse oximeter sensor inside.
—
Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, "Apple Watch Series 6 teardown unveils missing Force Touch, bigger battery," 22 Sep. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pulse oximeter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on pulse oximeter
What made you want to look up pulse oximeter? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Namesakes Word Quiz
- Which of the following is a fruit named after a Moroccan seaport?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share pulse oximeter
Time Traveler for pulse oximeter
The first known use of pulse oximeter was in 1986
See more words from the same year