pulse oximetry

noun

1

: a method that utilizes spectrophotometry to measure the oxygen saturation of circulating arterial blood by means of a pulse oximeter

Her oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry was 97% to 99%.

—Charles Wiener

Before pulse oximetry, the only option for measuring a patient's oxygen saturation was a painful invasive arterial blood gas test and it typically took a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes to obtain the result.

—Keri Forsythe-Stephens

Pulse oximetry is a spectrophotometry technology which determines the arterial oxygen saturation by the detection of pulsatile blood flow and is based on differing absorption spectra of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin which includes the red and near-infrared wavelengths of light.

—Shruti Singh et al.

2

plural pulse oximetries : a test using pulse oximetry

… the patient would undergo pulse oximetries in their own homes conducted at rest, with activity, and overnight.

—Hospital Home Health

Examples of pulse oximetry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lung function tests: These include pulse oximetry and spirometry, which measure how well your lungs work. —Leah Groth, Health, 30 Mar. 2024

Masimo accuses Apple of hiring away its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology to use in Apple Watches. —Reuters, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2024

That medical tech company is Masimo, and it’s known within the medical community for its pulse oximetry technology, used for measuring blood oxygen levels. —Victoria Song, The Verge, 18 Jan. 2024

Joe Kiani, the CEO and founder of Masimo, has long argued that Apple’s Watch products infringe on patents for his pulse oximetry technology — tech that allows the user to take a crucial reading of oxygen levels in blood. —Brian Merchant, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023

But eight months later, the Apple Watch Series 6 was introduced with the feature — known in the industry as pulse oximetry — as its key new addition. —Mark Gurman, Fortune, 27 Dec. 2023

An import ban of certain Apple Watches officially goes into effect on Tuesday, after the U.S. International Trade Commission deemed the blood oxygen measurement feature too similar to products patented by pulse oximetry company Masimo. —Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 26 Dec. 2023

The trade court’s initial ruling in January 2023 found that Apple violated Masimo’s patent for pulse oximetry technology, and the October decision confirmed the earlier one. —Brian Merchant, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023

This has also been seen with pulse oximetry, a measure of oxygen saturation within your blood, a vital parameter in bedside patient monitoring. —De-Shaine Murray, STAT, 29 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

pulse oximetry

noun

1

: a method that utilizes spectrophotometry to measure the oxygen saturation of circulating arterial blood by means of a pulse oximeter

Patients should be monitored carefully by direct observation and pulse oximetry. Oxygen should be supplemented … to keep the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin between 90 and 96%.

—David A. Berlin, The New England Journal of Medicine

Pulse oximetry is a spectrophotometry technology which determines the arterial oxygen saturation by the detection of pulsatile blood flow and is based on differing absorption spectra of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin which includes the red and near-infrared wavelengths of light.

—Shruti Singh et al., Lung India

2

plural pulse oximetries : a test using pulse oximetry

… most pulse oximetries are taken during the day with the patient awake and sitting upright …

—Kenneth A. Wyka, Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine