Health & Wellbeing

Review: Masimo iSpO2 Pulse Oximeter

Review: Masimo iSpO2 Pulse Oximeter
Masimo's iSpO2 connects to a free iPhone app
Masimo's iSpO2 connects to a free iPhone app
View 6 Images
iSpO2 is easy and comfortable to use
1/6
iSpO2 is easy and comfortable to use
The cable should be plenty long for most people
2/6
The cable should be plenty long for most people
On connecting the iSpO2, iOS will ask you for permission to connect
3/6
On connecting the iSpO2, iOS will ask you for permission to connect
iSpO2 clamps comfortably onto your finger
4/6
iSpO2 clamps comfortably onto your finger
Masimo's iSpO2 connects to a free iPhone app
5/6
Masimo's iSpO2 connects to a free iPhone app
Masimo will be demonstrating the iSpO2 at CES 2013
6/6
Masimo will be demonstrating the iSpO2 at CES 2013
View gallery - 6 images

If someone asked you what you can do with an iPhone, you could say playing games, listening to music, watching videos and even making phone calls. One thing that you probably wouldn't mention is checking your blood oxygen saturation. But you can now add that to the list, thanks to Masimo's iSpO2 pulse oximeter.

Pulse oxi-what?

iSpO2 clamps comfortably onto your finger
iSpO2 clamps comfortably onto your finger

A pulse oximeter is a device that measures your blood's hemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to all other tissues of the body. If you're a pilot, athlete, or if you suffer from a sleep disorder, monitoring your blood's oxygen level can be important.

Pulse oximeters provide a needle-free method of doing this. Clamp the sensor on your finger, and get an instant reading.

You can buy many (cheaper) standalone pulse oximeters, but the iSpO2 is the first that's compatible with iOS devices. Masimo's oximeters are also amongst the best-selling in the industry, largely due to a patented technology that accurately measures oxygenation while in motion.

Design and use

iSpO2 is easy and comfortable to use
iSpO2 is easy and comfortable to use

The Masimo iSpo2 is a simple device. The white finger-clamp sensor extends from a wire, which connects to your iPhone. It's light, portable, and comfortable on your finger.

When you connect it to your device, iOS asks if you want to allow access to the iSpo2 accessory. Grant it permission, open the free iSpo2 app, and within seconds you'll have your reading.

The app, like the device, is straight-forward and well-designed. The uppermost reading shows your oxygen saturation. Beneath that, you'll see your pulse rate (beats per minute). At the bottom, the app reveals your Perfusion Index (PI), a measurement of your pulse strength. The app also displays your pulse in a waveform graph.

The app also logs your history, and allows you to email your results as a spreadsheet document.

Compatibility and pricing

The cable should be plenty long for most people
The cable should be plenty long for most people

The iSpO2 connects via the old 30-pin connectors. If you own a newer iOS device with Apple's new Lightning connector (iPhone 5, iPad mini, etc.), you'll need to buy an adapter. I tested it on an iPhone 5 using Apple's Lightning to 30-pin adapter, and – as far as I could tell – it didn't affect the results.

If anything about iSpO2 will give you pause, it's the price. At US$250 (plus an extra $30 if you need a Lightning adapter), the iSpO2 isn't cheap. Especially considering that standalone oximeters with built-in displays can be had for less than $30.

Is it worth paying an extra $200+ for a) Masimo's measure-through motion technology, and b) the ability to sync with your iPhone? That's the question you'll need to ask yourself.

Summing up

Fortunately, pricing is about the only questionable thing about iSpO2. It's a simple accessory with a simple app that does one thing, and does it well. Few of us need to own a pulse oximeter, but for some, it's crucial. Perhaps, for them, the $250 price isn't so hard to swallow.

Masimo will be demonstrating the iSpO2 at CES 2013. It is currently available through Amazon, while the app is available as a free download from the App store.

View gallery - 6 images
7 comments
7 comments
wle
usually those things don;t really work for exercising you have to stand still as a stone for it to read anything not good for cycling, running, swimming [basically good for nothing] nothing in this article says any different
oh wait
"accurately measures oxygenation while in motion"
ok seeing is believing...
these things have been around 40 years
they are ok for lying in a hospital bed not for exercising
wle
MADrummond
I know for a fact it works when you move. I'm moving right now and it displays accurate results.
wle
"I know for a fact it works when you move.
I'm moving right now and it displays accurate results. MADrummond"
--and you know it is accurate, how?
--what are you doing, riding a bike, swimming, running, or just 'moving'?
--how can anyone do anything with this clunky thing on their finger?
--sorry i am just skeptical - really it would be ok with me if i could use it but i would need more verification, right now, i would not buy it even if i could return it, because i still don;t think it would work for riding a bike [me], or that i would want it to be on my finger while riding
tkj
This might be a convenient device BUT working against it are the following issues: 1) COST .. really outrageous, considering its just a finger-tip sensor and old-style cable 2) Most times SaO2 is needed in a continuing readout ..making the phone itself unavailable for 'phone things' etc .. 3) Multi-device devices (ie , packaging several separate devices into one unit) has serious drawbacks; eg, if the phone dies, so does the SaO2 .. Far better to use dedicated instruments, usually. 4) the ready availability of dedicated 'finger-clip-on' SaO2 devices for as low as $30 represents SERIOUS competition. Even for $
SnowSurfer
MADrummond knows for a fact that it works when you move, because go ahead and Google '"Mike Drummond" Masimo' and you'll see he's their PR guy. He's probably not at all biased. Let's get a real opinion, from, like, a pulmonologist or something.
Here are some drawbacks...it won't alert you when your concentration drops...it won't keep a record of your readings over time...
I'm climbing a mountain...flying in a plane...hold everything...I need to quick grab my iPhone to see where I'm at...and do it again two minutes later? Good golly, miss molly. Maybe I'll just get an all-in-one dedicated probe. At least I can look right at my finger and not have to deal with a bunch of cables that way.
Jamal El Jamal
Is it worth paying an extra $200+ for a) Masimo's measure-through motion technology, and b) the ability to sync with your iPhone?
NO!
CraigList
I think people are missing some points. Sure a cheap finger oximeter can be purchased but it doesn't log data. Unless you purchase a more expensive unit 50-70 ++ dollars. And I do recall reading in the specs it has been tested against 10-12 other units for accuracy. So it really depends if you want the convience of iPhone/ android tracking and saving this data and email. Which I'm sure you can manually do with the data logging wireless units. With a cable plugged into your unit. I guess it comes down to convience and data collection. Sure a cheap offshore unit can be purchased but what's the accuracy?
I purchased a ormon Blood pressure and the best feature is the wireless data logging to the iPhone. Which can be emailed.