June 30, 2006 As biosensor technologies evolve and miniaturise, we’re likely to be able to monitor in real time a myriad of aspects of the human condition and learn more about our physiology than ever before. A perfect example of this is a new wrist-mounted oximetry system designed to monitor the vital signs of people experiencing sleep disorder symptoms, such as sleep apnea which afflicts millions. Characterized by repeated breathing interruptions in which the brain arouses the person to resume breathing, people with sleep disorder symptoms are typically referred to sleep clinics where their sleep is monitored overnight. The PulseOx 7500 enables home screening of sleep-related symptoms such as oxygen saturation and heart rate. The wrist-mounted monitor collects data while the wearer sleeps and the data can be downloaded for analysis via the sleep apnea reporting software supplied with each unit.
As the first affordable sleep study device for family care and general practitioners, the PulseOx 7500 offers a number of key benefits. Since it can be prescribed directly for an overnight study in the patient's home, it allows the doctor to begin diagnosis almost immediately. Second, it reduces the cost of sleep apnea pre-screening: it is priced at far less than the existing market prices for traditional sleep monitoring equipment and uses long-life batteries for extended periods of constant use, thereby reducing operational costs. Finally, it offers family care and general practitioners a new source of revenue, since they can prescribe and provide the PulseOx 7500 directly to patients, rather than refer them to third-party sleep facilities.
The PulseOx 7500 is the third portable monitoring device to be released by SPO Medical. The first was a spot-check finger pulse oximeter designed for the home care market and last year, the company released Check Mate, a lightweight, inexpensive monitor for measuring blood oxygen saturation and heart rate during physically active and high-altitude activities such a mountain climbing and orienteering.
