Automatic Calibration; Functional Versus Fractional Saturation; Measured Versus Calculated Saturation - Nellcor OXIMAX N-595 Service Manual

Technical Discussion
Automatic
Calibration
Functional versus
Fractional
Saturation
Measured versus
Calculated
Saturation
110
Because light absorption by hemoglobin is wavelength dependent and
because the mean wavelength of LEDs varies, an oximeter must know the
mean wavelength of the sensor's red LED to accurately measure SpO
manufacturing, the mean wavelength of the red LED is encoded in a resistor
in the sensor.
During monitoring, the instrument's software reads this resistor value and
selects coefficients that are appropriate for the wavelength of that individual
sensor's red LED; these coefficients are then used to determine SpO
resistor value is read when the pulse oximeter is turned on, periodically
thereafter, and each time a new sensor is connected.
Additionally, to compensate for differences in tissue thickness, the light
intensity of the sensor's LEDs is adjusted automatically.
This pulse oximeter measures functional saturation -- oxygenated hemoglobin
expressed as a percentage of the hemoglobin that can transport oxygen. It
does not detect significant amounts of dysfunctional hemoglobin, such as
carboxyhemoglobin or methemoglobin. In contrast, hemoximeters such as the
IL482 report fractional saturation -- oxygenated hemoglobin expressed as a
percentage of all measured hemoglobin, including measured dysfunctional
hemoglobins. To compare functional saturation measurements to those from
an instrument that measures fractional saturation, fractional measurements
must be converted as follows:
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When saturation is calculated from a blood gas partial pressure of oxygen
(PO ), the calculated value may differ from the SpO
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oximeter. This usually occurs because the calculated saturation was not
appropriately corrected for the effects of variables that shift the relationship
between PO and pH, temperature, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide
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(PCO ), 2,3-DPG, and fetal hemoglobin. See Figure 25 on page 111.
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measurement of a pulse
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