There are many forms of technology that the medical industry could now no longer live without. Oxygen sensors are a particularly clear example of a vital piece of equipment that healthcare professions no depend on to help them provide a quality level of care.
Oxygen sensors vary in design depending on the application they’re used in, although their main function remains the same: to measure oxygen levels and encourage a response if oxygen levels are recorded as too high or too low.
The most common uses of oxygen sensors in the healthcare industry are:
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For patient monitoring
Most notably, oxygen sensors are used in patient monitoring, both inside and outside of a hospital environment. Patients who struggle to achieve the right levels of oxygen in their blood may need oxygen therapy to achieve the right quantity of the gas. Oxygen sensors are used to monitor oxygen levels and administer oxygen when needed.
Oxygen sensors can also be used in the remote monitoring of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If oxygen levels are measured as too low, a machine can administer oxygen into a patient’s lungs. This is said to improve or maintain quality of life, heart health, cognitive function, exercise capacity, as well as reduce frequency of hospitalization.
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For patient ventilation
For patients on ventilation, oxygen sensors are essential for ensuring the right amount of oxygen is contained in the gas delivered to the patient. The sensors can perform manual internal checks to ensure that the correct dose of oxygen is administered at all times.
Sensors may be used in patient ventilation during any surgery that requires anaesthesia, or during times when a patient is unable to breathe on their own, such as in patients with a collapsed lung.
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For at-home examination
A recent advancement in oxygen sensor technology has seen the introduction of wireless oxygen monitors that can be worn at all times by patients of any age. This will allow for greater patient freedom – no longer must a patient be tethered to a machine to receive the appropriate treatment for their condition.
Patients dealing with unbalanced oxygen saturation levels will soon be able to wear oxygen sensors 24/7 for more thorough remote monitoring. The concept was discussed publicly in November 2019, so it seems likely that the technology will soon be widely available for patients across the UK.
Take away
Oxygen sensors are most vitally used in the medical or healthcare industry – which includes use on animals in veterinary situations. As oxygen is imperative for respiration, there will always be a need for medical oxygen sensors.
However, that’s not to say oxygen sensors aren’t incredibly useful in other industries too. Oxygen sensors and analysers can be used in any situation where measuring oxygen saturation is necessary, such as in businesses in the water, chemical, power, mechanics, aerospace, life sciences, food & beverage and fish farming industries. They can ensure equipment safety or protect the health of the individuals in a workplace.