At a Glance: Quick Ratings
Oxygen Saturation Levels
Pulse Rate (BPM)
Ease of Use
Where To Get It
A Deep Dive Into TempIR Pulse Oximeter
The TempIR Pulse Oximeter is the perfect solution for individuals who want to accurately and non-invasively monitor the oxygen saturation levels of their blood. A simple to use device that simply clips to the user’s finger to provide SpO2 (oxygen saturation levels) and pulse rate (bpm). This review of the TempIR Pulse Oximeterhas been written by Tristan Haskins aka CardioCritic.
Who Is It For?
Pulse Oximeters are a bit like thermometers – every household should own one. They are particularly important for families with a history of asthma, COPD, heart and lung related illness / disease. A Pulse Oximeter is a cheap, accurate and easy way to measure the levels of saturated oxygen in the blood. A two minute daily check provides peace of mind when your SpO2 levels are normal. It can also give an early warning signal when your blood’s oxygen saturation levels drop below your “normal” levels.
- Easy to use
- Accurate and Consistent
- SpO2 and Pulse Rate alarms (high and low)
- Auto-off after 1 minute of no reading
- Comes ready to use with 2 x AAA batteries
- Nothing to criticise - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
What is a Pulse Oximeter?
A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the percentage of haemoglobin in the blood that is carrying Oxygen – something called Oxygen Saturation. The pulse oximeter emits two different frequencies of light, red light and infrared light.
These waves of light pass through the skin of the fingertips. On the opposite side of the light sources there is a detector.
This sensitive detector analyses the levels of light that has been absorbed to provide the SpO2 reading. If you’d like more information on the scientific principles of how a pulse oximeter works please refer to HowEquipmentWorks.com for a detailed explanation (external link).
SPO2 and Pulse Rate
This is NOT a medical advice site. The information provided here is courtesy of the Mayo Clinic website(external link). The Mayo Clinic states –
Normal pulse oximeter readings usually range from 95 to 100 percent. Values under 90 percent are considered low.
Normal Pulse Rate
The resting Pulse Rate between healthy adults varies even more than the SpO2 readings. I’m quite an active male (born 1968) with a resting heart rate around 45bpm.
This is quite low, but for me it’s confirmation of an efficient cardiovascular system courtesy of many years training. For someone with no history of fitness training a pulse rate of 45bpm could be considered too low. The Mayo Clinic has a more thorough explanation of heart rate on their website (external link). A summary of this FAQ is quoted here –
A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats a minute. Generally, a lower heart rate at rest implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness. For example, a well-trained athlete might have a normal resting heart rate closer to 40 beats a minute.Consult your doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats a minute (tachycardia) or if you’re not a trained athlete and your resting heart rate is below 60 beats a minute (bradycardia) — especially if you have other signs or symptoms, such as fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath
Main Features and Functions
The TempIR Pulse Oximeter accurately measures both SpO2 and pulse rate (beats per minute). The values of both are LIVE and will change throughout the monitoring period.
The photograph below illustrates the key features of the TempIR pulse oximeter as listed on the packaging.
SpO2 and Pulse Alarms
This device is NOT intended to provide CONTINUOUS monitoring (as you’d find in a hospital), but it does have alarms for both SpO2 and pulse rate. These alarms are really just for convenience. While monitoring yourself or family member it is not necessary to continually stare at the screen if an alarm has been set, for example an SpO2 levels of less than 94%. More details on alarms and other system settings is covered further down this article.
Flip the Display – 4 View Angles
For convenience and comfort the TempIR Pulse Oximeter has 4 different display views. Simply press the button briefly to flip through all 4 display options. Each press flips the display by 90° to facilitate easy reading.
Pressing and holding the single button enters SETUP mode. In setup mode there are TWO menus. Alarm Setup and Sounds Setup. To alter / enter any setting just toggle to the setting then press and HOLD the button to change the setting.
In the SOUNDS setup menu there are 4 options.
- Alm – turn ALARMS on or off. The actual alarm values (SpO2 / bpm) are set in the Alarms Menu
- Beep – adds a BEEP to represent each Heart Beat.
- Demo – puts the device in to demonstration mode. The SpO2 and BPM values are set to 98 and 60 respectively. Use this cautiously as it looks for all intents and purposes like a HEALTHY / NORMAL reading ….
- Restore – resets all the menu settings to factory default.
Remember, to hear these alarms it is necessary to set the Alm to ON in the menu above (Sounds Setup)
It is possible to set alerts for the following 4 readings
- SpO2 Alarm Hi – this would show if the patient’s condition was recovering, e.g. set HIGH to 96% when someone is recovering from an Asthma attack
- SpO2 Alarm Lo – this is used to alert when a patient’s blood oxygen saturation levels drop below their “normal” value e.g. 91%
- PR Alm Hi – use this to set an alarm when the Pulse Rate exceeds that displayed value e.g. 90bpm
- PR Alm Lo – use this to set an alarm when the Pulse Rate drops below the displayed value e.g. 50bpm
Approvals and Certification
The TempIR Pulse Oximeter holds the following safety certification
- CE 0482 – this product conforms to the essential requirements of the Medical Devices Directive (93/42/EEC)
- FDA approval
- Type BF Equipment (refer to IEC 60601-1:1995)
Customer’s love this product. Just read a sample of the online reviews below and you will understand why this is one of the BEST SELLING Pulse Oximeters on the market. Easy to use, easy to read, reliable and accurate, what more could you want from such a device.
CardioCritic has awarded the TempIR Pulse Oximeter a stunning 5/5 Star Review. There is nothing to criticise with this product from it’s low price to it’s superb quality. It arrived direct from the supplier with 2 x AAA batteries in the box. 2 minutes from receiving the unit I was recording my SpO2 levels with ease, accuracy and consistency. The TempIR Pulse Oximeter is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by CardioCritic.com.