Alerts in displays of pulse oxymeter observed during first wave of COVID 19 pandemic in India

Abstract

Use of instrument Pulse Oxymeter (PO), domesticated since Covid–19 outbreaks, have been sending ripples in individual users, communities, and social media(SM). The application, modus operandi, optical issues, technicality of the instrument and operation were raising eyebrows amongst the professionals, clinicians, and non-technical users. SM was awestruck when a picture displaying four different SpO2 readings on four PO simultaneously attached to four digits of a hand, were shared. The authors decided to take up the study instantly. Since it was the ‘no contact’, social distancing, no medicine and vaccine for covid-19 phase, the entire research was carried out using telemedicine and personal communications with total reliance on the data provided by self motivated persons who are being referred to as ‘volunteers’, ‘patients’, ‘people’, ‘person’ with same perception. Attempt has been made in this original research article to provide with basic technical idea and alerts for sensitization / comprehensible use of PO at least for domestic monitoring of patient’s care.