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Best oximeters 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated October 1, 2023
Hey, I’m Roger Barnett. After spending over 27 hours comparing at least 14 oximeters, I am recommending the best oximeters of 2018
The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing. We take a close look at some of the best oximeters to help you get ripped.
Best oximeters of 2018
I review the three best oximeters on the market at the moment. I’ve based my selection methodology on customer feedback, the size, functionality, and budget to meet various demands. Customers need to be careful on how they spend their money on these products. We’ve narrowed down our options based on the customer feedback (read positive reviews), functionality, material and size. In other words, we’ve put all fundamentals into consideration to come up with a comprehensive list that suits various needs.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
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| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Design |
5 points
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4 points
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4 points
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| Materials |
5 points
|
5 points
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5 points
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| Construction |
5 points
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5 points
|
4 points
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| Price |
4 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Awards |  |
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How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the oximeters by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – AccuMed CMS-50DL Pulse Oximeter Finger Pulse Blood Oxygen SpO2 Monitor w/ Carrying case
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this oximeters win the first place?
The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. I was completely satisfied with the price. Its counterparts in this price range are way worse. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product.
5
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
№2 – AccuMed CMS-50D Pulse Oximeter Finger Pulse Blood Oxygen SpO2 Monitor w/ Carrying case
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this oximeters come in second place?
The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. The design quality is top notch and the color is nice. I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money.
4
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
№3 – Pro Series 500DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor with silicon cover
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this oximeters take third place?
I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time. The material is incredibly nice to the touch. It has a great color, which will suit any wallpapers. This price is appropriate since the product is very well built.
4
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
oximeters Buyer’s Guide
Return Policy
Consider going for the product with a good return policy. You might buy a faulty oximeter only to realize that later when you visit the doctor. If you detect malfunctioning of the gadget, you can always return to the seller if the product has a return policy. Therefore, establishing the return policy for the product is an essential element of a good oximeter.
EasyHome Deluxe Fingertip Pulse Oximeter
This pulse oximeter from Beurer is just perfect for persons with heart failure, even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma among others. It substantially determines oxygen saturation SpOand pulse and displays four open views with pulse curve display. Included in the package are batteries, carrying case, and restraining strap. This pulse oximeter is a convenient and helpful self-monitoring tool for the level of oxygen saturation in your body. More so, it has incredible features of a flexible display for comfortable viewing of the measured results and shows orientation may be changed by pressing the Start button.
Starhealth’s pulse oximeter has color OLED display, a simultaneous display for testing value and plethysmograph. Also, this pulse oximeter product manually adjusts the direction of interface and alarm function with real-time spot-checks. It uses standard two pieces of AAA 1.5V Alkaline battery which are included in the package. Plus, it has advanced DSP algorithm inside that monishes the influence of motion artifact and improves an accuracy of low perfusion.
This pulse oximeter from Facelake is a product individually tested for accuracy. This means that each device undergoes rigorous testing and is approved for use by the FDA. Likewise, it has quick readings which find in incredibly easy to use. You just have to turn on the device only, place your finger on it, and have your pulse rate read and SpOinstantly displayed. Included in the package are two pieces of AAA batteries for free, a convenient carry case, useful lanyard and illustrated instruction manual. This product is recommended to use for sports and or aviation use only. And for factory defects, Facelake also gives one year warranty period.
Santamedical SM-230 OLED Finger Pulse Oximeter
This Santamedical’s pulse oximeter is a SpO2%, and the pulse rate is displayed on a screen, very straightforward and convenient to use in operation. Likewise, this product is very light, and compact weighing only 50g including batteries. More so, it has low power consumption with two pieces of AAA batteries that can be continuously operated for 30 hours. This pulse oximeter is perfect to be used by a variety of sports enthusiasts, including mountain climbers, hikers, skiers, bikers, among others who are interested in measuring oxygen saturation and pulse rate. It comes with a hanging neck and wrist strap and case on the move. It is even easy to carry and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Quest 3-in-Pulse Oximeter
This pulse oximeter from Quest measures the number of heart beats per minute, defining a normal adult pulse rate while resting or at work. This likewise measures oxygen saturation determining how much oxygen the blood is carrying as a percentage of the maximum it could carry. It also measures saturated hemoglobin in this useful screening tool for learning underlying respiratory. It has a perfusion index which is an indication of the pulse strength and the sensor site. However, this product is not suggested to use as a medical device, but for sport and aviation use only. And this lightweight, portable pulse oximeter takes fast, non-invasive measurements at the fingertip making it ideal for monitoring heart rate, and oxygen saturation during sports activities, while exercising or during air travel.
The Nonin pulse oximeter shows an accurate PureSAT technology with pulse-by-pulse readings for oxygen level accuracy. This product is very easy to use, for you just need to clip it on your fingertip. More so, it is an imported product from the USA, and backed by two-year warranty period, making it different from most oximeters with only one-year warranty period only. Nonin is the company trusted by most medical professionals, is now making the technology available for home use. And this pulse oximeter is small, portable, non-invasive fingertip oximeter product for your home use to provide you with the right amount of pressure to record fast and accurate readings. This does not require a prescription and comes with easy follow guidelines.
Getting Accurate readings from an oximeter
Even if the oximeter is functioning perfectly without any fault, you might at times end up with wrong and inaccurate results if you do not follow the procedure. Therefore, the following points must be followed in the quest for accurate readings.
Remove the nail polish
The nail polish similarly blocks the oximeter functionalism by absorbing the produced light. As a result, the information that you would receive would be inaccurate.
Since the gadget operates by emitting the light, exposing it again to excess light when in use would interfere with the light from the system leading to inaccuracy.
Stay still when using the oximeter
It is advisable to avoid moving the body parts when taking the readings for a perfect and accurate result. However, even when measuring the level of oxygen while exercising, you need to stay still when taking the readings.
Limitations of using a Pulse oximeter
The limitation of using an oximeter is that the devise only measures the amount of oxygen in the blood and not the consumption rate of the oxygen. The sale of oximeters over the last years has increased dramatically and if you notice the exceptional price of our devises you will see that the marketing curve of supply meets demand has allowed us to supply our customers with these great products at the best available price.
Oxygen Therapy
The human body needs oxygen to make energy. In case your body cannot get enough oxygen to your lungs, a series of complications can be developed. In all such cases specialists are going to recommend oxygen therapy. This is the administration of oxygen as a medical intervention. This extra oxygen is believed to be able to increase the body’s ability to destroy cells that cause various diseases. There are different types of oxygen therapies that can be administrated to patients, depending on their state. Some types of oxygen therapies are actually recommended as alternative treatments for a series of diseases. They may include even the most serious conditions, such as cancer, asthma, AIDS, arthritis, heart and vascular diseases. Multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease may also be listed here. Some researchers believe that oxygen therapy can kill cancer cells, which are known to not be able to survive in an oxygen rich environment. Oxygen therapy is also believed to be able to enhance the immune system and promote the production of antioxidants.
Oxygen therapy can be used in both chronic and acute cases. Depending on the needs of the patient, this therapy can be used in hospitals, clinics, but also as home therapy. Some people require supplemental oxygen in the room air for breathing. For these patients oxygen therapy can include various mask options or portable devices. However, it is important to keep in mind the fact that oxygen is in fact considered to be a drug. This means that it must be administrated under medical supervision. The physician will indicate the amount of oxygen a patient should receive, as well as the period of time over which the therapy has to be administrated. Oxygen can be delivered to a patient via mask or nasal cannula. Keep in mind that oxygen can be very drying to the nose. This is why special humidification bottles can be recommended by some specialists.
Negative effects Even though oxygen therapy can be extremely beneficial for patients, there can be situations in which this therapy has negative effects as well. For instance, oxygen should never be administrated to a patient who is suffering from parquet poisoning, as it may increase toxicity. Oxygen therapy is not recommended in cases of pulmonary fibrosis or lung damage. In some situations it may increase the effects of stroke, as well.
Oxygen therapy can be extremely beneficial for patients in certain situations, but this therapy should only be administrated under medical supervision.
The Many Uses of the Oximeters
In just over 80 years, pulse oximeters has gone from theory over utilisation. Just because a test or therapy is used frequently does not necessarily mean that it is useful. Pulse oximetry was first theorised in the 1930s and became a clinically useful tool for monitoring patients in the mid 1970s. Due to the size and expense of the equipment, however, its use was initially limited to pulmonary clinics, the operating room and post-operative services. It was only a decade later that these limitations could be resolved to make its use widespread in the field of emergency medicine.The utility of pulse oximetry measuring for the management of patients in acute situations is now focused in four main areas: improving triage classification, decreasing the use of ABG sampling, improving management and monitoring of acutely ill patients, and decreasing the length of stay in the ED. Pulse oximetres are useful for measuring oxygen saturation in the blood. Oximeters do not have the capability to measure pH or carbon dioxide. Assuming that the person has good skin perfusion, a pulse oximeter works the same at altitude as it does at sea level. As ambient atmospheric pressure decreases, the amount of oxygen in air decreases correspondingly. Respiration increase to help compensate for this. In general, resting saturations will continue as one ascents to a higher altitude. Oximetry can also refer to a test that can be easily be done at home. It provides basic information that may be useful in initially evaluating whether you have one of the more common sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. The test involves applying a plastic clip over the end of your finger. The clip is connected via a cable to a small box that records the data overnight. Within the overnight oximeters clip is a red light. On the other side is a sensor that can measure your heart rate and the oxygen content of your blood. This screening provides a limited amount of information. In addition, there are subtleties involved in sleep disorders that it may not be able to detect. As you can see, there are many ways you can use this device.
History of Pulse Oximeters
Pulse oximeters were first developed half a century ago, but widespread clinical use of the oximeter only became practical with the advent of digital technology. The oximeter was commercially marketed in 1981, but use was largely restricted to critical care areas. More recently, pulse oximetry offers a relatively inexpensive, simple and reliable means to monitor respiratory function in a wide variety of clinical areas, in hospitals and the community. Traditionally, cyanosis has been relied on for detecting hypoxia, meaning that oxygen is reduced in tissues. Severe respiratory failure generally occurs when arterial saturation of haemoglobin falls to 85-90%, whereas cyanosis does not usually appear until saturation falls to 75%, the normal saturation of venous blood.Oximeteres are now a virtual fixture in intensive care units, pulmonary units and elsewhere in hospitals and health care facilities.
You might wonder how an oximeter functions. A pulse oximeter works by passing a beam of red and infra-red light through a pulsating capillary bed. The ratio of red to infra-red light transmitted gives a measure of the oxygen saturation of the blood. The device measures the sum of the intensity of both shades of red, representing the fractions of the blood with an without oxygen. The oximeter detects the pulse, and then subtracts the intensity of colour detected when the pulse is absent. The remaining intensity of colour represents only the oxygenated red blood. This is displayed on the electronic screen as a percentage of oxygen saturation in the blood.There is also other type of oximetry. Oximetry can also be done on blood that is within the heart or on whole blood that has been removed from the body. More recently, using similar technology to oxymetry, carbon dioxide levels can be measured at the skin as well. Pulse oximetry measurements may be affected by advanced age, irregular heartbeat, weak pulse or cold hands. Conventional pulse oximeters suffered greatly during motion and low perfusion and was made difficult to depend on when making medical decisions. The newest models of these devices can be easily used by all patients, as they have to placed on the finger. Their advancement in technology has allowed the device to also show venous and arterial blood. In some cases, monitoring oxygen is vital for both the comfort and security of a patient.
Oximeters Are Perfect For The Elderly
The oximeters are the devices that can help a lot of people in numerous instances. It is important to know how your heart rate and blood oxygen level shifts during the day, especially after a certain age, when these factors can be the indicators of a certain issue. The oximeters are perfect for the elderly, even if they have had some sort of health problem or not. The heart rate and the oxygen levels should be monitored as they can be the indicators of serious health problems, which may not manifest themselves directly from the beginning. There are many advantages which come with the usage of the oximeters at all times and especially after a certain age. In the case of older people, the health problems are bound to appear at some point or the other. For those who have lived healthy and naturally for their entire life, there may not be as many problems, yet it is still important to have all those regular checkups done just to be sure. With the help of the oximeters, even those who are healthy, not just the ones that are ill, will have a lot of benefits to make their lives better and less stressful. The oximeters can monitor the most important elements, which show if the organism is healthy or not. Therefore, the proper usage of the oximeters, in the case of healthy people as well, can aid the early prevention of any issue. The major changes in the heart rate and in the oxygen levels of the blood may indicate some problems, which should be taken to a specialist. The best thing about the oximeters is that they can keep a person healthy, just by providing a regular set of information on which all the most important bodily encounters are based. In addition to this, the oximeters are small devices and come in a variety of shapes, in order to be properly and easily adapted to your body and to your daily habits. The elderly can take their oximeters with them everywhere they go, without having problems created by their weight or size.
How Pulse Oximetry Devices Work
The way Pulse oximeters work is very simple. First, the device clips onto a fairly transparent part of the body such as a finger, toe, or earlobe.
Next, once activated, a light is emitted from the probe side of the oximeter and a light sensor is located on the other side. The light emitted consists of two distinct wavelengths of light (650nm and 805nm). Light is absorbed by both the hemoglobin in our blood and the oxygen molecules that may or may not be attached to them.
High Altitude Sports
A pulse oximeter can alert you to oxygen deprivation issues before they become a serious problem. Sports like mountain climbing, skydiving, hang gliding and any other sport or activity that puts a person in high altitude situations can benefit from the use of a pulse oximeter to determine arterial blood oxygen levels.
Piece of Mind for Pulmonary Patients
Aside from those already mentioned, there are several common and many rare pulmonary conditions that affect the lungs, and which can be life threatening. Those suffering from such conditions can definitely benefit from the use of a pulse oximetry device, to alert them of changes to their arterial blood oxygen levels before life threatening complications occur.
Low Maintenance
Once calibrated, pulse oximeters will work the same after two years as they did on the first day they were opened. All these devices perform a startup check of their circuitry when turned on, and will not run a scan unless they pass these built in tests. No calibration is ever needed, or even possible, with an at home oximetry device.
Less Invasive Than Blood Gas Testing
For some people, going to a lab and being poked with a needle is a major source of anxiety. This is particularly true if you have to go for regular blood work and calluses have developed in the preferred extraction sites, making taking your blood not only frightening, but also extremely painful, too.
How to Use a Pulse Oximeter Properly
This section could also be titled “What Not to do When Using Your Pulse Oximeter.” Oximeters are very easy to use. Simply clip the device on your fingertip or earlobe (you can attach the clip over the wrist or top and bottom of the foot on infants), then turn the device on to take a reading. This is the easy part. • Painted fingers and toenails can obstruct proper readings – use an earlobe instead in this case. • Bright overhead lighting, including sunlight can effect readings – take your readings in rooms with normal or low-light conditions.
Warning Systems
There are warning systems that you want to look for when choosing an oximeter: • Low Battery: Whether this is an indicator or a noise, a low battery indicator is important for those who rely on an oximeter for disease management.
For People With Dark Skin
This problem can be overcome by placing the sensor on an earlobe or, if possible directly on the wrist (if your wrist is small enough). The pigmentation in these areas is usually light enough to accommodate reliable readings.
Go to the Emergency Room if
When SpOlevels fall below 80% you need to go to the hospital. Pulse oximeters have been found to be very inaccurate in reading blood oxygen levels when levels hit 80% or less. With two or more readings in this range, your oxygen levels may be far lower than the device claims and medical intervention is necessary.
First up in our search for the best finger blood pressure monitor is the CMS 500DL Pro Series from Acc U Rate. The CMS 500DL Pro Series came into existence as a result of the public’s dissatisfaction with Acc U Rate’s original CMS 500DL finger blood pressure monitor. Customers complained that it was unreliable, ineffective, and flimsy.
Acc U Rate owned up to its mistake, listened to customer feedback, and went back to the drawing board. Acc U Rate’s decision to listen to its customers proved extremely beneficial as the newly designed CMS 500DL Pro Series has become incredibly popular.
Unlike its predecessor, the CMS 500DL Pro Series offers consistently accurate readings, the kind you would expect from a wrist or upper-arm blood pressure monitor. It is designed to be used by hikers, runners, and anybody else who might need a reading while on the go. A large LED display makes it possible to read your results outdoors, regardless of the weather or the time of day.
TemplR Finger Pulse Oximeter
This finger blood pressure monitor from TemplR has the ability to give you an accurate reading in almost no time at all. It is one of the more easy to use finger blood pressure monitors on the market and requires only the push of a button to measure your blood pressure.
Furthermore, a rotatable dial allows you to read your results from any angle; a seemingly insignificant though undeniably useful feature.
Santa Medical Generation SM-165
Reviews of the Santa Medical Generation SM-16have been extremely positive, and it isn’t hard to see why. Much like the finger blood pressure monitor which started off this list, the Santa Medical Generation SM-16is an improvement upon a previous release, although the predecessor to this one was a success in its own right.
The new and improved finger blood pressure monitor from Santa Medical features increased accuracy in its readings, which, by the way, are processed and presented with greater speed than ever before.
The Santa Medical Generation SM-16is lightweight and portable, even for a finger blood pressure monitor, and can be easily taken with you on hikes and runs. It will be particularly beneficial for those who are away from home for days at a time as it features a long battery life.
Before making any purchases it is always prudent for one to compare prices. One can choose to compare the prices being offered by different manufacturers and outlets for oximeters that bear similar features. This will go a long way to assist in getting the best deal in the market at the time. It will also ensure that a buyer gets good value for their money.
Accuracy
Accuracy is actually among the reasons one gets to buy an oximeter. Given the nature of the tests it conducts any wrong results could be detrimental to the health of the user. This is because any action taken after the results are displayed in highly reliant on the results. This therefore calls out for testing before making a purchase to ensure that the oximeter displays accurate results.
Features
It is important for a buyer to look out for what is relevant to their needs. Manufactures have in the recent past been putting up additional features. Such features increase the functionality and reliability of an oximeter. Get the one that has the best features that match the needs of the user.
Display
Any oximeter with a clear display will make your work easy. That is one of the main reasons why manufacturers have introduced LED displays complete with background lighting. This enables a user to see the results displayed on the screen under any lighting conditions.
The content displayed by the oximeter is also a feature to look at. Most of the oximeters will show the blood oxygen saturation level and the pulse. However newer versions have additional information displayed on the screen. Such additional information could include the pulse meter, the pulse waveform, and the perfusion index value and so on and so forth. This depends entirely on the use, some will prefer additional menus while others will prefer the simple oximeter.
This is highly connected to portability and ease of use. Depending on its use, one should get the appropriate weight of an oximeter. This also goes to the type of user. For instance oximeters t be used on children need not be heavy. Again if the user is one that travels or moves a lot then they need a light oximeter.
Alarms will play an important role in informing the user of important issues. The user is able to set what they need to be reminded of. For instance one could set the alarm to ring whenever they exceed a certain heart rate or when the oxygen in their blood level falls below a set level.
Neonatal Pulse Oximeters
The definition of neonatal refers to newborns, usually up to one month after birth.
After a baby is born, it’s important to make sure that they’re healthy and born without any major birth defects.
One of the many measurements taken is pulse and oxygen level thanks to neonatal pulse oximeters.
These, obviously, need to be much smaller than an oximeter for an adult or even an older child to properly fit their toes or fingers.
It’s important to note that the readings from these for newborns should be taken at least 2hours from birth. Anything earlier than that can create false positive readings.
Handheld Oximeter
This is the type of oximeter that you’re more likely to find in an ER or hospital. Instead of the display being on the clip of the oximeter, it’s on a box connected to the clip by a cable.
This type of oximeter shows more than just the oxygen and heart rate, however, the exact other readings may change from model to model.
This is because this type of oximeter is meant to be used by doctors to help make a full diagnosis rather than just test for a symptom.
Brands are another important thing to look out for. Well-known brands help us choose companies and products we can trust that will stand the test of time. In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the best brands on the market right now.
AccuMed
AccuMed is a well-known medical company that focuses on engineering medical products.
Not only does this count the pulse oximeters that we’re looking at here, but other products such as slings, wraps, and headgear for sleep apnea.
Since their products are made to be used directly on the body, they’re made not only to work but to be comfortable as well.
This sort of innovation and forethought has made AccuMed a trusted name in the medical equipment industry.
Vive Health
Vive Health, or simply Vive, is a company that states their mission as a rebellion against age.
However, their products help people of all ages stay healthy and deal with ailments with ease.
They’re an online retailer with a large number of followers and a focus on customer service.
Better yet, especially for young families looking for paediatric equipment such as these oximeters, they offer their customers all this innovation without making them completely empty their wallets.
It’s the perfect size for older children.
Unfortunately, the size of it is too large for very young children, leading to inaccurate readings.
The digital display on the oximeter is also large and easy to read.
It only takes seconds to take a reading, so you can get results quickly without any fuss.
It has also been praised for its high accuracy, so you don’t have to worry about mistakes.
Acc U Rate Children Oximeter
This children’s oximeter is small enough to take children’s measurements and in the fun shape of a polar bear.
It’s specifically designed to fit children’s fingers from the age of two and up.
This model also includes a plethysmograph. This indicates the amount of blood flow and blood pressure, so you have added accuracy.
The OLED, rotatable display also makes it easy to read.
It also comes with a free pouch and lanyard to make it easier to carry and store, as well as AAA batteries so you can use your new purchase immediately.
AccuMed CMS-50DL Oximeter
This oximeter is unique since it can fit both children and their parents.
It’s intended for use by sport and exercise enthusiasts, rather than made for a hospital setting, but is extremely reliable all the same.
The screen of this oximeter is easy to read as well with digital display and protections against ambient light.
It also comes with batteries, a lanyard, and a carrying case which helps owners store and carry the device.
A reading with this oximeter only takes a couple of seconds to provide an accurate and quick reading.
Thanks to a one-year warranty, you can rest easy knowing that your oximeter is protected.
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the oximeters by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your oximeters wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of oximeters
- №1 — AccuMed CMS-50DL Pulse Oximeter Finger Pulse Blood Oxygen SpO2 Monitor w/ Carrying case
- №2 — AccuMed CMS-50D Pulse Oximeter Finger Pulse Blood Oxygen SpO2 Monitor w/ Carrying case
- №3 — Pro Series 500DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor with silicon cover
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