This device is remarkably well thought out, both the instrument and accompanying software. I got it for doing screening sleep studies for obstructive sleep apnea, and the description supports this use. The user manual says "the sensor should not be applied to the same finger for over 2 hours" but I had no problem with my own 8 hour trial. There is also a caution about rubber allergy for the fingertip sensor. It's slightly bulky between the fingers, but doesn't interfere with sleep.
Most unexpected was "The device has normal useful life for three years since the first electrical use." The battery spec says "Charge and discharge no less than 500 times." I don't think of electronic products as having such a short service life, but the caution should definitely be part of the advertisement. Be careful inserting the sensor probe plug into the wrist module because the pins are very delicate.
The manual is poorly translated into English, but is still understandable. Configuring and using the device are much easier than the manual seems to indicate. It's extremely intuitive and well thought out. There's only one button. Press it for 1 second to enter the menu. A click changes between menu items, a button press of 1 second selects the various options. The time is 24 hour format. "Set day" means the date, and "Set week" means day of the week, where 1 is Monday.
I compared the device readings with an expensive professional unit we have in the operating room by placing them both on my fingers at the same time. The pro unit read 97 while the Contec CMS50 read 94. I'm quite healthy so I suspect the pro unit is right.
The software is very easy to use. It installs from the included mini-CD. There's no help, but you don't need it. I tested it first on Windows XP Service Pack 3, then on my new PC running Windows 7. Installation was flawless. Data are stored on "C:\Program Files\SPO2\Data" and you don't get a choice. In Windows 7, the folder is invisible to Windows Explorer, but it shows up when you choose a file by selecting the "Review" and "Find File" option. Right-clicking the file desired, choosing "Properties" and then "Details" shows Attributes "A" for archiving and "I" for "I have no idea." Even with full administrator privileges, I couldn't get the "I" to go away. Fortunately, the file can be copied to another drive while doing the selection process.
The analysis parameters are good, and they can be customized. Unfortunately, there is no way to retain them for your next session. There are only a dozen buttons on the SPO2 Review screen, and you can easily figure them out. The printer button opens a screen with graph setting options and a preview opportunity. I use CutePDF Writer (free) to save the reports in electronic format.
Despite the preceding limitations, the device has an easily readable display screen, the menu is simple to navigate, and the software produces great reports. Durability remains to be seen, but so far so good.Get more detail about Wrist Pulse Oximeter,record the data and transfer it to your computer, then you can analyze it..