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This month’s Editor’s Choice evaluates the accuracy of consumer-grade pulse oximeters compared to a medical grade oximeter in pediatric subjects. Kovesi and colleagues studied a fingertip oximeter and an oximeter built into a smartphone in 74 children. They calculated the root mean square error as well as bias and precision of each device and the percentage of measurement failures. Smartphone oximeters failed to measure SpO2 in nearly 40% of cases. There were large differences between the medical oximeter and the consumer-grade devices. Saturations read as much as 4% higher or 17% lower than the reference oximeter. Accuracy was impacted by both subject age (and size) and type of oximeter. Wilson and Berkenbosch provide accompanying commentary noting the major limitation that the true test of accuracy requires an arterial blood sample. They predict that use of these devices will continue to expand in the home and that inaccuracies may lead to delays in seeking treatment, particularly in infants. They encourage additional studies, with a multitude of devices across a range of subject ages and clinically important SpO2 ranges.
Vieira and others describe a barrier enclosure for actively removing aerosols during treatment of patients with contagious respiratory illnesses. The device was tested in healthy volunteers and in a model, measuring removal of fluorescent microparticles and ambient carbon dioxide (CO2 …
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