Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Longevity of Masimo and Nellcor Pulse Oximeter Sensors in the Care of Infants

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Pulse oximetry is a standard of care for monitoring oxygenation in neonates. Associated with the use of pulse oximetry is the cost of patient sensors, especially if the sensor is designed for single-patient use. Pulse oximetry monitoring of sick newborns is routine and often lengthy and, if the pulse oximeter sensor is short-lived, can result in a significant portion in the cost of intensive care.

METHODS: We evaluated, in the NICUs of two hospitals and one step-down nursery, the useful life of disposable neonatal pulse oximeter sensors from two manufacturers: Masimo and Nellcor. The only requisites were ethics committee approval and need for monitoring. The timed of PO sensor placement and replacement were noted along with the reason for changing the sensor. The standard care practices for PO and sensor use in the respective institutions were followed.

RESULTS: A total of 835.5 patient days of monitoring were accumulated with 65 infants in the Masimo group and 56 using Nellcor. The Masimo Neo sensors had over twice (2.33) the useful life of the Nellcor N-25 (9.05±4.4 versus 3.9±2.3 days (range of 7.2–11.8 and 2.5–5.8 days, respectively, p<0.05)). The magnitude of useful life between the two institutions was not significantly different in the Masimo group (2.35- versus 2.22-fold). PO sensors were replaced due to impaired adhesion (38 Masimo and 32 Nellcor) and no signal (six Masimo and four Nellcor).

CONCLUSIONS: We found a more than two-fold increase in the life of Masimo versus Nellcor sensors. This difference was consistent between various caregivers in multiple settings and corroborates the experience of another, more limited study. A cost savings should result from the use of Masimo versus Nellcor disposable pulse oximeter sensors in neonatal routine care.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hay Jr WW, Thilo E, Curlander JB . Pulse oximetry in neonatal medicine. Clin Perinatol 1991;18(3):441–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Vijayakumar E, Ward GJ, Bullock CE, Patterson ML . Pulse oximetry in infants of &lt;1500 g birth weight on supplemental oxygen: A national survey. J Perinatol 1997;17(5):341–345.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. American Thoracic Society. Cardiorespiratory sleep studies in children. Establishment of normative data and polysomnographic predictors of morbidity. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1999;160:1381–1387.

  4. Brouillette RT, Morielli A, Leimanis A, Waters KA, Luciano R, Ducharme FM . Nocturnal pulse oximetry as an abbreviated testing modality for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Pediatrics 2000;105:405–412.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ely EW, Barker AM, Evans GW, Haponik EF . The distribution of cost of care in mechanically ventilated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Crit Care Med 2000;28(2):408–413.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Thomas A, Holmes M, Vogt J, Gangitano E, Stephenson C, Liberman R . Useful life of pulse oximeter sensors in a NICU. Respir Care 1998;43(10):860.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Noblet T . Cost reduction following conversion to Masimo SET pulse oximetry—experience in the NICU. Respir Care 2001;46(10):1130, OF-01-223.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Neither Masimo nor Nellcor provided funding for this study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Erler, T., Avenarius, S., Wischniewski, E. et al. Longevity of Masimo and Nellcor Pulse Oximeter Sensors in the Care of Infants. J Perinatol 23, 133–135 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210874

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210874

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links