Pulse oximetry

[FameFlower]

If you are looking for test subjects for the potential Ionic pulse oximeter please contact me.  I understand the difficulty that an Ionic pulse oximeter presents physically and legally.  

I purchased the Ionic in 2017 wishfully for my husband who has a severe respiratory disease, pulmonary fibrosis.  I said I would use the device until the pulse oximeter was active.  

I like the device well well enough for myself and now would buy my husband his own Ionic if the pulse oximeter became available.  

My husband and other people with this disease who are on supplemental oxygen are often on “cosmetic” oxygen. It looks like they are on oxygen, but the reality is that they have dipped because of some minor or major movement.  For example my husband could be on 3L/O2 while at rest and then go to do the dishes and then he is at 82% O2 (as measured by a finger oximeter) or have his tank cranked up to 6L/O2 while chainsawing a storm-fallen tree in our yard and be at 72% O2 after 3 minutes.  I would love to have a daily picture of his daily trends (even if it is not entirely accurate).  

$100K idea: Eventually I wish the that there was a wrist-based pulse oximeter that would communicate with the supplemental oxygen delivery system that would adjust the oxygen delivery rate to the actual need indicated by the pulse oximeter.  Eventually everyone who used supplemental oxygen would have such a device and the data gathered by it would be of great use to bother th patient and his/her medical team.

[Rich_Laue]

The first step would be to apply to be a beta a tester. 

[FameFlower]

I don't know what a "better a tester" is.  Is there a link for signing up to be a test.

[WavyDavey]

@FameFlower, here''s the link:

https://beta.fitbit.com/welcome/

[Rich_Laue]

Sorry I did not catch my keyboard taking control. 

[Penca]

I am an 83 years  old retired cardiologist diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who uses supplemental oxygenFs needed and tries to remain active. I bought my first Fitbit a few years ago an it helped me loose 39 lbs since then. I am tired to frequently checking my oxygen saturation to keep it above 92 at all times if possible. As soon as the first Ionic was advertised I ordered one in 2017. I did like it  but I became very disappointed after waiting more than a year for the Oxymeter function to become activated.

I do volunteer to do beta testing for that or any other fitbit function. Accuracy is less important to me that consistency. I am also interested in blood glucose monitoring which I think it is also in the horizon. 

Sincerely Ernesto A. Espinosa MD

[Lost_soldier11]

Being a respiratory therapist, I believe your "100k idea", although sounds good, could lead to many problems within the respiratory disease community. It the oxygen adjusted to meet the O2 demands, then people wouldn't notice if/when their oxygen was turned up automatically. The problem comes when a person who is normally on 2LPM is turned up to 6LPM and doesn't notice. They could be in respiratory failure which take a very quick downhill turn when they actually start to fail. Especially for the noncompliant patients, this could lead to death within the home, which might cause legal problems within the manufacturers of this function.

[NonsenseFactory]

Following. I have pulmonary arterial hypertension and would also love to be included in beta testing this feature. 

[gschoen]

Agreed, I have sleep apnea and am curious if my oxygen drops when using the CPAP or napping without it.

Unfortunately I've given up on this feature ever being active on the Ionic.  Given the high failure rate of the device (I'm on my third and my husband's on his second, less than a year) I imagine I'll be successfully using a Garmin device for O2 beforeFitbit ever activates this feature.  Still, it would be a pleasant if unexpected surprise.

[NonsenseFactory]

Take notice, developers 😉

One gadget with many possible applications. Sleep studies are a huge inconvenience... With this tech on our wrist we can give doctors valuable insight before dx!