When will the Spo2 sensor will be available?

[Coachalan]

Has there been any update when the spo2 sensor will be available for use. It was the only reason I chose this watch over the others I was looking to buy.

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity 

[Ricsb65]

Mine didn’t either, I have to log off and back on when I want to see it though which is annoying 

[JLy_Fin]

How to activate this? I am reading that it has been released. I am in Finland with latest app version on Android. Any clock software update required?

[AddyRazz]

You have to pay for it

[DocRobotnik]

No, you don't. spo2 is not hidden behind a paywall.

[SunsetRunner]

It has been released and no you don't need to pay for it.  The graph is found under the restoration section in sleep.  If you haven't got it, it may not have rolled out to you yet.

[ahon76]

Agree. I also did not pay somewhere something to get it. BUT, it´s only available with the graph during sleep. - It´s not possible to reading this even manually out during the day it seems. Anyone knows this will come up or not ?

[Rogers007]

As a physician, I suspect this nebulous looking rubbish has very little utility! I’ve no idea what the graph means particularly in comparison to a common sense pulse ox reading! I’ve a pulse ox ring that tracks sleep. The implications of those data make sense. Who came up with this wacky metric that’s obviously rooted in patent protection and not user utility. 

The absence of daytime data is a sham! One can only hope the new owners upgrade this shoddy strategy. I’m quite disappointed this was not an apple acquisition! The insensitive lackluster recent upgrades would have led to dumping the current watch form and rolling the software into an apple watch.

I continue to be less impressed with these wacky add-ons which makes little sense particularly comparing the high grade Apple apps with a real store with broad range of apps! 

[AllanMitchell]

• Here here 👍. Well said that man. I am a Paramedic in the UK and the graph may as well be a map of Hong Kong. It makes no sense at all and resembles no readings I have ever seen. Even a Sp02 pleth displayed on our monitors doesn't come close. Is it a gimmick?  I would like someone to explain the science and medical research behind it.

[pbug56]

That's quite an assumption!

[AllanMitchell]

Would a qualified medical professional that works for fitbit care to explain then!   Is that too much to ask?.  I would like it explained and would like to see the research behind it?  If fitbit are gathering our data I would also question the ethics behind it too.  How is that for an assumption

[ahon76]

With all respect, but nobody forces you to use this function and take it as serious as some professionals may be would do. It´s no use have a product like this, which cost just to compare to Apple only a piece of cake of it and awaiting some medical precision.

For me as a "normal" end-user it´s a nice to know information and if i would see regular "orange/red" marks regarding SPO2 during night, it´s a sign may go for professional Doctor to check it. I am not expecting this watch or Fitbit give me profesional, exact information; only Hints that may something out of "normal" readings. 

[AllanMitchell]

No offence meant!  but how do you know they are out of the normal readings?.  Some of the product users may become very alarmed and think they have a medical condition/problem that is based on what?  I understand that fitbit is used by people from all backgrounds.  Regardless if they are medical or not! there is not enough information for users about this function.

[ahon76]

Yes, i understand your meaning and i am also agree the information could be more detailed for sure. It´s also very easy may from the APP based on the readings give a simple suggestion or alarm if needed. For an example at the moment you only have this baseline and some green readings below and orange ones above. - I can only speak for myself, but if regular i would get for longer time get "out of breathing", so over the baseline; i would automaticly get to the doctor for deeper investigation.

For sure, still some work to do for Fitbit 😉

[Frankc52]

For me it works but this might be a stupid question about high and low. I suffer with sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine each night and the graph is near dead centre. If I get up in the night and forget to replace the mask it shows one or two apneas. The confusing part it shows the graph peeking over the high mark! Having an apnea I would think it should show low as the O2 would drop. Lastly all Fitbit’s are not medical devices and is only an aid on all the metrics. That being said it does pickup an apnea IMHO

[Frankc52]

Not a health care professional BUT when you go to your doctors or a nurse who takes your Sp02 reading they ask you to sit still with the device lower than your heart. I hope you can glean the information for your question. Fitbit is just an aid for fitness and not a  medical device.

[AllanMitchell]

If  you claim that it detects the pathophysiology relating to your sleep apnea then the fitbit must be medical device if it can measure it?

I am assuming it is not! and people will make assumptions that it is. 

People will make their own assumptions when there is lack of information. Fitbit please give us some?

I agree that it is indeed a fitness tracker and nothing more ........and it should not leave any ambiguity for users that the sleep spo2 function is anything more than that.  Or is it a medical device too ?????

[cleebriggs]

At this point in time, I'm just glad that my Ionic Fitbit Watch is working!
It charts my BPM and that's very important to me. I really thought the
SpO2-Sensor would chart throughout the day; got taken on that. Oh well, new
smart watches are being invented every day; probably at a cheaper price. 🙂

[Frankc52]

I would like to point out that sleep apnoea is neither a disease or injury it's a medical condition but as a Paramedic, you would know that! I tried to answer a question about the reading of the Sp02 graph as a none health care professional. I stated it did show a blip going high when I forgot to refit my mask after getting up in the night.  At all other times, the graph is modulating within the centre. So in conclusion, if you get lots of peeks it would be sensible to get advice from your Doctor for a sleep study. But the doctor may discount the information with a pinch of salt. IMHO its a good aid.

I still don't understand why it shows high when in fact your o2 levels will reduce so would be low.  Confused

[Frankc52]

There are lots to choose from but mostly rubbish information. There are some costing £25 for two that give SP02 plus blood pressure! both are so wrong and could be dangerous if you go by the information given. Fitbit / Google are not medical devices just aids for fitness.   

[Rogers007]

Your position is quite correct! As a researcher, clinician and a background in biomedical engineering one must begin with the utility of the design. Since the range of end users span novice to clinical athletes, one would anticipate the typical end user could interpret the data in terms of basic medical physiology. That is not the case. If fitbit steps activities were presented in an analogous manner the data would be considered utter rubbish! 

Many of those did not wait so long for such junk science! I dare say Fitbit engineering team would avoid any attempt to face their audience and explain the science, if any at all behind this graph.

As end users we should avoid “validating” a squiggly line as science under the misguided notion something is happening! These products are only as good as our expectations. I would challenge any member of the Fitbit team to engage me in a dialogue regarding this crappy attempt to quiet the angry masses. 

For the record I’m a board certified anesthesiologist with critical care training, involved in biomedical engineering. So I dare say I’m a bit qualified to render an objective science based criticism. 

Let me be clear the graph is crap! Half assed and reflects an element of dishonesty with respect to the anticipated product we though would emerge! Fitbit I await correction, I bet we won’t see that “squiggly” in future advertisements because the average consumer will laugh! 

Key points 

1. What is the basis of this science 

2. Pulse oximeter science is already well characterized, it’s not this 

3. Why is the data only linked at night, I guess respiratory problems on occur at night!

4. The data is not even qualitative, no ability to assess changes from

day to day.

5. I can buy a pulse ox on amazon for $15 and learn 100% more

6. I have a ring pulse ox, sleep

monitor that tracks sleep cycles, oxygen saturation and predicts sleep apnea episodes! Remarkable interface, cheaper than high end Fitbit. So the science is a piece a cake! The Fitbit engineers are either well beyond their expertise in this area, of the company has made a strategic decision not to keep their original slick advertising promise of oxygen monitoring.

7. This is a classic case of, you cannot make a silk purse out of pig skin! 

We can only hope Fitbit stops overpromising and under delivering. It’s why the product went from innovators to imitators! Of course they’ve found my candid comments offensive in the past, let’s see if they allow this post and become responsive! 

LLR, M.D.