Which feature of a CO-oximeter differentiates it from traditional oximeters?

A CO-oximeter is specifically designed to measure multiple forms of hemoglobin in the blood, including carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which is the form of hemoglobin that binds with carbon monoxide. This ability to accurately measure and quantify different types of hemoglobin, including COHb, is what differentiates it from traditional pulse oximeters, which typically only measure oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin levels.

While real-time blood analysis is a feature shared by both devices, it is not unique to CO-oxiometry. Continuous heart rate monitoring is also not a function of CO-oximeters but rather a standard feature of many medical devices, including pulse oximeters. Non-invasive lung capacity assessments are typically outside the scope of what either device measures, focusing instead on oxygen saturation and hemoglobin levels.

The capability to assess COHb levels allows for accurate evaluation of patients who may have been exposed to carbon monoxide, making the CO-oximeter an essential tool in certain clinical settings, particularly in emergency medicine and toxicology.