The Assurance Alar One-Sense sensor, from PENTLAND MEDICAL, is said to offer a new generation of pulse oximetry. The Alar sensor fits comfortably on the nasal ala, the fleshy part of the side of the nose, providing a new, easily accessible, monitoring site for pulse oximetry.
This region has a rich vasculature system with a multidirectional blood flow fed by both the external and internal carotid arteries; the latter also providing blood to the brain.
The rich vascular supply to the ala provides a strong, reliable signal, even when it is difficult to get a signal at the fingertips. This can result in earlier detection due to the faster reflection of oxygen saturation changes; and better perfusion because the strong signal is less prone to drop out. It is also unaffected by poor peripheral perfusion, making it a dependable tool.
