Nonin invented the first ever finger pulse oximeter. The model was the Nonin 9500. The 9500 "Onyx" was the standard for portable oximetry. The 9500 sold for $495 and over a million were manufactured.
Today there are hundreds of different finger oximeters, but the vast majority are designed and manufactured in China. The price of finger oximeters have significantly dropped in recent years but so has the quality.
Millions of people in the United States require an oximeter to provide oxygen saturation and heart rate information. The problem is that many of the oximeters on the market are not accurate. Nonin tested their oximeter against the Chinese models and the results are troubling.
The following is a video testing oximeters from ChoiceMMedical and Contec. Nonin used a tabletop oximeter from Nellcor and their military finger oximeter (Nonin 9550) for comparison.
The results speak for themselves.
Turner Medical has created an informational page on why we do not sell finger oximeters made and designed in China.
Nonin has also created a guide to help inform customers on what to look for when selecting an oximeter.
If accuracy and durability is important to you and/or your patients we highly recommend oximeters made in the USA.