Pulse Oximeter Battery Application

Part 1. Pulse oximeter battery solutions for medical monitoring devices

Ufine provides custom lithium battery solutions for pulse oximeter manufacturers, addressing the industry’s core challenges: limited device space, strict safety requirements, and the need for long, stable operating time in medical monitoring environments.

In pulse oximeters, battery performance directly affects measurement accuracy, device uptime, and patient safety. Common industry pain points include unstable voltage during long monitoring sessions, insufficient battery life in compact designs, and safety risks caused by poor cell consistency or inadequate protection circuits.

Our role is to help medical device manufacturers select and integrate the right battery solution for each pulse oximeter application scenario, balancing size, runtime, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Part 2. Industry pain points in pulse oximeter battery design

Limited Space vs. Required Runtime

Portable and fingertip pulse oximeters typically allocate only 20–30% of internal volume to the battery, yet are expected to support 20–40+ hours of intermittent use. This creates a constant trade-off between pulse oximeter battery size and achievable battery life, especially in compact consumer and home-care devices.

Voltage Stability & Signal Accuracy

Pulse oximeter sensors and MCUs are sensitive to voltage fluctuation. Even minor instability during discharge can affect SpO₂ signal accuracy, data continuity, and alarm reliability during long monitoring sessions. Stable discharge characteristics are therefore a core requirement when selecting an oximeter battery.

Safety & Medical Device Risk Control

According to IEC 60601-1 general safety requirements for medical electrical equipment, battery-related failures are considered high-risk events in medical devices. Overheating, swelling, leakage, or unstable charging behavior is unacceptable in clinical and home-care environments.

For an overview of how IEC 60601-1 addresses electrical, mechanical, and thermal risks in medical equipment such as pulse oximeters, see:
IEC 60601 – Medical Electrical Equipment Safety Overview

Product Lifecycle & Replacement Cost

Frequent pulse oximeter battery replacement increases maintenance costs and negatively impacts user experience, especially in hospitals and long-term home-care deployments. Selecting a battery with stable cycle life and low self-discharge is critical to controlling total lifecycle cost.

Part 3. Pulse Oximeter Application Scenarios & Recommended Battery Solutions

Fingertip & Portable Pulse Oximeters

(Consumer / Home Healthcare)

Key Requirements

• Ultra-compact battery size
• Low power consumption
• Long standby time
• Stable 3.7V output

Recommended Battery Solutions

• 3.7V 500mAh Li-ion Battery (502030)
• 3.7V 750mAh Li-ion Battery (503048)

Why These Work
These batteries balance compact dimensions with sufficient capacity, helping extend pulse oximeter battery life without increasing device thickness or weight.

Handheld Medical Pulse Oximeters

(Clinical Use)

Key Requirements

• Longer continuous runtime
• Higher discharge stability
• Improved safety margin

Recommended Battery Solutions

• 3.7V 1000mAh Li-ion Battery (703048)
• 3.7V 1200mAh Li-ion Battery (102540)

Why These Work
Higher capacity supports extended monitoring cycles while maintaining a manageable pulse oximeter battery size for handheld clinical devices.

Multi-Parameter Monitors with Integrated SpO₂ Modules

Key Requirements

• Higher system voltage
• Support for multiple sensors
• Long operation during power outages

Recommended Battery Solutions

• 7.4V 1200mAh Li-ion Battery Pack (503759, 2S)
• 7.4V 2000mAh Li-ion Battery Pack (103450, 2S)

Why These Work
2S battery packs provide higher voltage stability and are well suited for integrated medical monitoring systems that combine SpO₂ with additional physiological parameters.

Part 4. Decision Parameters for Selecting a Pulse Oximeter Battery

Part 5. Battery Safety & Compliance Considerations

Medical lithium batteries are not only subject to device-level safety standards but also transportation and handling regulations. Lithium batteries used in medical equipment typically follow UN 38.3 transportation and safety testing requirements, which include altitude simulation, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, short-circuit, and overcharge tests.

A practical overview of UN 38.3 lithium battery safety testing requirements can be found at:
UN 38.3 Lithium Battery Testing – Intertek

Independent third-party explanations from testing organizations such as TÜV SÜD further clarify how these tests ensure battery safety during transport and storage:
UN/DOT 38.3 Testing Requirements Explained

These compliance requirements directly influence oximeter battery type selection, protection circuit design, and supplier qualification.

Part 6. Typical Pulse Oximeter Battery Specifications (Reference)

All specifications are reference values and can be customized.