User's Manual

Radius-7 Chapter 1- Technology Overview
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Signal IQ® (SIQ)
The display provides a visual indicator of the plethysmogram signal quality and an alert when
the displayed SpO
2
values are not based on adequate signal quality. The signal quality
indicator displayed is called the Signal IQ. The Signal IQ can be used to identify the
occurrence of a patient’s pulse and the associated signal quality of the measurement.
The Signal IQ is shown as a “pulse bar” indicator, where the peak of the bar coincides with the
peak of an arterial pulsation. Even with a plethysmographic waveform obscured by artifact,
the device locates the arterial pulsation. The pulse tone (when enabled) coincides with the
peak of the Signal IQ bar. As saturation increases or decreases, the pulse tone will ascend or
descend accordingly, for each 1% change in saturation.
The height of the Signal IQ bar indicates the quality of the measured signal. A high vertical
bar indicates that the SpO
2
measurement is based on a good quality signal. A small vertical
bar indicates that the SpO
2
measurement is based on data with low signal quality. When the
signal quality is very low the accuracy of the SpO
2
measurement may be compromised. A “Low
Signal IQ” is indicated by a bar height of two bars or less and the bars turn red. When this
occurs, proceed with caution and do the following:
• Assess the patient.
• Check the sensor and ensure proper sensor application. The sensor must be well
secured to the site to maintain accurate readings. Also, misalignment of the
sensor’s emitter and detector can result in smaller signals.
• Determine if an extreme change in the patient's physiology and blood flow at the
monitoring site occurred.
After performing the above, if the “Low Signal IQ” indication occurs frequently or
continuously, obtaining an arterial blood specimen for oximetry analysis may be considered
to verify the oxygen saturation value.