Calibration-free pulse oximetry based on two wavelengths in the infrared - a preliminary study.
The assessment of oxygen saturation in arterial blood by pulse oximetry (SpO₂) is based on the different light absorption spectra for oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin and the analysis of photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals acquired at two wavelengths. Commercial pulse oximeters use two wavelengths in the red and infrared regions which have different pathlengths and the relationship between the PPG-derived parameters and oxygen saturation in arterial blood is determined by means of an empirical calibration. This calibration results in an inherent error, and pulse oximetry thus has an error of about 4%, which is too high for some clinical problems. We present calibration-free pulse oximetry for measurement of SpO₂, based on PPG pulses of two nearby wavelengths in the infrared. By neglecting the difference between the path-lengths of the two nearby wavelengths, SpO₂ can be derived from the PPG parameters with no need for calibration. In the current study we used three laser diodes of wavelengths 780, 785 and 808 nm, with narrow spectral line-width. SaO₂ was calculated by using each pair of PPG signals selected from the three wavelengths. In measurements on healthy subjects, SpO₂ values, obtained by the 780-808 nm wavelength pair were found to be in the normal range. The measurement of SpO₂ by two nearby wavelengths in the infrared with narrow line-width enables the assessment of SpO₂ without calibration.
Department of Applied Physics/Medical Engineering, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9116001, Israel. nitzan@jct.ac.il.
Meir
M
Nitzan
Department of Applied Physics/Medical Engineering, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9116001, Israel. salman@jct.ac.il.
Salman
S
Noach
Department of Applied Physics/Medical Engineering, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9116001, Israel. elitobal@gmail.com.
Elias
E
Tobal
Department of Applied Physics/Medical Engineering, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9116001, Israel. yadar@g.jct.ac.il.
Yair
Y
Adar
Department of Applied Physics/Medical Engineering, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9116001, Israel. yalamiller@gmail.com.
Yaacov
Y
Miller
Department of Applied Physics/Medical Engineering, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9116001, Israel. eransh@g.jct.ac.il.
Eran
E
Shalom
Department of Electronics, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9116001, Israel. shlomoe@jct.ac.il.
Shlomo
S
Engelberg
D000328:Adult; D002138:Calibration; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins