Design of a finger base-type pulse oximeter

Rev Sci Instrum. 2016 Jan;87(1):013108. doi: 10.1063/1.4940237.

Abstract

A pulse oximeter is a common medical instrument used for noninvasively monitoring arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). Currently, the fingertip-type pulse oximeter is the prevalent type of pulse oximeter used. However, it is inconvenient for long-term monitoring, such as that under motion. In this study, a wearable and wireless finger base-type pulse oximeter was designed and implemented using the tissue optical simulation technique and the Monte Carlo method. The results revealed that a design involving placing the light source at 135°-165° and placing the detector at 75°-90° or 90°-105° yields the optimal conditions for measuring SpO2. Finally, the wearable and wireless finger base-type pulse oximeter was implemented and compared with the commercial fingertip-type pulse oximeter. The experimental results showed that the proposed optimal finger base-type pulse oximeter design can facilitate precise SpO2 measurement.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous / instrumentation
  • Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous / methods
  • Fingers*
  • Humans
  • Oxygen / blood*
  • Wireless Technology / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Oxygen