Analysis of Reflectance Photoplethysmograph Sensors
Photoplethysmography is a simple measurement of the
variation in blood volume in tissue. It detects the pulse signal of heart
beat as well as the low frequency signal of vasoconstriction and
vasodilation. The transmission type measurement is limited to only a
few specific positions for example the index finger that have a short
path length for light. The reflectance type measurement can be
conveniently applied on most parts of the body surface. This study
analyzed the factors that determine the quality of reflectance
photoplethysmograph signal including the emitter-detector distance,
wavelength, light intensity, and optical properties of skin tissue.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) with four different visible
wavelengths were used as the light emitters. A phototransistor was
used as the light detector. A micro translation stage adjusts the
emitter-detector distance from 2 mm to 15 mm.
The reflective photoplethysmograph signals were measured on
different sites. The optimal emitter-detector distance was chosen to
have a large dynamic range for low frequency drifting without signal
saturation and a high perfusion index. Among these four wavelengths,
a yellowish green (571nm) light with a proper emitter-detection
distance of 2mm is the most suitable for obtaining a steady and reliable
reflectance photoplethysmograph signal
[1] Allen J, Frame JR and Murry A, Microvascular blood flow and skin
temperature changes in the fingers following a deep inspiratory gasp,
Physiol Meas, 23:365-373, 2002.
[2] Allen J, Photoplethysmography and its application in clinical
physiological measurement, Physiol Meas, 28, R1-R39, 2007.
[3] Anderson RR and. Parrish JA, The optics of human skin, J Invest
Dermatol, 77(1):13-19, 1981.
[4] Soehnge H, Ouhtit A and Ananthaswamy HN, Mechanisms of
Introduction of Skin Cancer by UV radiation, Frontiers in Bioscience,
2:d538-551, 1977.
[5] Reuss JL and Siker D, The pulse in reflectance pulse oximetry: Modeling
and experimental studies, J Clin. Monit. Comput, 18(4):289-299, 2004.
[6] Thanassis P, Effects of fiber-optic probe design and probe-to-target
distance on diffuse reflectance measurements of turbid media: an
experimental and computational study at 337 nm, Appl Opt,
43:2846-2860, 2004.
[7] Mendelson Y and Ochs B, Noninvasive Pulse Oximetry Utilizing Skin
Reflectance Photoplethysmography, IEEE Trans Biomed Eng,
35:798-805, 1988.
[1] Allen J, Frame JR and Murry A, Microvascular blood flow and skin
temperature changes in the fingers following a deep inspiratory gasp,
Physiol Meas, 23:365-373, 2002.
[2] Allen J, Photoplethysmography and its application in clinical
physiological measurement, Physiol Meas, 28, R1-R39, 2007.
[3] Anderson RR and. Parrish JA, The optics of human skin, J Invest
Dermatol, 77(1):13-19, 1981.
[4] Soehnge H, Ouhtit A and Ananthaswamy HN, Mechanisms of
Introduction of Skin Cancer by UV radiation, Frontiers in Bioscience,
2:d538-551, 1977.
[5] Reuss JL and Siker D, The pulse in reflectance pulse oximetry: Modeling
and experimental studies, J Clin. Monit. Comput, 18(4):289-299, 2004.
[6] Thanassis P, Effects of fiber-optic probe design and probe-to-target
distance on diffuse reflectance measurements of turbid media: an
experimental and computational study at 337 nm, Appl Opt,
43:2846-2860, 2004.
[7] Mendelson Y and Ochs B, Noninvasive Pulse Oximetry Utilizing Skin
Reflectance Photoplethysmography, IEEE Trans Biomed Eng,
35:798-805, 1988.
@article{"International Journal of Medical, Medicine and Health Sciences:60545", author = "Fu-Hsuan Huang and Po-Jung Yuan and Kang-Ping Lin and Hen-Hong Chang and Cheng-Lun Tsai", title = "Analysis of Reflectance Photoplethysmograph Sensors", abstract = "Photoplethysmography is a simple measurement of the
variation in blood volume in tissue. It detects the pulse signal of heart
beat as well as the low frequency signal of vasoconstriction and
vasodilation. The transmission type measurement is limited to only a
few specific positions for example the index finger that have a short
path length for light. The reflectance type measurement can be
conveniently applied on most parts of the body surface. This study
analyzed the factors that determine the quality of reflectance
photoplethysmograph signal including the emitter-detector distance,
wavelength, light intensity, and optical properties of skin tissue.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) with four different visible
wavelengths were used as the light emitters. A phototransistor was
used as the light detector. A micro translation stage adjusts the
emitter-detector distance from 2 mm to 15 mm.
The reflective photoplethysmograph signals were measured on
different sites. The optimal emitter-detector distance was chosen to
have a large dynamic range for low frequency drifting without signal
saturation and a high perfusion index. Among these four wavelengths,
a yellowish green (571nm) light with a proper emitter-detection
distance of 2mm is the most suitable for obtaining a steady and reliable
reflectance photoplethysmograph signal", keywords = "Reflectance photoplethysmograph, Perfusion index, Signal-to-noise ratio", volume = "5", number = "11", pages = "616-4", }