Improved Single-LED Pulse Oximeter Design Based on Multi-Wavelength Analysis

Abstract

Being often considered as one of the most important vital signs, oxygen saturation is a key element in the management of patient care. Pulse oximetry is one of the clinical tools used to measure oxygen saturation of the arterial blood almost instantly. Nevertheless, healthcare workers know that there are some technological limitations that can impact the accuracy of these devices. Using more than two wavelengths for estimating the oxygenation can improve the accuracy but at the expense of a higher price, which can limit the use in home settings. This paper proposes a different approach for a more affordable pulse oximeter, based on spectral identification in the red and near-infrared light domains. Thus, compared to a classical pulse oximeter solution, the proposed design is able to detect abnormal levels of hemoglobin derivatives by using six different wavelengths, offering this way improved accuracy in critical situations and helping in-home patients to deal with the first signs of sickness.