Noninvasive pulse oximetry represents an area of potential interest to the army, because it could provide cost-effective, safe, fast and real-time physiological assessment in a combat injured soldier. Consequently, there is a need to develop a reliable, battery-powered, wearable pulse oximeter to acquire and process photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals using an optimized sensor configuration. A key requirement in the optimal design of a wearable wireless pulse oximeter is low power management without compromising signal quality. This research investigated the advantage gained by increasing the area of the photodetector and decreasing the light emitting diode (LED) driving currents to reduce the overall power requirement of a reflectance mode pulse oximeter sensor. In vitro and preliminary in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate a multiple photodetector reflectance sensor setup to simulate a varying detection area. It was concluded that a reflection pulse oximeter sensor employing a large area photodetector is preferred over a similar transmission type sensor for extending the battery life of a wireless pulse oximeter intended for future telemedicine applications.

Creator

• Pujary, Chirag Jayakar

Contributors

• Pedersen, Peder C.
• Mendelson, Yitzhak
• Shonat, Ross D.

Degree

• MS

Unit

• Biomedical Engineering

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Language

• English

Identifier

• etd-0116104-145848

Keyword

• wearable sensors
• telemedicine
• pulse oximeter

Advisor

• Mendelson, Yitzhak

Committee

• Pedersen, Peder C.
• Shonat, Ross D.

Defense date

• 2004-01-19

Year

• 2004

Date created

• 2004-01-16

Resource type

• Thesis

Rights statement

• In Copyright