Multi-Wavelength Photoplethysmography System for the Measurement of Pulse Wave Velocity

Jukka-Pekka Sirkiä, Tuukka Panula, Jasmiina Kantelus, Juho Koskinen, Matti Kaisti
University of Turku


Abstract

The study aimed to develop a device capable of measuring several parameters related to cardiovascular health. The device has two multi-wavelength (green, red, infrared) photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors and a three-lead electrocardiography (ECG) sensor. With these sensors, the device is able to measure pulse wave velocity (PWV), heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and the shape of the pulse waveform. Previous studies have shown that PWV is an important parameter for measuring arterial stiffness, and hence a device capable of measuring PWV with just PPG sensors while gathering other important cardiovascular parameters at the same time was developed. The device was tested with five healthy subjects by measuring the PWV by placing one of the PPG sensors on the temple and the other one on the index finger’s fingertip. The results were comparable to the measurements taken with SphygmoCor XCEL. In addition, the developed algorithms were able to perform waveform analysis and calculate beat-to-beat heart rate, HRV and SpO2.