Filtering techniques for the removal of ventilator artefact in oesophageal pulse oximetry

Methods and methodology for FTIR spectral correction of channel spectra and uncertainty, applied to ferrocene

We present methodology for the first FTIR measurements of ferrocene using dilute wax solutions for dispersion and to preserve non-crystallinity; a new method for removal of channel spectra interference for high quality data; and a consistent approach for the robust estimation of a defined uncertainty for advanced structural χ_r² analysis and mathematical hypothesis testing. While some of these issues have been investigated previously, the combination of novel approaches gives markedly improved results. Methods for addressing these in the presence of a modest signal and how to quantify the quality of the data irrespective of preprocessing for subsequent hypothesis testing are applied to the FTIR spectra of Ferrocene (Fc) and deuterated ferrocene (dFc, Fc-d₁₀) collected at the THz/Far-IR beam-line of the Australian Synchrotron at operating temperatures of 7K through 353K.

Estimation of instantaneous venous blood saturation using the photoplethysmograph waveform

Non-invasive estimation of regional venous saturation (SxvO2) using a conventional pulse oximeter could provide a means of obtaining clinically relevant information. This study was carried out in order to investigate the hypothesis that SxvO2 could be estimated by utilising the modulations created by positive pressure ventilation in the photoplethysmograph (PPG) signals. The modulations caused by the mechanical ventilator were extracted from oesophageal PPG signals obtained from 12 patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. The signals analysed in this work were acquired in a previous study. For the purpose of this analysis the raw PPG signal was considered to have three major components, ac PPG signal (cardiac related component), a static component or dc PPG signal (created mostly by the absorption of light by surrounding tissue) and the ventilator modulation component. These components were then used to estimate instantaneous arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and SxvO2 by utilising time-frequency analysis technique of smoothed-pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution (SPWVD). The results showed that there was no significant difference in the traditionally-derived (time-domain) arterial saturation and the instantaneous arterial saturation. However, the instantaneous venous saturation was found to be significantly lower than the estimated time-domain and instantaneous arterial saturation (P   =  < 0.001, n = 12).

Estimation of venous oxygenation saturation using the finger Photoplethysmograph (PPG) waveform

In this study, finger photoplethysmograph data obtained from twelve patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery were analyzed in order to estimate the venous saturation utilizing the modulations created by the positive pressure ventilation in the AC Photoplethysmograph (PPG) signals. The PPG signals were analyzed in the time-domain using a conventional pulse oximetry algorithm to produce estimations of arterial oxygen saturation. The instantaneous arterial and venous saturations were estimated by utilizing time-frequency analysis technique of Smoothed-pseudo Wigner-Ville Distribution (SPWVD). The results showed that there was no significant difference in the traditionally-derived (time-domain) arterial saturation and the instantaneous arterial saturation. However, the instantaneous venous saturation was found to be significantly lower than the time-domain estimated and instantaneous arterial saturation (P=&#60;0.001).

Clinical applications and issues of oxygen saturation level measurements obtained from peripheral sites

Studies have suggested that the saturated oxygen level within one's arterial blood can provide crucial information about the status of one's cardiopulmonary system. Currently, a popular and convenient approach is to obtain this vital physiological sign through non-invasive measurement on suitable peripheral sites such as a finger, toe or ear lobe. This measurement is known as the SpO2 parameter. It has been increasingly adopted in not only clinical settings but also remote monitoring purposes. In order to measure this optical based parameter, light sources of both the red and infrared wavelengths are required. The most recognized waveform feature is the peripheral pulse or its AC component which is synchronized to each heartbeat. The AC component is superimposed on a constant DC baseline attributed to breathing efforts, sympathetic nervous system activities and thermoregulation. The popularity of the SpO2 parameter may be due to its viable cost, simplicity to build and portability. Moreover, the basic building blocks of a SpO2 based measurement consists of control, filtering and amplification functions that can easily be incorporated with an embedded system. In this review, a brief description of the SpO2 measurement, its normative values and technical issues in its application as a clinical monitor are discussed.

Adaptive impulse correlated filter (AICF) improvement for photoplethysmographic signals

Measured PPG signals are often contaminated with different noises and artifacts. For clinical diagnostics, it is important to have accurate signals. Removing noises and motion artifacts from PPG signal has been actual also in previous studies. In this study, we are proposing new adaptive impulse correlated filter (AICF) improvement for plethysmographic signals. It uses ECG signal to create reference with unit impulses. All signals, which do not correlate with reference signal, will be filtered out. To show, how the filter acts with artifacts with low SNR, the experiment was conducted.

Adjustment of adaptive sum comb filter for PPG signals

AC component of photoplethysmography signal carries important information for diagnostics. Registered signal may be affected by noises, which are sharing the same bandwidth. Adaptive comb filter is used for the AC component extraction. Due to filter averaging behavior it decreases the signal shape difference between consecutive beats. Comb filter needs to be adjusted for PPG signal. Comb filter new weight values are determined through numerical computation. Experiments with generated photoplethysmographic signals were carried out to compare adjusted and non-adjusted adaptive sum comb filter.