An Easy To Handle Graphic Interface To Control A Low Cost Pulse Oximetry System

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An easy to handle graphic interface to control

a low cost pulse oximetry system

R. Chaves, A. Pozo-Ruz

A simple structure of a developed pulse oximetry system for monitoring non

invasively respiratory status is presented. As a novelty, an easy to handle graphic

interface has been provided in order to facilitate the task of monitoring: introduction of

patient’s information, programming automatic measurement, comparison the current

measurement with previous values, etc. Validation results have shown the viability of

the system and its best price in comparison with the commercial ones.

Introduction: Pulse oximetry is a non invasive method of estimating the oxygen

saturation levels of patients blood (SpO2), that allows obtaining information on real

time about the cardiorespiratory fitness. Its implementation is essential in modern

medicine, specially in anesthesiology, operating and intensive care [1], [2], with the

objective of monitoring patient's oxygenation and determining the respiratory

conditions. The modern techniques of oximetry are based on the analyze of the light

absorption properties of hemoglobin whom fundamentals are given by Beer-Lambert

Law [3].

In this article a simple structure of a developed pulse oximetry system for monitoring

non invasively respiratory status is presented. In this regard, the system provides

information about the oxygen concentration, the heart rate and displays the oximetry

waveform obtained (useful in the absence of electrocardiograph), which adds

additional details for the hemodynamic following. The system interface is presented

on a graphic environment simple and intuitive to use, in which it is possible to


configure the digital filtering, introduce patient information, program automatic

measurements or compare and contrast the results with previous values.

The developed system is a low-cost alternative that can be easily replicated,

facilitating its use and expansion into new areas.

The structure of the developed system: The oximetry system is composed by two

different components: a microcontroller based system (MBS) that acquire data from

patient and a personal computer (PC), which processes the information and obtains

the result of the measurement (Fig.1).

The MBS is responsible for controlling the probe connected to the patient, in order to

manage the switches of the red and infrared LEDs for the measuring. Once the

physiological signal has been conditioned in the analog stage, the microcontroller is

able to obtain the samples. For this task, a microcontroller PIC16F876 (10-bit ADC

resolution) [4] from the PIC family has been chosen.

Once that the measuring command has been received from the computer, the red

and infrared LEDs control is carried out alternatively and periodically, using a

broadband photodetector for detecting the signal. The signal conditioning in the

analog stage is performed by a current-voltage converter, and a second order

Butterworth low pass filter at 7.3Hz to eliminate high frequencies. The samples

acquired by the microcontroller are sent by RS232 communication to the computer

until completing 5 seconds of physiological information.

To process the information in the PC, an application under Labview has been

developed to confer the interface for monitoring and the results of the measurements:

SpO2, the heart rate and the pulse oximetry waveform.

The pulse oximetry system: Fig.2 shows the aspect of the measurement probe, the

MBS and its serial connection to the PC. This element is responsible for the

interaction with the patient, in order to monitor the cardiorespiratory fitness. With this
purpose, the application offers two alternatives modes of operation: a normal mode,

in which measurement are performed under request; and an automatic mode, that

allows programming measurements on defined time intervals. Thanks to this degree

of automation, it is not necessary to send manually the order of taking measurements

to the system, giving the operator the chance to perform other duties in the

meantime.

The control panel developed on Labview which manages the hole system is showed

in Fig 3. In that way once that a measurements has been taken, the following

information is provided for monitoring:

 Measurement of SpO2 index

 Heart rate

 Waveform representation for the hemodynamic following

 Historical results

Calibration process: It should consider that the Beer-Lambert law provides a lineal

model which is an approximation of the reality, and does not take into account

phenomenons like dispersion effects or other kinds of hemoglobin which are present

in blood too.

In order to compensate those deviations, a calibration process was performed by

using the pulse oximeter included in the portatil defibrillator Lifepak20 from

Medtronic, which was provided by the Arrythmia Unit of the Hospital Virgen de la

Victoria from Málaga (Spain). After constrasting the “ratio of ratios” (Ros) obtained by

the designed device with the SpO2 index provided by the commercial model, the

calibration curve of the system was completed. The SpO2 results acquired during the

last operations were between 99% and 96%. Because of the lack of resources for

working safety in low oxygen saturation levels, the remaining values of the calibration
process were calculated theoretically thus an alternative calibration graph,

expressing the SpO2 as a function of Ros [5]:

(1)

Validation and results: After the system was developed, a comparison with the

comercial model was performed for validating the oximetry. The resumed results are

shown in Table I.

Once that this process was completed the results of the design were satisfying, but a

greater stability was registered in the comercial oximeter. On ten minutes of time, a

maximum difference of 2% was observed for the oxygen concentration levels and 5

beats per minute for the heart rate between systems. However, it was not posible to

contrast the measurements in low oxygen saturation levels due to the risk and the

restrictions of working in these conditions without a medical team.

Conclusions: For monitoring patients respiratory conditions, a pulse oximetry system

has been developed with an estimated cost of 35,00 €, versus 55,00 € - 70,00 € from

a commercial model [6]. Thus, through an simple design, it sets out a low cost

alternative system to follow up some of patient´s vital signs in low-resource regions,

with a model that can be easily replicated. In addition to this, to facilitate the task of

monitoring to the operators, an easy to handle graphic interface has been provided,

which allows setting up the digital filtering, introducing patient’s information,

programming automatic measurements or comparing the current measurement with

previous values.

This model is open to future developments, with the view of integrating the existing

design with other medical devices as tensiometers or electrocardiograms, to be

managed under a PC with a similar software application..


References

1 ÁLVAREZ RÍOS : ‘Programa de actualización continua para anestesia’, Available

on: http://www.drscope.com

2 SCOPE.: ‘Fisiología pulmonar y anestesia en el paciente crítico’, 2005, Programa

de especialidades médicas.

3 TOWNSEND, N. : ‘Pulse oximetry notes. Medical Electronics, 2001.

4 PIC16F87X Datasheet, Available on: http://www.microchip.com.

5. WEBSTER J. C.: ‘Design of pulse oximeter’, Taylor & Francis Group, New York,

1997.

6. PRICING INFORMATION.: Commercial Oximeter, Available on:

http://www.electropolis.es (15/08/2011).

Authors’ affiliations:

A. Pozo-Ruz, R. Chaves (University of Málaga, Department of Electronic Technology,

Escuela de Ingenierías, C/ Dr. Ortiz Ramos, s/n, CP: 29071-Málaga- SPAIN)

E-mail: [email protected]
Figure captions:

Fig. 1 Block diagram of the pulse oximetry model

Fig. 2 Pulse oximetry system

Fig. 3 Graphic interface of the system

Table I Comparison with a commercial oximeter


Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Table I

Designed Oximeter Commercial Oximeter


SpO2 LPM SpO2 LPM
96% 61 98% 59
96% 55 98% 58
98% 56 99% 57
98% 57 99% 57
97% 52 99% 57

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