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Cited by 328Non-Invasive Vital Sign MonitoringHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlCardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention

Skin photoplethysmography — a review

Kamal, A.A.R., Harness, J.B., Irving, G., Mearns, A.J.·1989·Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
DOI 10.1016/0169-2607(89)90159-4
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Abstract

The photoplethysmograph has been used for over 50 years but there are still misconceptions in how and what is the information obtained. A photoplethysmograph signal from any site on the skin can be separated into an oscillating (a.c.) and a steady-state (d.c.) component, their amplitudes dependent upon the structure and flow in the vascular bed. Many simple applications are available: pulse counters, using the a.c. component, skin colour and haemoglobin saturation meters, using the d.c. component. The d.c. component of the photoplethysmograph signal is a function of the blood flux beneath the device. A good emitter for use in a photoplethysmograph of skin blood flow is one in the frequency range 600-700 nm and the best signal for a.c. analysis is obtained from the finger pulp. The frequency range of the electronic circuitry should be from 0.01 to 15 Hz, then all the information in the signal can be extracted about the autonomic nervous system control of the cardiovascular system, particularly between 0.01 and 2 Hz. Comparative studies may be drawn between similar skin sites on a subject or between subjects if the afferent inputs to the brain stem are controlled or driven at a known frequency. These afferents, inputs, will modulate the efferents, outputs, which generate variations in the a.c. component of the detected photoplethysmograph signal.

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  • Without real-time in-sensor processing, robust PPG operation would be impossible because PPG signals would quickly drift outside the narrow operating range of the ADC due to patient-to-patient variations in skin pigmentation and time-dependent fluctuations in optical scattering from micromotions.

    “Without this type of real-time, in-sensor processing (IR_Non in Fig. 6D), robust operation would be impossible: PPG signals would quickly drift outside of the narrow operating range of the ADC as a result of patient-to-patient variations in skin pigmentation and unavoidable, time-dependent fluctuations in optical scattering that result from micromotions relative to underlying blood vessels and sub”

    From Binodal, wireless epidermal electronic systems with in-sensor analytics for neonatal intensive care (2019) · cites this paper as [28]

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Authors
Kamal, A. A. R., Harness, J. B., Irving, G., & Mearns, A. J.
Affiliations
University of Bradford (GB)
Corresponding author
Harness, J.B.
Venue
Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1989-04
Volume
28
Issue
4
Pages
257-269
ISSN
0169-2607 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0169-2607(89)90159-4
OpenAlex
W2054173774
Cited by
328
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 12
FWCI
0.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention
Keywords
photoplethysmography, skin blood flow, pulse counting, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, finger pulp, vascular bed
MeSH terms
Equipment Design, Humans, Monitoring, Physiologic, Plethysmography, Regional Blood Flow, Skin

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