Detector

Engineering

Photoplethysmogram

Photodetector

Biomedical engineering

Materials science

Continuous monitoring

Embedded system

Oxygen saturation

Pulse (music)

Telecommunications

Pulse rate

Computer science

Organic chemistry

Blood pressure

Oxygen

Wearable computer

Internal medicine

Operations management

Medicine

Chemistry

Wireless

Optoelectronics

Biomedical Engineering Letters

A photoplethysmograph (PPG) is a simple medical device for monitoring blood flow and transportation of substances in the blood. It consists of a light source and a photodetector for measuring transmitted and reflected light signals. Clinically, PPGs are used to monitor the pulse rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and blood vessel stiffness. Wearable unobtrusive PPG monitors are commercially available. Here, we review the principle issues and clinical applications of PPG for monitoring oxygen saturation.

Current progress of photoplethysmography and SPO2 for health monitoring