Two-stage multi-Gaussian fitting of conduit artery photoplethysmography waveform during induced unilateral hemodynamic events.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is an optical technique with high diagnostic potential, yet clinical applications remain underdeveloped. Standardization of signal recording and quantification of waveform are essential prerequisites for broader clinical use. The aim of this study was to utilize a two-stage multi-Gaussian fitting technique in order to examine the parameters of conduit artery PPG waveform recorded during increasing the unilateral regional vascular resistance (RVR).

Tuning of ZnO 1D nanostructures by atomic layer deposition and electrospinning for optical gas sensor applications.

We explored for the first time the ability of a three-dimensional polyacrylonitrile/ZnO material-prepared by a combination of electrospinning and atomic layer deposition (ALD) as a new material with a large surface area-to enhance the performance of optical sensors for volatile organic compound (VOC) detection. The photoluminescence (PL) peak intensity of these one-dimensional nanostructures has been enhanced by a factor of 2000 compared to a flat Si substrate. In addition, a phase transition of the ZnO ALD coating from amorphous to crystalline has been observed due to the properties of a polyacrylonitrile nanofiber template: surface strain, roughness, and an increased number of nucleation sites in comparison with a flat Si substrate.

Noncontact monitoring of vascular lesion phototherapy efficiency by RGB multispectral imaging.

A prototype low-cost RGB imaging system consisting of a commercial RGB CMOS sensor, RGB light-emitting diode ring light illuminator, and a set of polarizers was designed and tested for mapping the skin erythema index, in order to monitor skin recovery after phototherapy of vascular lesions, such as hemangiomas and telangiectasias. The contrast of erythema index (CEI) was proposed as a parameter for quantitative characterization of vascular lesions. Skin recovery was characterized as a decrease of the CEI value relative to the value before the treatment.

Effect of probe contact pressure on the photoplethysmographic assessment of conduit artery stiffness.

Currently, photoplethysmography (PPG) is a frequently studied optical blood pulsation detection technique among biophotonic and biomedical researchers due to the fact that it shows high potential for estimating the arterial stiffness (AS). The extraction of diagnostically useful information requires standardized measurement procedure with good repeatability. However, the effects of a crucially important factor-the optimal contact pressure (CP) of the probe-are often ignored.

2-D mapping of skin chromophores in the spectral range 500 - 700 nm.

The multi-spectral imaging technique has been used for distant mapping of in-vivo skin chromophores by analyzing spectral data at each reflected image pixel and constructing 2-D maps of the relative concentrations of oxy-/deoxy-haemoglobin and melanin. Instead of using a broad visible-NIR spectral range, this study focuses on narrowed spectral band 500-700 nm, speeding-up the signal processing procedure. Regression analysis confirmed that superposition of three Gaussians is optimal analytic approximation for the oxy-haemoglobin absorption tabular spectrum in this spectral band, while superposition of two Gaussians fits well for deoxy-haemoglobin absorption and exponential function - for melanin absorption.

Imaging of laser-excited tissue autofluorescence bleaching rates.

Experimental methodology for imaging of laser-excited tissue autofluorescence bleaching rates has been developed and clinically tested. The fluorescence images were periodically captured from the same tissue area over a certain time, with subsequent detection of the fluorescence intensity decrease rate at each image pixel and further imaging the planar distribution of those values. Spectral features at each image pixel were analyzed with a hyperspectral imaging camera.

Finger and ear photoplethysmogram waveform analysis by fitting with Gaussians.

Analysis of the contour of the blood volume pulse (VP) has become important because it contains much information about cardiovascular activity. Traditionally, pulse contour analysis requires first or higher derivatives to be calculated. This paper describes a novel algorithm for analysing simultaneously measured ear and finger photoplethysmography (PPG) signals.

Multilaser photoplethysmography technique.

New technique for parallel recording of reflection photoplethysmography signals in broad spectral band (violet to NIR) has been developed based on fiber-coupled laser irradiation and time-resolved spectrometric detection. Differences in photoplethysmography waveforms that were recorded simultaneously at different wavelengths confirmed the depth variety of the skin blood pulsation dynamics, thus the proposed methodology has a potential for application in skin microcirculation studies.

Simultaneous recording of skin blood pulsations at different vascular depths by multiwavelength photoplethysmography.

A new technique for parallel recording of reflection photoplethysmography (PPG) signals in a broad spectral band (violet to near-infrared) has been developed, and its potential for assessment of blood microcirculation at various depths from the skin surface is discussed. PPG signals have been simultaneously detected at cw laser wavelength sets comprising 405, 532, 645, 807, and 1064 nm. Various signal baseline responses to breath holding and different shapes of the PPG pulses originated from the same heartbeat but recorded at different wavelengths have been observed, indicating a depth variety of the skin blood pulsation dynamics.

Bilateral photoplethysmography studies of the leg arterial stenosis.

A newly developed portable multi-channel photoplethysmography (PPG) device has been used for comparative studies of 20 healthy control subjects and 45 patients with diagnosed arterial stenosis in a leg. The peripheral blood pulsations were detected simultaneously at four body sites-the same fingers and toes of both arms and legs. The PPG pulses recorded at the periphery of the stenotic leg, if compared with those of the healthy leg, were much weaker, with delayed arrival as a consequence of increased pulse wave transit time (PWTT) due to higher vascular resistance.

Optical noninvasive monitoring of skin blood pulsations.

Time-resolved detection and analysis of skin backscattered optical signals (remission photoplethysmography or PPG) provide rich information on skin blood volume pulsations and can serve for reliable cardiovascular assessment. Single- and multiple-channel PPG concepts are discussed. Simultaneous data flow from several locations on the human body allows us to study heartbeat pulse-wave propagation in real time and to evaluate vascular resistance.