Development and Metrological Characterization of Low-Cost Wearable Pulse Oximeter
2025
Andrea Cataldo | Enrico Cataldo | Antonio Masciullo | Raissa Schiavoni
Pulse oximetry is essential for monitoring arterial oxygen saturation (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>p</mi><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) and heart rate (HR) in various medical scenarios. However, the traditional pulse oximeters face challenges related to high costs, motion artifacts, and susceptibility to ambient light interference. This work presents a low-cost experimental pulse oximeter prototype designed to address these limitations through design advancements. The device incorporates a 3D-printed finger support to minimize motion artifacts and excessive capillary pressure, along with an elastic element to enhance stability. Unlike conventional transmission-based oximetry, the prototype employs a reflectance-based measurement approach, improving versatility and enabling reliable readings even in cases of poor peripheral perfusion. Additionally, the integration of light-shielding materials mitigates the effects of ambient illumination, ensuring accurate operation in challenging environments such as surgical settings. Metrological characterization demonstrates that the prototype achieves accuracy comparable to that of the commercial GIMA Oxy-50 pulse oximeter while maintaining a production cost at approximately one-tenth of the commercial alternatives. This study highlights the potential of the prototype to deliver affordable and reliable pulse oximetry for different applications.
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