Analysis of Melanin Concentration on Reflective Pulse Oximetry Using Monte Carlo Simulations
We investigate the impact of melanin concentration on the accuracy of oxygen saturation SpO2 estimation using reflective photoplethysmography (PPG) measurements. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to analyse photon-tissue interactions, and detection of reflected light during systole and diastole...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Maximilian Reiser Oliver Amft Andreas Breidenassel |
| author_facet | Maximilian Reiser Oliver Amft Andreas Breidenassel |
| author_sort | Maximilian Reiser |
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| description | We investigate the impact of melanin concentration on the accuracy of oxygen saturation SpO2 estimation using reflective photoplethysmography (PPG) measurements. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to analyse photon-tissue interactions, and detection of reflected light during systole and diastole. We model a reflective pulse oximeter and analyse the perfusion index (PI), to represent the signal change due varying blood flow during systole and diastole. Moreover, we derive the ratio-of-ratios (RoR), to represent the absorption difference between PIs of different light wavelengths, and SpO2 depending on skin tone. We derive calibration models for SpO2 estimation based on MC simulations tailored to specific melanin concentrations ranging from 2.55% to 30.5%, as well as a generalised population model, to study reflective pulse oximeter performance. While current pulse oximeters are often calibrated for low melanin concentrations, our results show that calibrating for an appropriate skin tone range substantially increases the pulse oximeter performance. Skin tone-adapted calibration reduced the root mean square error <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$A_{\mathrm {rms}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of SpO2 estimation by 44% compared to a generalised population model. SpO2 estimation error was minimal at a distance of 4 mm to 5 mm between light source and photodetector of a reflective pulse oximeter. We conclude that skin tone-adapted calibration should be applied to make reflective pulse oximeter applicable to any human, independent of skin pigmentation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e49757211c84322944f7270494c0b72 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2169-3536 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
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| spelling | doaj-art-7e49757211c84322944f7270494c0b722025-02-11T00:00:49ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-0113244542446210.1109/ACCESS.2025.353828110870095Analysis of Melanin Concentration on Reflective Pulse Oximetry Using Monte Carlo SimulationsMaximilian Reiser0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7898-4978Oliver Amft1Andreas Breidenassel2https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8266-8817Intelligent Embedded Systems Laboratory, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyIntelligent Embedded Systems Laboratory, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyHAW Landshut, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Landshut, GermanyWe investigate the impact of melanin concentration on the accuracy of oxygen saturation SpO2 estimation using reflective photoplethysmography (PPG) measurements. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to analyse photon-tissue interactions, and detection of reflected light during systole and diastole. We model a reflective pulse oximeter and analyse the perfusion index (PI), to represent the signal change due varying blood flow during systole and diastole. Moreover, we derive the ratio-of-ratios (RoR), to represent the absorption difference between PIs of different light wavelengths, and SpO2 depending on skin tone. We derive calibration models for SpO2 estimation based on MC simulations tailored to specific melanin concentrations ranging from 2.55% to 30.5%, as well as a generalised population model, to study reflective pulse oximeter performance. While current pulse oximeters are often calibrated for low melanin concentrations, our results show that calibrating for an appropriate skin tone range substantially increases the pulse oximeter performance. Skin tone-adapted calibration reduced the root mean square error <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$A_{\mathrm {rms}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of SpO2 estimation by 44% compared to a generalised population model. SpO2 estimation error was minimal at a distance of 4 mm to 5 mm between light source and photodetector of a reflective pulse oximeter. We conclude that skin tone-adapted calibration should be applied to make reflective pulse oximeter applicable to any human, independent of skin pigmentation.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10870095/Pulse oximetryphotoplethysmographymelaninMonte Carlo simulationreflective PPGwearables |
| spellingShingle | Maximilian Reiser Oliver Amft Andreas Breidenassel Analysis of Melanin Concentration on Reflective Pulse Oximetry Using Monte Carlo Simulations IEEE Access Pulse oximetry photoplethysmography melanin Monte Carlo simulation reflective PPG wearables |
| title | Analysis of Melanin Concentration on Reflective Pulse Oximetry Using Monte Carlo Simulations |
| title_full | Analysis of Melanin Concentration on Reflective Pulse Oximetry Using Monte Carlo Simulations |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of Melanin Concentration on Reflective Pulse Oximetry Using Monte Carlo Simulations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of Melanin Concentration on Reflective Pulse Oximetry Using Monte Carlo Simulations |
| title_short | Analysis of Melanin Concentration on Reflective Pulse Oximetry Using Monte Carlo Simulations |
| title_sort | analysis of melanin concentration on reflective pulse oximetry using monte carlo simulations |
| topic | Pulse oximetry photoplethysmography melanin Monte Carlo simulation reflective PPG wearables |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10870095/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maximilianreiser analysisofmelaninconcentrationonreflectivepulseoximetryusingmontecarlosimulations AT oliveramft analysisofmelaninconcentrationonreflectivepulseoximetryusingmontecarlosimulations AT andreasbreidenassel analysisofmelaninconcentrationonreflectivepulseoximetryusingmontecarlosimulations |