Non-Invasive Estimation of Arterial Stiffness Using Photoplethysmography Sensors: An In Vitro Approach
With advancing age, blood vessels undergo deterioration that causes structural and functional changes, including a progressive increase in arterial wall stiffness. Since arterial stiffness is closely linked to the potential risks of cardiovascular diseases, which remains the leading cause of global...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Gianluca Diana Francesco Scardulla Silvia Puleo Salvatore Pasta Leonardo D’Acquisto |
| author_facet | Gianluca Diana Francesco Scardulla Silvia Puleo Salvatore Pasta Leonardo D’Acquisto |
| author_sort | Gianluca Diana |
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| description | With advancing age, blood vessels undergo deterioration that causes structural and functional changes, including a progressive increase in arterial wall stiffness. Since arterial stiffness is closely linked to the potential risks of cardiovascular diseases, which remains the leading cause of global mortality, it has become essential to develop effective techniques for early diagnosis and continuous monitoring over time. Photoplethysmography, a low-cost and non-invasive technology that measures blood volume changes, has gained increasing popularity in recent years and has proven to be a potential valuable tool for estimating arterial stiffness. This study employs an in vitro experimental setup designed to simulate the cardiovascular system performing under controlled velocity and pressure conditions, in which silicone phantom models with different geometric and mechanical properties were implemented to evaluate their stiffness using a pair of photoplethysmographic sensors. These were employed to measure the pulse wave velocity, currently considered the reference technique for estimating arterial stiffness, correlated through the well-known Moens–Korteweg equation. Photoplethysmographic sensors were placed at three specific distances to determine an optimal configuration for assessing arterial stiffness. Results showed the best performance for softer vascular models at a 15 cm sensor distance, with measurements demonstrating satisfactory accuracy. Variability and standard deviation values increased with model stiffness. The aim of this study is to improve the use of photoplethysmographic sensors for monitoring the mechanical properties of blood vessels and, therefore, to prevent potential cardiovascular diseases. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cc8958eddeff4f01a3a9560fa67b50d3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-cc8958eddeff4f01a3a9560fa67b50d32025-08-20T02:32:56ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-05-012511330110.3390/s25113301Non-Invasive Estimation of Arterial Stiffness Using Photoplethysmography Sensors: An In Vitro ApproachGianluca Diana0Francesco Scardulla1Silvia Puleo2Salvatore Pasta3Leonardo D’Acquisto4Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 8, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 8, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 8, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 8, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 8, 90128 Palermo, ItalyWith advancing age, blood vessels undergo deterioration that causes structural and functional changes, including a progressive increase in arterial wall stiffness. Since arterial stiffness is closely linked to the potential risks of cardiovascular diseases, which remains the leading cause of global mortality, it has become essential to develop effective techniques for early diagnosis and continuous monitoring over time. Photoplethysmography, a low-cost and non-invasive technology that measures blood volume changes, has gained increasing popularity in recent years and has proven to be a potential valuable tool for estimating arterial stiffness. This study employs an in vitro experimental setup designed to simulate the cardiovascular system performing under controlled velocity and pressure conditions, in which silicone phantom models with different geometric and mechanical properties were implemented to evaluate their stiffness using a pair of photoplethysmographic sensors. These were employed to measure the pulse wave velocity, currently considered the reference technique for estimating arterial stiffness, correlated through the well-known Moens–Korteweg equation. Photoplethysmographic sensors were placed at three specific distances to determine an optimal configuration for assessing arterial stiffness. Results showed the best performance for softer vascular models at a 15 cm sensor distance, with measurements demonstrating satisfactory accuracy. Variability and standard deviation values increased with model stiffness. The aim of this study is to improve the use of photoplethysmographic sensors for monitoring the mechanical properties of blood vessels and, therefore, to prevent potential cardiovascular diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3301photoplethysmography (PPG)optical sensorsarterial stiffnessYoung’s moduluspulse wave velocityexperimental setup |
| spellingShingle | Gianluca Diana Francesco Scardulla Silvia Puleo Salvatore Pasta Leonardo D’Acquisto Non-Invasive Estimation of Arterial Stiffness Using Photoplethysmography Sensors: An In Vitro Approach Sensors photoplethysmography (PPG) optical sensors arterial stiffness Young’s modulus pulse wave velocity experimental setup |
| title | Non-Invasive Estimation of Arterial Stiffness Using Photoplethysmography Sensors: An In Vitro Approach |
| title_full | Non-Invasive Estimation of Arterial Stiffness Using Photoplethysmography Sensors: An In Vitro Approach |
| title_fullStr | Non-Invasive Estimation of Arterial Stiffness Using Photoplethysmography Sensors: An In Vitro Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Invasive Estimation of Arterial Stiffness Using Photoplethysmography Sensors: An In Vitro Approach |
| title_short | Non-Invasive Estimation of Arterial Stiffness Using Photoplethysmography Sensors: An In Vitro Approach |
| title_sort | non invasive estimation of arterial stiffness using photoplethysmography sensors an in vitro approach |
| topic | photoplethysmography (PPG) optical sensors arterial stiffness Young’s modulus pulse wave velocity experimental setup |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3301 |
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