Quantification of the effects of SpO2 accuracy as a function of contact pressure and skin tone

Samuel Idah-Oze; Justin P. McMurray; Kimberly L. Branan; Bailey Sizemore; Monisha Akula; Ethan Wolff; Gerard L. Coté

doi:10.1117/12.3003469

27 March 2024 Quantification of the effects of SpO2 accuracy as a function of contact pressure and skin tone

Samuel Idah-Oze, Justin P. McMurray, Kimberly L. Branan, Bailey Sizemore, Monisha Akula, Ethan Wolff, Gerard L. Coté

Proceedings Volume 12850, Optical Diagnostics and Sensing XXIV: Toward Point-of-Care Diagnostics; 128500D (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3003469
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Commercial and industry-standard pulse oximeters exhibit limitations in accurately measuring blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) across diverse skin tones, particularly in those with darker pigmentation. This discrepancy can lead to erroneous SpO2 readings due to the absorption of light by melanin, thereby placing those with darker skin tones at heightened risk. In this study, we designed, built, and tested a multimodal system capable of simultaneously measuring blood oxygen levels (SpO2) and contact pressure. Our primary objective was to evaluate the effects of contact pressure on mitigating inherent pulse oximetry inaccuracies across diverse skin tones. To achieve this, we calibrated and tested the device using five skin types in the range of 3–9 on the monk skin tone (MST) scale and seven contact pressure levels across the physiologic range of 10–70 mmHg. The research outcomes of this preliminary study showed that the most accurate results across a range of skin tones appear around the contact pressure range of 50 mmHg. This research has potential implications for healthcare providers, as accurate monitoring of blood oxygen levels is crucial for timely intervention and effective disease management. Moreover, addressing disparities in pulse oximetry readings that come from differences in skin tone across populations will help provide equitable healthcare outcomes for individuals from such diverse populations.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Samuel Idah-Oze, Justin P. McMurray, Kimberly L. Branan, Bailey Sizemore, Monisha Akula, Ethan Wolff, and Gerard L. Coté "Quantification of the effects of SpO2 accuracy as a function of contact pressure and skin tone", Proc. SPIE 12850, Optical Diagnostics and Sensing XXIV: Toward Point-of-Care Diagnostics, 128500D (27 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3003469

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