Near-infrared human finger measurements based on self-calibration point: Simulation and in vivo experiments

Near-infrared light allows measuring tissue oxygenation. These measurements relay on oxygenation-dependent absorption spectral changes. However, the tissue scattering, which is also spectral dependent, introduces an intrinsic error. Most methods focus on the volume reflectance from a semi-infinite sample. We have proposed examining the full scattering profile (FSP), which is the angular intensity distribution. A point was found, that is, the iso-path length (IPL) point, which is not dependent on the tissue scattering, and can serve for self-calibration. This point is geometric dependent, hence in cylindrical tissues depends solely on the diameter. In this work, we examine an elliptic tissue cross section via Monte Carlo simulation. We have found that the IPL point of an elliptic tissue cross section is indifferent to the input illumination orientation. Furthermore, the IPL point is the same as in a circular cross section with a radius equal to the effective ellipse radius. This is despite the fact that the FSPs of the circular and elliptical cross sections are different. Hence, changing the orientation of the input illumination reveals the IPL point. In order to demonstrate this experimentally, the FSPs of a few female fingers were measured at 2 perpendicular orientations. The crossing point between these FSPs was found equivalent to the IPL point of a cylindrical phantom with a radius similar to the effective radius. The findings of this work will allow accurate pulse oximetry assessment of blood saturation.