Tissue mimicking materials and finger phantom design for pulse oximetry

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Device Testing
• Optical Sensing

Background:

• Pulse oximetry is crucial in medicine but can be affected by factors like skin pigmentation and perfusion.
• Existing testing methods may not fully replicate in vivo conditions, necessitating better validation tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop realistic, tissue-mimicking phantoms for pulse oximetry testing.
• To create a controlled environment for evaluating pulse oximeter accuracy and identifying error sources.

Main Methods:

• Reviewed and selected materials for optical and mechanical properties mimicking human tissue.
• Synthesized silicone phantoms with scatterers and explored 3D printing resins for optical control.
• Applied dynamic pressure to generate photoplethysmography (PPG) signals.

Main Results:

• Developed preliminary finger phantoms with biologically relevant optical and mechanical properties.
• 3D printed phantoms demonstrated more realistic conditions than molded ones.
• Generated dynamic PPG signals from the phantoms, validating their utility.

Conclusions:

• The developed phantoms show significant potential for evaluating pulse oximetry performance.
• These phantoms can serve as a cost-effective, controlled alternative to in vivo testing.
• Further development is recommended to refine phantom characteristics for comprehensive device assessment.