Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Improving Translational Accuracy02:07

Improving Translational Accuracy

14.1K
Base complementarity between the three base pairs of mRNA codon and the tRNA anticodon is not a failsafe mechanism. Inaccuracies can range from a single mismatch to no correct base pairing at all. The free energy difference between the correct and nearly correct base pairs can be as small as 3 kcal/ mol. With complementarity being the only proofreading step, the estimated error frequency would be one wrong amino acid in every 100 amino acids incorporated. However, error frequencies observed in...
14.1K
Improving Translational Accuracy02:07

Improving Translational Accuracy

3.6K
3.6K
Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision03:37

Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision

100.5K
Scientists typically make repeated measurements of a quantity to ensure the quality of their findings and to evaluate both the precision and the accuracy of their results. Measurements are said to be precise if they yield very similar results when repeated in the same manner. A measurement is considered accurate if it yields a result that is very close to the true or the accepted value. Precise values agree with each other; accurate values agree with a true value. 
100.5K
Pulse01:16

Pulse

2.0K
When the heart pumps blood out, arterial elastic fibers play a crucial role in sustaining a high-pressure gradient. They expand to accommodate the received blood and then recoil - a process known as the pulse that can be either manually palpated or electronically quantified. Despite a reduction in its effect with increased distance from the heart, elements of the pulse's systolic and diastolic components persist, observable even at the arteriole level.
The pulse serves as a clinical...
2.0K
Pulse01:05

Pulse

3.5K
The pulse is one of the most fundamental physiological indicators of the body's cardiovascular health. It is the rhythmic expansion and contraction of the arterial walls in response to the pressure generated by the heart's pumping action.
Pulse Rate and its Significance
Pulse rate, often measured in beats per minute (bpm), reflects the heart rate (HR), which is influenced by numerous factors such as stress, physical activity, and hormonal changes. A normal resting adult pulse rate falls...
3.5K
Accuracy and Precision01:52

Accuracy and Precision

14.7K
Scientists typically make repeated measurements of a quantity to ensure the quality of their findings and to evaluate both the precision and the accuracy of their results. Measurements are said to be precise if they yield very similar results when repeated in the same manner. A measurement is considered accurate if it yields a result that is very close to the true or the accepted value. Precise values agree with each other; accurate values agree with a true value.  Highly accurate...
14.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Monitoring of Tissue Perfusion During Arterial Occlusion With Remote Photoplethysmographic Imaging.

Journal of biophotonics·2026
Same author

Influence of Arterial Occlusion at Various Cuff Positions on Systemic Circulation Measured by Remote Photoplethymography (rPPG).

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same author

Eumelanin and Pheomelanin Modelling in Optical Oximetry Using Pulse Oximetry (for 540 nm and 660 nm): DC Component.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2024
Same author

What Remote PPG Oximetry Tells Us about Pulsatile Volume?

Biomedicines·2024
Same author

Observation of blood motion in the internal jugular vein by contact and contactless photoplethysmography during physiological testing: case studies.

Biomedical optics express·2024
Same author

Utility of Thermographic Imaging for Callus Identification in Wound and Foot Care.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Protocol for the Evaluation of MRI Artifacts Caused by Metal Implants to Assess the Suitability of Implants and the Vulnerability of Pulse Sequences
08:19

Protocol for the Evaluation of MRI Artifacts Caused by Metal Implants to Assess the Suitability of Implants and the Vulnerability of Pulse Sequences

Published on: May 17, 2018

10.3K

Pulse Oximeters: Accuracy and Artifacts.

Victor Ochoa-Gutierrez1,2, Gennadi Saiko3

  • 1mPulse Technologies, New York City, NY, USA. victorog@cornell.edu.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|January 23, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Pulse oximetry (SpO2) measures blood oxygen but can be inaccurate due to factors like skin pigmentation. Future devices must address these biases for reliable health monitoring.

Keywords:
Arterial oxygen saturationBody mass indexPhotoplethysmographySignal artifactsSkin pigmentation

More Related Videos

Equipment Setup and Artifact Removal for Simultaneous Electroencephalogram and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Clinical Review in Epilepsy
10:23

Equipment Setup and Artifact Removal for Simultaneous Electroencephalogram and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Clinical Review in Epilepsy

Published on: June 23, 2023

2.7K
Transcranial Pulse Stimulation for Alzheimer's Patients
06:08

Transcranial Pulse Stimulation for Alzheimer's Patients

Published on: April 4, 2025

2.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Protocol for the Evaluation of MRI Artifacts Caused by Metal Implants to Assess the Suitability of Implants and the Vulnerability of Pulse Sequences
08:19

Protocol for the Evaluation of MRI Artifacts Caused by Metal Implants to Assess the Suitability of Implants and the Vulnerability of Pulse Sequences

Published on: May 17, 2018

10.3K
Equipment Setup and Artifact Removal for Simultaneous Electroencephalogram and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Clinical Review in Epilepsy
10:23

Equipment Setup and Artifact Removal for Simultaneous Electroencephalogram and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Clinical Review in Epilepsy

Published on: June 23, 2023

2.7K
Transcranial Pulse Stimulation for Alzheimer's Patients
06:08

Transcranial Pulse Stimulation for Alzheimer's Patients

Published on: April 4, 2025

2.1K

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Medical Device Technology
  • Physiological Monitoring

Background:

  • Pulse oximetry (SpO2) is a vital medical technology for quantifying blood oxygen levels in tissues.
  • Rapid adoption in consumer health devices highlights the need for accurate and unbiased SpO2 measurements.
  • Recent evidence reveals significant accuracy limitations and biases in pulse oximetry, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental principles of pulse oximetry technology.
  • To identify and analyze various sources of artifacts and biases affecting SpO2 accuracy.
  • To discuss calibration methods and factors influencing pulse oximetry performance, focusing on two-wavelength systems.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on pulse oximetry principles and accuracy.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to measurement inaccuracies, including motion artifacts, skin pigmentation, BMI, and environmental variables.
  • Examination of device calibration and external factors like nail polish.

Main Results:

  • Pulse oximetry accuracy is compromised by multiple factors, including patient characteristics and environmental conditions.
  • Skin pigmentation, particularly in individuals with darker skin tones, has been identified as a significant source of bias.
  • Other identified factors include motion artifacts, body mass index, device calibration, and nail polish.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing the identified biases in pulse oximetry is crucial for its reliable application, especially in consumer health.
  • Future advancements must prioritize the development of accurate and equitable SpO2 monitoring technologies.
  • A comprehensive understanding of pulse oximetry limitations is essential for clinical and consumer use.