BACKGROUND: We have developed an automated algorithm to allow the measurement of respiratory rate directly from the photoplethysmogram (pulse oximeter waveform). AIM: To test the algorithm's ability to determine respiratory rate in children. METHODS: A convenience sample of patients attending a paediatric Accident and Emergency Department was monitored using a purpose-built pulse oximeter and the photoplethysmogram (PPG) recorded. Respiration was also recorded by an observer activating a push-button switch in synchronization with the child's breathing. The switch marker signals were processed to derive a manual respiratory rate that was compared with the wavelet-based oximeter respiratory rate derived from the PPG signal. RESULTS: Photoplethysmograms were obtained from 18 children aged 18 mo to 12 y, breathing spontaneously at rates of 17 to 27 breaths per minute. There was close correspondence between the wavelet-based oximeter respiration rate and the manual respiratory rate, with the difference between them being less than one breath per minute in all children. CONCLUSION: Our automated algorithm allows the accurate determination of respiratory rate from photoplethysmograms of a heterogeneous group of children. We believe that our automated wavelet-based signal-processing techniques could soon be easily incorporated into current pulse oximetry technology.
BACKGROUND: We have developed an automated algorithm to allow the measurement of respiratory rate directly from the photoplethysmogram (pulse oximeter waveform). AIM: To test the algorithm's ability to determine respiratory rate in children. METHODS: A convenience sample of patients attending a paediatric Accident and Emergency Department was monitored using a purpose-built pulse oximeter and the photoplethysmogram (PPG) recorded. Respiration was also recorded by an observer activating a push-button switch in synchronization with the child's breathing. The switch marker signals were processed to derive a manual respiratory rate that was compared with the wavelet-based oximeter respiratory rate derived from the PPG signal. RESULTS: Photoplethysmograms were obtained from 18 children aged 18 mo to 12 y, breathing spontaneously at rates of 17 to 27 breaths per minute. There was close correspondence between the wavelet-based oximeter respiration rate and the manual respiratory rate, with the difference between them being less than one breath per minute in all children. CONCLUSION: Our automated algorithm allows the accurate determination of respiratory rate from photoplethysmograms of a heterogeneous group of children. We believe that our automated wavelet-based signal-processing techniques could soon be easily incorporated into current pulse oximetry technology.
Authors: Paul S Addison; James N Watson; Michael L Mestek; James P Ochs; Alberto A Uribe; Sergio D Bergese Journal: J Clin Monit Comput Date: 2014-05-06 Impact factor: 2.502
Authors: Peter H Charlton; Drew A Birrenkott; Timothy Bonnici; Marco A F Pimentel; Alistair E W Johnson; Jordi Alastruey; Lionel Tarassenko; Peter J Watkinson; Richard Beale; David A Clifton Journal: IEEE Rev Biomed Eng Date: 2017-10-24