Attenuation of the near-infrared and red photoplethysmographic signal by different depth of tissues.

Photoplethysmography enables non-invasive investigation of the volume pulse in the microvasculature of patients. We previously have shown that time-discrete analysis enables identification of highly reproducible characteristics of the volume pulse in absolute values. The method would be of particular interest, if the perfusion of deeper tissue layers like the skeletal muscle can be assessed. The aim of the current study was to investigate the attenuation of the photoplethysmographic signal by different tissues and up to which depth of tissue a time-discrete analysis of the photoplethysmographic signal would be possible. For the recordings we used the time-discrete near-infra-red photoplethysmography (NIRP), a reflection photoplethysmograph measuring at wavelengths of 840 nm and 640 nm. In an in vitro circuit filled with bovine blood we generated a typical and exactly reproducible volume pulse. On a platform the NIRP sensor probe was placed above the artificial vessel and recordings of the volume pulse were obtained by varying the sensor-vessel-distance with increasing layers of water, blood-agar or bovine skeletal muscle tissue. - The amplitude of the NIR signal was attenuated to 50% by each layer of 2.01 mm of water, 1.42 mm of blood-agar and 1.05 mm of bovine skeletal muscle tissue. A time-discrete analysis could be performed up to a depth of 15 mm of water, 6 mm of blood-agar and 5 mm of bovine skeletal muscle tissue. - As the photoplethysmographic curve is strongly attenuated even by a few millimetres of water we suggest that the NIRP signal mirrors the perfusion of the superficial tissue layer and mainly originates from the subpapillary capacious plexus. - We conclude that with the equipment used in this study volume pulsations in deeper layers of tissue like skeletal musculature can not be assessed.