Plethysmography

ECE 884

Types
Chamber plethysmography Impedance plethysmography Photo plethysmography

Plethysmography
Determination of blood flow (or other physiological parameters) by measurement of volume changes of the limb.

Advantage: Non-invasive method measuring blood flow and relatively easy.

of

Generates a wave form similar to the atrial pressure waveform

Chamber Plethysmography

The chamber has a rigid cylindrical container that houses a bladder filled with liquid (water) or air. As the volume of the limb increases due to atrial flow (venous flow is occluded by the cuff), the volume / pressure of the bladder changes which can be measured using pressure transducers or simply by water rising on a calibrated tube (also called venous occlusion plethysmography).

Returns to normal pressure on release of cuffs. Slowly returns to normal in case of venous blockage. (i.e. venous thrombosis)

Impedance Plethysmography
The change in volume (blood or air) can be easily obtained by measuring the resistivity changes in the appropriate tissue response to the volume changes.
Volume of limb -> due to blood pulsation Volume of air in lungs -> due to respiration

The basic assumption is that the limb is considered to be cylindrical in shape.

Photoplethysmography
Light transmitted through a capillary bed whose absorption and reflection properties change in response to changes in volume of the vessels. Usually IR LEDs are used as light source, Phototransistors as sensors. Commonly used in Oximetry for measuring blood O2.