MEASUREMENT FIRMWARE

FOR PULSE OXIMETRY

SENSOR

eljko Belji, IEEE Member, Nemanja Gazivoda, Platon

Sovilj, Dragan Peji and Bojan Vujii

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

-1-

Introduction

-2-

Principle of operation

-3-

Hardware

-4-

Firmware

-1-

-5-

Measurement results

-2-

-6-

Application

-7-

Conclusion and further development

-8-

References

-3-4-5-6-7-8-

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

Introduction

-1The goal of this paper was to prove the concept of designing a simple, cheap
but reliable system for measuring blood oxygenation and pulse rate
Basic requirements of project are as follows:

-2-

System should be able to measure SpO2 level (oxygen saturation),

System should be able to measure PR (pulse rate),
Choosing the type of measurement by using two buttons,
Display results on the GLCD

-3-

Oxygenation represents the level of oxygen bound to hemoglobin in the blood

-4-

It is expressed as a percentage, and is denoted by SaO2 (O2 saturation in the blood)

-5-

SpO2 indicates the result of saturation measurement made by pulse oxymeter

-6-

Pulse oxymeters measure blood oxygenation noninvasively and continuously

The normal values in healthy adults are in the range of 94% to 100%.

-7-8-

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

Principle of operation

-1-2-

Hemoglobin exists in two forms: oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) and deoxygenated hemoglobin
(Hb).
Oxygen saturation is expressed as the ratio between the concentration of oxygenated
hemoglobin and total hemoglobin concentration in the blood, and is given by the formula:

SpO2

C ( HbO2 )
C ( HbO2 ) C ( Hb)

The work of pulse oxymeter is based on illumination of blood (through a finger or ear) by means
of two LEDs (650 nm and 900 nm), and detecting the quantity of light output with photodiode or
phototransistor.

-3-4-5-6-7-8University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

Principle of operation

-1-2-

Arterial blood (rich with Oxygen) has a lighter red color and better absorbs infrared radiation,
while venous blood has darker red color and absorbs more radiation in the visible spectrum.

-3-4-5-6-7-8-

Phototransistor is used as a light detector. It converts the incoming light into an electrical signal
(voltage) of low intensity, which is later repeatedly amplified using the amplification circuit and
forwarded for further processing.

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

Hardware

-1-2-

The sensor part

-3-

Two LEDs (650 nm i 900 nm)

Phototransistor

Amplification block
Integrated circuits (2x OP07, 2x uA741)
Discrete components (Resistors, Block Capacitors, Electrolytic Capacitors, Diodes )

Managing the operation of LEDs

74HC04N hex invertor

MikroElektronika BigPic5 development board

-4-5-6-7-

Mikrochip Pic18F8520 microcontroller

GLCD module
AD converter
Control buttons
MMC memory card slot

Entire process of measuring, displaying and recording of the results on the

MMC is controled by a firmware specifically developed for this purpose

-8University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

Firmver

-1-2-3-4-

Firmware was written in mikroC PRO for PIC development environment, which allows fast
development and placement of complex functions.

MikroC PRO allows writting of unique C source code using embedded code editor (Code and
Parameter Assistants, Code Folding, Syntax Highlighting, Auto Correct, etc.)

Modular approach was used in the development of firmware (GLCD, TIMER i A/D konvertor)

Problems during Firmware development (synchronization of operations with measuring signal)

At the end when functionality of separate modules was assured, we began to integrate the
code into one unit.
Algorithm of Firmware code is shown

-5-6-7-8University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

Measurement results

-1-2-3-4-

Dispalying of results on GLCD is done for two types of meaurements:

Change of oxygen level in blood over time

-5-

-6-7-8-

Heart rate ( Measured pulse rate after 30 s and after 60 s)

Measurement start and stop, and choosing mode for displaying measurements on GLCD is
controlled by two buttons.

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content
-1-2-3-4-5-

Measurement results
SpO2

measurement results:

SpO2 is given as averaged value of 8 consecutive measurements

n Izmerena
Redni broj
Redni broj
Izmerena
Measurement
uncertainty type A: uA(SpO2)=0.35
merenja
vrednost
merenja
vrednost
2
1 p
952 i
5
95

u
(
SpO
)

2
94
6
93
A
2
i 1
n
3
95
7
95
4
96
Individual
SpO2 values96
are obtained using the8formula :

S O SpO

S p O2 110 25 R

Combined measurement uncertainty:

u(SpO2)=15.17%
Expanded measurement uncertainty with 95 %
level of confidence ( coverage factor k=2):
U(SpO2)=2*u= 30.34%

-6-7-8-

SpO2 u ( SpO2 ) 2k , SpO2 (95 30.34)%

Pulse measurement results:
After 30 s: limits of measurement error are 4 bpm
After 60 s: limits of measurement error are 2 bpm

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

Application

-1-2-3-

Pulse oxymeter is an indispensable device in surgery, to monitor the patient's blood oxygen supply

-4-

It is used to measure the level of oxygen saturation in the blood of newborns, a few minutes after
birth and measurement result is a good indicator of the general health condition

-5-

It is located in emergency vehicles when an immediate SpO2 monitoring is required

-6-

It is critical for the monitoring of the efficiency of gas exchange in the lungs of patients who have
breathing problems

If there is a change in the measurement results that is greater than 5% compared to the usual
results (for the patient), or if the measured value has dropped below 75%, it can be concluded that
there is an abnormality in the respiratory system.

-7-8University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content
-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-

Conclusion and further development

The results obtained by this measurement configuration are more than satisfactory.
The next design plan is to further develop the system, which includes:
comparation of measurement results and measurement uncertainty with commercial pulse
oxymeters,
taking a larger group of subjects on which oxygen saturation will be measured,
preparation of printed Circuit Board for digital part of measuring system,
preparation of printed Circuit Board for analog part of measuring system,
purchase of quality measuring probe,
preparation of stabilized adapter power source ,
preparation of backup - battery power source and preparation of housing.

-8University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Measurement firmware for pulse oximetry sensor

Content

References

-1-2-3-4-

.Belji, Projektovanje pulsnog oksimetra, diplomski - master rad, Fakultet tehnikih nauka Novi
Sad, 2010

-5-

Design of Pulse Oxymeters, Series in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, John G.
Webster, CRC Press, 1997, ISBN 1420050796

-6-7-8-

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad

Thank you for your

attention