Finger and forehead PPG signal comparison for respiratory rate estimation based on pulse amplitude variability

Abstract

Pulse photopletysmographic signal (PPG) is modulated by the respiratory rate, so there are some algorithms capable to extract respiratory information from the derived PPG signals, as the Pulse Amplitude Variability (PAV). Previous works have shown that the use of the PPG leads to different results depending on the PPG sensor location (finger and forehead). Therefore, a database recording finger and forehead PPG signals and respiration is done, breathing with fixed frequencies. Results show that while finger PAV signal works correctly, forehead PAV signal has a non respiratory component that do not allow to properly estimate the respiratory rate.