Reflectance pulse oximetry: Practical issues and limitations

The demand for reflective-mode pulse oximetry to monitor oxygen saturation has been continuously increasing because it can be used at diverse measurement sites such as the feet, forehead, chest, and wrists. For the wrists, in particular, pulse oximeters are easily available in the form of a band or watch. In this study, we developed a reflectance pulse oximeter and used it to measure oxygen saturation levels at the fingertips and the wrist. We analyzed the performance of this oximeter to address the challenges and limitations associated with using reflective-mode oximeters at the wrist for clinical purposes.