Pulse Oximeters and People of Color: Creating Inclusive Design for Health Care Technology

Sunday - February 11 2024, 13:36 UTC - 9 months ago

Pulse oximeters are commonly used in healthcare, but for people with darker skin, the results may be inaccurate due to factors like melanin. Engineers are actively working to improve designs by using special LEDs, light and sound technology, and adaptive devices. This will help provide accurate readings for a more diverse range of users.

Over the years, pulse oximeters have become a common tool in the medical field for monitoring heart rate and blood oxygen levels. But for people with darker skin tones, the results from these devices may not always be accurate. This is due to the way pulse oximeters work, which involves measuring the absorption of light in the body.

When a person uses a pulse oximeter, a clamp is usually placed on their finger, earlobe, or toe. LEDs on one side of the clamp emit light in two different wavelengths, which are then measured by a sensor on the other side. By calculating the ratio of red and infrared light that passes through the tissue, the device can determine the level of oxygen saturation in the blood. However, other factors can also absorb light and affect the accuracy of the reading. Dark nail polish, tattoos, and melanin in the skin can all impact the results.

This is a major issue for people with darker skin tones, as their skin absorbs more light compared to those with lighter skin. This means that the pulse oximeter may underestimate the amount of oxygen in the blood, leading to potential misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. Inclusive engineering design has become a key focus in addressing this issue, as it strives to create products that can work for a diverse range of users.

One such approach is being developed by a team at Tufts University. Their device can detect when the signal quality is poor or when the user has a darker skin tone, and then compensate by sending more light through. The team is currently working with a medical-device manufacturing company to develop a prototype for clinical trials. Thanks to their recent recognition as a finalist in a challenge by Open Oximetry, they will be able to test their device for free in a specialized lab in California.

The team at Brown University is taking a different approach by using special LEDs that can emit polarized light beams. This could potentially minimize the impact of factors like melanin on the accuracy of pulse oximeter readings. Another team, led by engineer Jesse Jokerst at the University of California, San Diego, is developing a pulse oximeter that combines light and sound to measure blood oxygen levels. This approach not only corrects for skin tone, but also has the potential to provide additional information about the user's health.

In addition to these efforts, the University of Texas at Arlington is also working on an inclusive design for pulse oximeters. Their approach involves developing a device that can adapt and adjust to the individual user's skin tone, making it more accurate for people of all races and ethnicities. As more and more engineers and researchers focus on this issue, we can hope to see more inclusive and accurate pulse oximeters in the near future.