US Patent:
20030073889, Apr 17, 2003
Inventors:
Kevin Keilbach - Boulder CO, US
Christina Knopp - Amesbury MA, US
International Classification:
A61B005/00
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method and system for the determination of a spectral characteristic of light signals emitted by light signal emitters of a photoplethysmographic probe to achieve improved accuracy in photoplethysmographic blood analyte level determinations. In one embodiment, a system for use in photoplethysmography includes a plurality of light signal emitters (A-D) within a photoplethysmographic probe () and a voltage sensor () and data processor () within a photoplethysmographic monitor unit () to which the probe () is connectable. The voltage sensor () is operable to sense a voltage drop across each light signal emitter (A-D) as each emits a corresponding light signal (A-D) for transmission through a tissue under test. The data processor () is operable to establish at least one spectral characteristic, such as the center wavelength, of each emitted light signal (A-D) based on the sensed voltage drops.