Smartphone system developed to measure oxygenation levels

Source: MedGadget, 21 Sept 2022
 

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a smartphone system that can measure blood oxygen levels. The technology utilizes the phone's camera and flash to take the measurement, making it easy for at-home use. By pressing their finger over the camera, illuminated by the flash, a person can measure the light absorption, which is then correlated with blood oxygen levels using a deep-learning algorithm. This system could be valuable for COVID-19 patients monitoring their progress at home and receiving early warnings of disease exacerbation. Currently, clinicians use clip-on pulse oximeters to measure blood oxygen levels, but this smartphone-based approach offers a convenient and accessible alternative for individuals to monitor their health.

Researchers trained a deep learning algorithm by having volunteers wear a standard pulse oximeter on one finger and press another finger against a smartphone camera. They then breathed a gas mixture to lower blood oxygen levels for 15 minutes. The algorithm was trained to identify low blood oxygen levels about 80% of the time. Unlike other apps that require breath-holding, this method collects 15 minutes of data, making it effective in capturing clinically relevant information in the critical threshold range.

Developers of the system say the data could be easily transmitted to a doctor's office, making it valuable for telemedicine appointments and helping triage nurses quickly decide if a patient needs immediate emergency care or can continue home rest and schedule a visit with their primary care provider later.