Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2003 Nov;20(6):524-5.
doi: 10.1136/emj.20.6.524.

Standard pulse oximeters can be used to monitor respiratory rate

P Leonard  1 , T F Beattie, P S Addison, J N Watson
Affiliations

Standard pulse oximeters can be used to monitor respiratory rate

P Leonard et al. Emerg Med J. 2003 Nov.

Abstract

Background: One of the most important limitations of standard pulse oximeters is the inability to detect changes in respiratory rate until oxygenation is affected. This study sought to determine if analysis of the plethysmogram by wavelet transforms would enable the determination of changes in respiratory rate at an earlier stage.

Methods: Ten healthy adult volunteers were monitored, breathing at baseline and predetermined respiratory rates, using a standard pulse oximeter. Photo-plethysmograms captured in an attached lap top computer were then analysed using wavelet transforms.

Results: Determination of baseline respiratory rate and subsequent changes including apnoea were easily identified.

Comment: Wavelet transforms permit the accurate determination of respiratory rate by a standard pulse oximeter.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. IEEE Eng Med Biol Mag. 2002 Jan-Feb;21(1):58-61, 65 - PubMed
    1. Bull Math Biol. 1998 Sep;60(5):919-35 - PubMed
    1. Int J Clin Monit Comput. 1994 Aug;11(3):151-6 - PubMed
    1. Med Biol Eng Comput. 1984 Sep;22(5):479-80 - PubMed