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More accurate method and apparatus for measuring blood oxygen saturation

Country of Origin: Germany
Reference Number: TODE20190502003
Publication Date: 20 January 2020

Summary

A German university has developed a method that uses electromagnetic radiation to determine oxygen saturation in the blood more accurately than conventional methods. The university is interested in an R&D cooperation or a license agreement.

Description

Pulse oximetry is a diagnostic method which allows continuous non-invasive measurement of the blood oxygen content. The method is based on the light absorption behaviour of haemoglobin (the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells), which depends on the oxygen content, and is implemented by measuring the light transmitted by the organ. In general, the problem arises that arterial pulsation and mechanical movement lead to movement artifacts that strongly impair an accurate determination of the blood oxygen content.

A German university based in Berlin has developed a software-based method that makes it possible to calculate an exact reconstruction of the plethysmographic signal for a change in blood volume and the correct values of oxygen saturation. (Plethysmographic instruments are able to measure changes in volume within an organ or whole body.)

The invention requires a measuring device and a signal processing method to compensate motion artifacts in the determination of oxygen saturation and plethysmogram in pulse oximetry. To measure the oxygen saturation of the blood flowing in a peripheral part of the body, electromagnetic radiation is radiated into or through this part of the body in two different wavelength ranges. The reflected or transmitted radiation is then measured to form two measurement signals, which are evaluated using a software method that has also been developed and the oxygen saturation of the blood is determined.

The university is looking for partners to develop a ready for market product. This could be done in the framework of a research cooperation agreement or a license agreement. A license agreement would authorize a partner to use the material and know-how for the further development which leads to the market introduction of the product. But the university is also open to a research cooperation agreement where skills are shared to further the development of the technical aspects with the aim to develop a product which is ready for market.

Advantages and Innovations

- Technology very insensitive to movement influences 
- Artifact-free indication of oxygen saturation
- Measurement of transmitted or reflected radiation possible

Stage Of Development

Under development/lab tested

Requested partner

The university is looking for partners for a license or a research cooperation agreement.
In the framework of a license agreement a partner's role would be the development of a ready for market product. Partners could be SME or industry. In a research cooperation agreement the partner could be a SME or a university to further develop the technical aspects of the technology.

Cooperation offer is closed for requests