Characterization of a PPG Wearable Sensor to Be Embedded into an Innovative Ring-Shaped Device for Healthcare Monitoring

Wearable sensor technologies have emerged as a revolutionary technique for real-time monitoring of physiological parameters, particularly for healthcare applications. To guarantee their use, the sensors should be embedded in everyday equipment improving their wearability. In this context, the MAX30102 wearable sensor was studied and characterized for the monitoring of the PPG signal acquired on the index finger. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and oxygen saturation (SpO2) measures were extracted from the PPG signal according to the pulse oximetry principles, by analysing the red and infrared signals detected by the LEDs embedded in the sensor. A valuation test was performed to compare the measures obtained by the MAX30102 with those achieved by two gold standard instruments used in clinical practices for cardiac and pulse oximetry measurements. The achieved results are promising, evidencing error rates lower than 2.5% for all the measures. The possibility to integrate such sensor in a ring-shaped device able to measure the vital parameters for health status monitoring can support the clinicians both in clinical and home settings for improving diagnosis, personalized treatments, and long-term monitoring.