M. Vegfors et al., PRESENTATION AND EVALUATION OF A NEW OPTICAL SENSOR FOR RESPIRATORY RATE MONITORING, International journal of clinical monitoring and computing, 11(3), 1994, pp. 151-156
A new optical sensor for respiratory rate monitoring was simultaneousl
y compared with an acoustic sensor and a transthoracic impedance pleth
ysmograph during normoventilation in the respiratory rate range of 9-1
7 breaths per minute. The response characteristics of the optical sens
or were then measured during simulation of central apnoea and tachypno
ea. Visual observation was chosen as the reference method for monitori
ng the respiratory rate. The measurements were performed in ten health
y volunteers and the respiratory signals recorded on an analogue tape
and strip-chart recorder and analysed off-line. The response character
istics of the fibre optic sensor corresponded well with those of the a
coustic sensor and impedance plethysmograph. All three methods respond
ed rapidly to an apnoeic event.