PRESENTATION AND EVALUATION OF A NEW OPTICAL SENSOR FOR RESPIRATORY RATE MONITORING

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.