A novel mathematical approach for blood flow signal analyses

Abstract

We performed continuous synchronized recordings of the blood flow in the brachial artery, electrocardiogram (ECG) and respiration, in different body positions, using a newly developed photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor. Study of the arterial blood flow was done using a novel mathematical method developed for this purpose. The analyses of 5-minute recording sessions, at constant breathing frequency, showed a high correlation between the arterial blood flow and the heart rate. In addition, the analyses of blood flow recordings from the carotid artery revealed a significant correlation with the heart rate, despite the signal disturbance induced by neck muscle movement during the respiratory circle. Along with arterial blood flow, we performed recordings of peripheral blood flow using an identical PPG sensor. The analyses demonstrate that the arterial blood flow is in better correlation with the heart rate than the peripheral blood flow.