Accuracy Evaluation of Robotic Tonometry Pulse Sensor System Based on Radial Artery Pulse Wave Simulator

Min-Ho Jun,Young-Min Kim

doi:10.1109/tim.2020.2981107

Min-Ho Jun, Young-Min Kim

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/tim.2020.2981107

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Abstract

In this article, a robotic applanation tonometry pulse sensor system has been developed to easily detect the pulse pressure index (PPI) using a pulse sensor array and reduce the position errors caused by manual operation when measuring the pulsation location of the subject’s wrist using a robotic manipulator with automatic localization and pressurization. The amplitude change and shift of the pulse pressure (PP) caused by the unstable measurement angle of the tonometry device with a single sensor were measured and analyzed through an experiment with varying measurement angles. To evaluate the accuracy of the robotic tonometry system, the set PPI of the pulsatile simulator, which repeatedly generates artificial radial artery pulses, was compared with the PPI values estimated by the proposed methods. Accuracy evaluation of the pulse sensor indicates a coefficient of variability for the measured signals of up to 3.2% and a minimum accuracy of 93.7%; however, the PP calculated by a curve-fitting method applied to the measured signals from the array sensor was improved to an average of less than a 1.0% coefficient of variability and 97.9% accuracy. The developed robotic tonometry system represents a contribution to the radial pulse wave research field, which requires more accurate pulse wave analyses and PP measurements.

Highlights

T HE pulse wave measurement of the radial artery using tonometry devices has provided meaningful information for predicting cardiovascular risks [1]–[4]
The developed robotic tonometry system was applied to a pulse wave simulator to confirm the importance of a constant angle and the necessity of an array pulse sensor in the pulse wave measurement and to evaluate the measurement accuracy of the set pulse pressure (PP)
Because the artificial radial artery of the pulsatile simulator is initially tilted at an angle α of 6◦ and an angle β of −2◦, the maximum PP was the largest at an angle α of 6◦, and the peak pressure was observed between channels 3 and 4 at an angle β of −2◦

Summary

Introduction

T HE pulse wave measurement of the radial artery using tonometry devices has provided meaningful information for predicting cardiovascular risks [1]–[4]. Pulse diagnosis is an important method for identifying a patient’s condition or health status in Korean medicine [5]. Many studies of Eastern medicine have aimed to objectify, quantify, and automate wrist pulse diagnosis by employing modern sensors [6]–[9]. The use of pulse wave measurements, such as tonometry, wrist band, and photoplethysmography (PPG), has been increasing in the fields of integrated medicine and Western medicine. Manuscript received September 9, 2019; revised February 26, 2020; accepted March 3, 2020. Date of publication March 16, 2020; date of current version September 15, 2020. The review of this article was arranged by Senior Editor Bruno Ando. (Corresponding author: Young-Min Kim.)

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