Wearable in-ear pulse oximetry validly measures oxygen saturation between 70% and 100%: A prospective agreement study

Catherina A.B. Bubb, Michael Weber, Nadine Kretsch, Ralph Heim, Incinur Zellhuber, Sebastian Schmid, Simone M. Kagerbauer, Johannes Kreuzer, Stefan J. Schaller, Manfred Blobner, Bettina Jungwirth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: Postoperative monitoring outside intensive and post-anaesthesia care units is seldom, partly due to lack of suitable and approved systems. We therefore aim to validate the oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate measurement of the in-ear sensor c-med° alpha with a reference pulse oximeter. Methods: This prospective agreement study was conducted in 12 healthy (ASA 1) adult (18–50 years) volunteers according to the EN ISO 80601-2-61. The sitting volunteers were equipped with the finger pulse oximeter Rad-5 and two c-med° alpha sensors in each ear. The inspiratory oxygen content was reduced via a tight-fitting breathing mask to achieve five defined plateaus with stable SpO2 between 99% and 70%. The deviation of the SpO2 and pulse rate measurements of the c-med° alpha from those of the Rad-5 was calculated using the mean square error (Arms). Bias and limits of agreement between both devices were calculated using the Bland-Altman technique. The precision was compared based on the repeatability coefficients. Results: The c-med° alpha measured SpO2 had an Arms = 1.9% relative to the Rad-5, a non-significant bias (−0.1% (-0.2% to 0.0%)), levels of agreement from −4.0% to 3.8%, and the same repeatability coefficient (0.8% vs. 0.8%). The c-med° alpha measured pulse rate did not deviate from the one measured with the certified finger pulse oximeter (bias: 0.1 min−1 (0 to 0.1 min−1), level of agreement: −3.6 to 3.7 min−1, Arms: 1.8 min−1). Conclusions: The c-med° alpha fulfils the EN ISO 80601-2-61 standard and is sufficiently accurate for measuring SpO2 and pulse rate in healthy adults at rest. Trial registration: EUDAMED No. CIV-21-03-036033.

Original languageEnglish
JournalDigital Health
Volume9
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2023

Keywords

  • Telemetric monitoring
  • hypoxia
  • oxygen saturation
  • pulse rate
  • telemedicine
  • wearables

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