Pulse Oximetry in the External Auditory Canal– A New Method of Mobile Vital Monitoring

In this paper, we introduce a new sensor technology for measuring plethysmographic parameters, i.e., for pulse oximetry, particularly in mobile people. The sensor uses the auditory canal as a measuring site, plus a novel light path through the tissue of the auditory canal´s wall for continuously and reliably measuring arterial oxygen saturation and heart rate under mobile conditions. Measurements with this sensor technology reveal a good ratio in combination with excellent signal quality - ideal prerequisites to make pulse oximetry a continuous unobtrusive mobile monitoring technology.