Measurement reproducibility and sensor placement considerations in designing a wearable pulse oximeter for military applications

Reproducibility of physiological measurements and the selection of suitable sensor locations are essential design criteria for developing a wearable pulse oximeter. In this paper we investigate the reproducibility of measuring arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂) from a reflectance pulse oximeter sensor incorporated into an army helmet. Simultaneous measurements acquired from the forehead, chin, jaw and nape areas showed that the forehead region provides the best anatomical location for obtaining reproducible readings compared to other feasible helmet-mounted sensor locations.