Experimental Investigation of the Roles of Blood Volume and Density in Finger Photoplethysmography

Using simultaneous photoplethysmogram (PPG) and pulse transducer signals from the same finger, a high correlation (Mean: 98.6, STD: 1) is obtained between the AC part of the PPG and estimated volume changes (after normalization). These results point to the fact that in the resting fingertip, PPG signal variations are only due to volume changes and that blood density does not change thus has no contribution.