Design of a plug-and-play pulse oximeter

Presents the design of a plug-and-play pulse oximeter that communicates with a LabVIEW virtual instrument. The sensor module samples plethysmographic data and sends them to a personal computer via an RS-232 serial link. The system configuration is described, and the response of the system is discussed when either the computer, sensor, or RS-232 connection breaks down. The oximeter is suitable for home use and can reliably collect pulsatile data from multiple body locations (e.g. finger, forehead, palm, etc.).