Performance assessment of MAX30100 SpO2/heartrate sensor

Reflective optical SpO2/Heartbeat sensors are very popular nowadays due to their ability to be used in different body regions that makes many different innovative designs possible. However, performance tests and evaluations are needed to obtain reliable and stable measurement results from these sensors. In this study, the performance of such a sensor, namely MAX30100 SpO2/Heartbeat sensor, has been assessed by performing measurement trials. SpO2 and heartbeat measurements were performed from the index finger, forehead and temporal bone. During measurements, a constant value of 50mA applied to the infrared LED in the sensor while the current value for the red LED was changed between 4,4mA and 20,8mA in discrete time intervals. Reference measurements were taken with a pulse oximeter from the right index finger simultaneously during all measurements. The findings show that the 14.2mA red LED current value provides similar results with the reference device. The measurements taken from the forehead and temporal bones are acceptable when compared to the measurements taken with the reference device. We plan to develop a wearable device equipped with MAX30100 sensor that will automatically determine the most suitable red LED current value depending on the skin color and thickness and that can perform measurements during basic daily activities.