Camera-Derived Photoplethysmography (rPPG) and Speckle Plethysmography (rSPG): Comparing Reflective and Transmissive Mode at Various Integration Times Using LEDs and Lasers

Abstract

Background: Although both speckle plethysmography (SPG) and photoplethysmography (PPG) examine pulsatile changes in the vasculature using opto-electronics, PPG has a long history, whereas SPG is relatively new and less explored. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of integration time and light-source coherence on signal quality and waveform morphology for reflective and transmissive rSPG and rPPG. Methods: (A) Using time-domain multiplexing, we illuminated 10 human index fingers with pulsed lasers versus LEDs (both at 639 and 850 nm), in transmissive versus reflective mode. A synchronized camera (Basler acA2000-340 km, 25 cm distance, 200 fps) captured and demultiplexed four video channels (50 fps/channel) in four stages defined by illumination mode. From all video channels, we derived rPPG and rSPG, and applied a signal quality index (SQI, scale: Good > 0.95; Medium 0.95–0.85; Low 0.85–0.8; Negligible 0.965, LED-rSPG 0.951, reflective rPPG 2 values of rPPG with rSPG (R2 = 0.99) and ITA (R2 = 0.98); Discussion: Laser-rSPG and LED-rPPG produced different waveforms in reflection, but not in transmission. We created the concept of ITA to investigate this behavior. Conclusions: Reflective Laser-SPG truly originated from coherence. Transmissive Laser-rSPG showed a loss of speckles, accompanied by waveform changes towards rPPG. Diffuse spatial intensity modulation polluted spatial-mode SPG.

Keywords

• camera-based
• speckle contrast analysis
• optical monitoring
• laser speckle
• PPG
• SPG