The Importance of “Oxygen Saturation” During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Oxygen, essential for human life activities, is absorbed through respiration into the lungs, where it binds with hemoglobin in red blood cells and circulates throughout the body. Oxygen saturation is one of the vital signs used to assess the body’s condition, indicating the level of oxygen present in the blood. In medical settings, it is treated as a crucial piece of information for understanding the body’s condition, and alongside pulse rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and breathing, it is considered the “fifth vital sign.” The normal range is said to be 96-99% and is also used as a criterion for assessing the severity of COVID-19.
Regarding Our Non-Contact Measurement Technology
The measurement of oxygen saturation is commonly performed using pulse oximeters, which are widely available at affordable prices. However, various issues such as discrepancies in measurement accuracy across manufacturers and incorrect usage have been pointed out. There are also methods involving blood sampling, but these are highly invasive as they require inserting a needle into an artery, causing significant physical stress on subjects and only providing readings at the time of blood draw.
Our company has successfully achieved non-contact, non-invasive measurement of oxygen saturation by utilizing a unique optical device and biometric information analysis technology, thereby establishing this technology. Moreover, it is capable of measuring multiple individuals simultaneously in real-time.
The above video demonstrates the simultaneous measurement of oxygen saturation for four individuals. Additionally, it is possible to display their pulse rates on the screen through user operation, as their pulse rates were also measured simultaneously. Subjects only need to stand in front of a single optical device, which results in no physical burden. For those conducting the measurements, it significantly simplifies the testing process, reduces personnel burden, and lowers the risk of infection through non-contact methods.