Webinars on Photoplethysmography

Webinar 1: Simulating photoplethysmography signals

27 January 2022, 14:00 GMT (other time zones)

Hosted by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

Overview:

Several techniques have recently been developed to simulate photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals, providing data with which to develop PPG signal processing algorithms, and providing insight into the physiological origins of the signal. This webinar will feature talks from researchers who have developed complementary techniques to simulate PPG signals. It will provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art, and highlight pressing directions for future research.

Speakers:

• Andrius Solosenko (Kaunas University of Technology) presented on modelling photoplethysmogram signals during atrial fibrillation.
• Cheng Ding (Emory University) presented a novel approach to simulating PPG signals using generative adversarial networks.
• Dr Jordi Alastruey-Arimon (King’s College London) presented on the role of in silico pulse wave databases in machine learning-based pulse wave analysis.

Webinar 2: Recent Advances in Photoplethysmography

3 March 2022, 14:00 GMT (other time zones)

Hosted by Physiological Measurement

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Overview:

Photoplethysmography is a non-invasive, optical measurement technique which is widely used for health monitoring. Much research focuses on how to leverage the wealth of information in the photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal, and how to use this information to inform clinical decisions. This webinar will feature talks from leaders in the field, on topics ranging from using photoplethysmography for cardiovascular risk assessment, for cuff-less blood pressure monitoring, and validating these technologies for clinical use. It will provide insight into the state-of-the-art and key directions for future research.

Speakers:

• Rich Fletcher (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) presented on 'The use of multi-site photoplethysmography (PPG) as a screening tool for coronary arterial disease and atherosclerosis', which was recently published in Physiological Measurement.
• Raquel Bailón Luesma, (University of Zaragoza) presented on ‘Applications of PPG waveform decomposition analysis’.
• Ramakrishna Mukkamala (University of Pittsburgh) presented on Evaluation of Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement Devices: Challenges and Proposals, highlighting work which was recently published in Hypertension.
• Xiaoman Xing (Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology) presented on 'Blood pressure assessment with in-ear photoplethysmography', which was recently published in Physiological Measurement.

Clinical applications of photoplethysmography

28 April 2022, 14:00 British Summer Time (other time zones)

Hosted by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

Overview:

This webinar highlighted emerging clinical applications of photoplethysmography. Photoplethysmography has traditionally been used in pulse oximeters for oxygen saturation and heart rate monitoring. Recently, several additional clinical applications have been proposed, ranging from screening newborn infants for critical congenital heart disease, to sleep apnea assessment, to identifying atrial fibrillation in everyday life. This webinar featured talks from researchers who are pushing the boundaries of photoplethysmography, developing approaches to use it to enhance healthcare in a range of settings.

Speakers:

• John Allen (Coventry University) presented on Further explorations in photoplethysmography for the detection of occlusive peripheral arterial disease.
• Panicos Kyriacou (City University of London) presented on Non-invasive optical monitoring of Intracranial Pressure in Traumatic Brain Injury patients.

Developments in Photoplethysmography

7 July 2022, 14:00 British Summer Time (other time zones)

Hosted by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

Overview:

Photoplethysmography is an optical sensing technique that is widely used in clinical and consumer devices. It is a highly active area of research, with many important developments being made each year. In this webinar leaders in the field will present their latest research. Topics include extracting measurements of pulse rate variability from the photoplethysmogram (PPG) for applications such as stress monitoring, and using phantoms to investigate the origins of the PPG and develop new PPG sensing technologies.

Speakers:

• James May (City, University of London) presented on Phantoms for In Vitro Investigations of PPG and PPG technology Development.
• Elisa Mejia-Mejia (City, University of London) presented on Photoplethysmography-based pulse rate variability: standardisation of the technique using simulated signals.
• James Anibal (University of Oxford) presented on Attention methods for longer PPG sequences.