Changes in the arteriolar volume pulse of the finger during various degrees of tilt using near infra-red and red photoplethysmography.

1. Photoplethysmography is a widely used non invasive technique for the measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation. A more detailed analysis of the volume pulse (VP) can indicate alterations in peripheral vascular tone, due to sympathetic stimulation, stress, pain and temperature. - 2. In six healthy male volunteers we investigated changes in the VP resulting from vasoconstriction and vasodilatation induced by varies degrees of tilt. Subjects were subjected 0 degrees tilt followed by head down -8 degrees -15 degrees, -30 degrees -15 degrees, -8 degrees, 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees , 70 degrees, 30 degrees, 15 degrees and 0 degrees. Each tilt stage was sustained for 15 minutes. Both VP - and haemodynamic changes were continuously recorded 30s before and then for 210 s after the imposition of each tilt step. We used a new computer driven soft and hardware for the analysis of the VP. 3. The VP signal was obtained with a sensor emitting 840 nm (NIR) and 640 nm (RED) light into finger tip with a sample rate of 128 Hz. All data was normalised to the initial mean value obtained at 0 degrees tilt. The signal strength parameters amplitude, and area under the curve and the first derivative of the amplitude (flux) as well as time discrete parameters, time of first maximum (Tmax), dicrote wave (Td), volume pulse decrease (Tdec) and fundamental arterial oscillation Tag = Td - Tmax were measured. 4. HR increased significantly during 30 degrees and 70 degrees tilt, but no change in the other hemodynamic parameters was observed. Amplitude, area under the curve and flux of both the Red and the NIR signal increased following head down tilt. A significant decrease of those parameters was found during foot down tilt. 5. No significant changes were found in the time discrete values, neither within each tilt step nor when compared to the initial mean value at 0 degrees tilt. 6. This study reveals that signal strength related parameters such as area under the curve, amplitude and flux reflect changes in vascular tone. Time discrete parameters however did not depict these changes and appear unsuitable for data analysis when using this specific hardware applied in the current study.