A biomedical engineering research team at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is developing a novel device that identifies potential vascular occlusion by measuring PPG (Photoplethysmography) signals in the limbs. By analyzing the time difference in signal transmission, the system can determine whether blood flow is impaired, offering a new, non-invasive approach to vascular diagnostics.

Currently, clinical diagnosis of vascular occlusion relies heavily on ultrasound or angiography. These methods require professional operation and can be costly. Angiography, in particular, is an invasive procedure. Therefore, a simplified, non-invasive, and sufficiently accurate solution could help clinicians detect vascular issues earlier and respond more efficiently.

The research team's approach uses optical PPG technology to monitor changes in blood flow. When an occlusion occurs, blood flow to peripheral regions of the body may be delayed or experience altered signal characteristics. By capturing these variations, the device can evaluate vascular patency without invasive intervention.

To validate the accuracy of their device's measurement and algorithm, the team integrated four AECG100 multifunction testers from WhaleTeq, paired with PPG-2R-880 reflectance SpO2 modules. Utilizing the AECG100 SDK (Software Development Kit), they developed custom software to control all four simulators to output PPG signals simultaneously with low latency (<1ms), enabling them to replicate real-world changes in peripheral blood flow during occlusion events.

The ability to output signals simultaneously or with controlled time differences, along with clinical data playback, allowed the team to confidently verify hardware, software, and system performance, and to further optimize their algorithms. The result is a more precise and stable occlusion detection solution, well-prepared for future preclinical validation and market readiness.

 

 

 

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