Variability of SpO2 Measurements Depending on the Choice of Finger for Sensor Placement (FinSpO2)

The aim of the project is to experimentally determine the effect of the choice of finger for the placement of a pulse oximeter sensor on the results of measuring peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) in a healthy person with short-term hypoxia and hypercapnia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypoxia; Hypercapnia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Breathing a mixture of O2, N2 and CO2 and monitoring SpO2 on each finger

Detailed Description

The aim of the project is to experimentally determine the effect of the choice of finger for the placement of a pulse oximeter sensor on the results of measuring peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) in a healthy person with short-term hypoxia and hypercapnia. This is an intervention prospective study that will take place at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, especially on FBMI students. The experiment consists of two phases, in which in the first phase, the volunteers will inhale the hypoxic mixture for five minutes after the stabilization phase. In the second phase, volunteers inhale a hypoxic and hypercapnic mixture. During the experiment, non-invasive SpO2 measurements will be performed continuously on individual fingers of both volunteer hands.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 24
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Czechia
  • Kladno, Czechia, 27201
    • Czech Technical University in Prague

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Passing the initial examination, which will determine the following data: finger circumference, heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation

Exclusion Criteria:

• post-traumatic conditions of the upper limbs affecting the perfusion of the fingers or injuries or skin diseases on the fingers.
• pneumothorax or a condition after cardiovascular surgery.
• anemia, bradycardia, hemoglobinopathy or other diseases of the cardiovascular system, pregnancy, diabetes, hypotension or hypertension.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Hypoxic; In this phase, participants inhale the hypoxic mixture for five minutes.	Other: Breathing a mixture of O2, N2 and CO2 and monitoring SpO2 on each finger; The experiment consists of two separate phases. In one phase, the volunteers inhale one of the mixtures for five minutes. After enough time of recovery, the volunteers undergo the other phase in which they inhale the other mixture of gases. Both phases of the measurement will begin with a two-minute stabilization phase, during which the physiological values of the volunteer will be checked. During the experiment, non-invasive SpO2 measurements will be performed continuously on the individual fingers of both volunteer hands throughout the experiment.
Experimental: Hypoxic and Hypercapnic; In this phase, participants inhale the hypoxic and hypercapnic mixture for five minutes.	Other: Breathing a mixture of O2, N2 and CO2 and monitoring SpO2 on each finger; The experiment consists of two separate phases. In one phase, the volunteers inhale one of the mixtures for five minutes. After enough time of recovery, the volunteers undergo the other phase in which they inhale the other mixture of gases. Both phases of the measurement will begin with a two-minute stabilization phase, during which the physiological values of the volunteer will be checked. During the experiment, non-invasive SpO2 measurements will be performed continuously on the individual fingers of both volunteer hands throughout the experiment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Does it depend on which finger is the sensor placed for SpO2 values?	The experiment can help determine if it depends on which finger the finger sensor will be placed to measure SpO2. Appropriate finger selection for SpO2 measurements could help to better interpret the measured values and possibly increase the success in diagnosing health events.	Up to 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Czech Technical University in Prague
• Investigators: Study Director: Karel Roubík, Czech Technical University in Prague, FBMI

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Rafl J, Kulhanek F, Kudrna P, Ort V, Roubik K. Response time of indirectly accessed gas exchange depends on measurement method. Biomed Tech (Berl). 2018 Nov 27;63(6):647-655. doi: 10.1515/bmt-2017-0070.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 5, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 15, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): October 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): February 25, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Hypoxia; Hypercapnia
• Other Study ID Numbers: CzechTU

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No