We designed a physics laboratory exercise around pulse oximetry, a noninvasive medical technique used to assess a patient's blood oxygen saturation. An alternative to a traditional optics and light lab, this exercise teaches the principles of light absorption, spectroscopy, and the properties of light, while simultaneously studying a common medical device. Pulse oximeters are ubiquitous in clinical environments; many people who have undergone surgery or visited a hospital environment have experienced the use of this device, making it a good candidate for an investigative lab. The experiment elicits the creative process of device development from students as they conduct measurements using a blood analog that reconstructs the principles of pulse oximetry.
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November 2013
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November 01 2013
Pulse Oximetry in the Physics Lab: A Colorful Alternative to Traditional Optics Curricula
Ellynne Kutschera;
Ellynne Kutschera
Portland State University
, Portland, OR
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Justin C. Dunlap;
Justin C. Dunlap
Portland State University
, Portland, OR
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Misti Byrd;
Misti Byrd
Portland State University
, Portland, OR
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Casey Norlin;
Casey Norlin
Portland State University
, Portland, OR
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Ralf Widenhorn
Ralf Widenhorn
Portland State University
, Portland, OR
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Phys. Teach. 51, 495–497 (2013)
Citation
Ellynne Kutschera, Justin C. Dunlap, Misti Byrd, Casey Norlin, Ralf Widenhorn; Pulse Oximetry in the Physics Lab: A Colorful Alternative to Traditional Optics Curricula. Phys. Teach. 1 November 2013; 51 (8): 495–497. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4824949
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