Authored By

Csilla Timar-Fulep

Abstract

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a low cost, non-invasive optical technology that takes physiological measurements on the surface of the skin. One of its most widespread applications is the wearable heart rate sensor included in commercially available smartwatches and sport bracelets, that provides comfortable and continuous pulse monitoring during everyday tasks. This article demonstrates how to model the human skin in Zemax OpticStudio for physiological measurements, and illustrates a time-dependent simulation of PPG-based heart rate sensors using ZOS-API.