Optimization of a submersible device for monitoring the photoplesthymographic signal

The Autonomous Nervous System (ANS) is in charge of maintaining homeostasis or internal balance of our body through the control of various physiological systems. The monitoring and quantification of the balance of its two branches (sympathetic and parasympathetic) is of great relevance to know the mechanisms of regulation of the same, with multiple applications.

This project aims to optimize and improve the opto-electronic device developed in a previous project (UZCUD2015-TEC-03) that allows the evaluation of ANS in a non-invasive way in aquatic environments. For this, it is necessary to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal captured by the opto-electronic sensor and evaluate the most suitable portable platform for real-time processing of the captured signal and that allows estimating the variability of the heart rate, a parameter that it is closely related to the ANS.

This device will be evaluated and validated based on the quality of the signal recorded during the simulation of stress situations similar to those that a diver may experience.