Design, simulation, and evaluation of imaging oximeters

Computer simulations have played an important role in the design and evaluation of imaging sensors with applications in remote sensing [1] and consumer photography [2-7]. In this paper, we provide an example of computer simulations used to guide the design of imaging sensors for a biomedical application: We consider how sensor design, illumination, measurement geometry, and skin type influence the ability to detect blood oxygen saturation from non-invasive measurements of skin reflectance. The methodology we describe in this paper can be used to design, simulate and evaluate the design of other biomedical imaging systems.