Monitoring positive end expiratory pressure with photoplethysmography

1. A method for monitoring the application of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) to an individual, comprising

isolating, with a computer, a pulsatile arterial component (PAC) signal and a venous impedance component (VIC) signal of a PPG signal obtained from a central source site of the individual;

monitoring the PAC signal, the VIC signal, or both, over time; and

adjusting the level of PEEP based on the PAC signal, the VIC signal, or both.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing at least one of the following actions based on the PAC signal, the VIC signal, or both:

(a) administering fluids to the individual; and

(b) increasing the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) in a gas administered.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluids are administered in response to a decrease in the PAC signal, the VIC signal, or both.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of PEEP is automatically adjusted without clinician input based on the isolated PAC signal, the isolated VIC signal, or both.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of PEEP is decreased based on the PAC signal, the VIC signal, or both.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of PEEP is adjusted based on the PAC signal.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of PEEP is adjusted based on the VIC signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolation of the PAC signal and VIC signal is achieved by a method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting peaks and troughs of the PPG signal;

(b) determining the minimum values or midpoints between peaks and troughs; and

(c) interpolating between the minimum values or midpoints, and extracting the interpolated line from the PPG signal to obtain the isolated VIC signal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the PEEP is based on quantification of PAC and/or VIC changes by at least one of peak or trough counting, peak-peak timing, peak-trough height, area under the curve, shape of the curves, frequency characteristics of the curves, entropy of the curves, changes in the positions of the peaks, troughs, or midpoints from heartbeat to heartbeat or breath to breath.

10. A system for adjusting the level of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) provided to an individual, comprising:

a pulse oximeter probe secured to the individual;

at least one processing device in communication with the pulse oximeter probe,

wherein the at least one processing device isolates a PAC signal and a VIC signal from the PPG signal;

a ventilator providing oxygen-rich gas to the individual as PEEP,

wherein the ventilator automatically adjusts the level of PEEP based on the PAC signal, the VIC signal, or both.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the level of PEEP is decreased based on the PAC signal, the VIC signal, or both.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the level of PEEP is adjusted based on the PAC signal.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the level of PEEP is adjusted based on the VIC signal.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the ventilator further adjusts a fraction of inspired oxygen in the oxygen-rich gas based on the PAC signal, the VIC signal, or both.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the isolation of the PAC signal and VIC signal is achieved by a method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting peaks and troughs of the PPG signal;

(b) determining the minimum values or midpoints between peaks and troughs; and

(c) interpolating between the minimum values or midpoints, and extracting the interpolated line from the PPG signal to obtain the isolated VIC signal.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the level of PEEP is adjusted based on quantification of PAC and/or VIC changes by at least one of peak or trough counting, peak-peak timing, peak-trough height, area under the curve, shape of the curves, frequency characteristics of the curves, entropy of the curves, changes in the positions of the peaks, troughs, or midpoints from heartbeat to heartbeat or breath to breath.