Design and Experimental Validation of a Portable Photometer for Non-Invasive Neonatal Jaundice Assessment

Subject Areas : Biomedical Spectroscopy, Microscopy, Imaging, Endoscopy

Masoumeh Khanlari ¹ , Mohammad Javad Dinparvar ²

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Received: 2025-07-05 Accepted : 2025-08-16 Published : 2025-09-06

Keywords: Neonates Jaundice, Photometery, Transcutaneous Bilirubin,

Abstract :

   Background and Objective:

Bilirubin, a yellow pigment, is a key biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring neonatal jaundice. Neonatal jaundice, caused by elevated blood bilirubin levels, can lead to severe complications if not detected and treated in time. Traditional methods for bilirubin measurement, although accurate, are invasive and require laboratory equipment, causing discomfort for the infant and increasing costs. This study presents the design and evaluation of a portable photometer for accurate non-invasive bilirubin measurement.

 

Methods:

The proposed device utilizes blue light at a wavelength of 470 nm to determine bilirubin concentration based on reflected light from simulated skin surfaces. The system incorporates multiple optical filters and advanced calibration algorithms to minimize errors caused by environmental and physical factors such as ambient light, temperature, and skin tone variations.

 

Results:

Experimental tests on skin phantoms with various bilirubin concentrations demonstrated the device's high accuracy in measuring bilirubin across a range of conditions, including light, medium, and dark skin tones.

Conclusion:

The results indicate that portable photometers can serve as rapid, accurate, and user-friendly tools in clinical and medical settings, particularly in environments with limited access to laboratory facilitie

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