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Method and apparatus for assessing blood-concentration of a volatile constituent

  • US 20090087920A1
  • Filed: 10/17/2006
  • Published: 04/02/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A method of assessing the blood concentration level, in a human or animal subject, of a volatile blood constituent, the method comprising the steps of:

  • positioning sensor means within the expiratory gas-flow of the subject, the sensor means being configured to detect the presence of the constituent and provide a first output signal representative of the concentration of the constituent, and to detect the presence of carbon dioxide and provide a second output signal representative of the concentration of carbon dioxide; and

    sampling a flow of expiratory gases from the subject using the sensor means to provide the first output signal and the second output signal for the expiratory gases substantially simultaneously; and

    inputting the first and second output signals obtained by the sampling step into an algorithm configured to compare the variation of the first output signal over time with the variation of the second output signal over time and, depending on the result of the comparison, to make the second signal representative of the degree of dilution of the expiratory airflow whereby the blood concentration level of the blood constituent is assessed.

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