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Metabolic gas monitoring apparatus and method

  • US 4,572,208 A
  • Filed: 06/17/1985
  • Issued: 02/25/1986
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1983
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring the metabolic rate of a patient, comprising:

  • (a) a first inlet conduit for receiving expired gas from the respiratory system of a patient;

    (b) a second inlet conduit for receiving gas as inspired by the patient;

    (c) a third inlet conduit for receiving a calibration gas;

    (d) an outlet conduit;

    (e) regulating means, positioned between said inlet conduits and said outlet conduit, for alternately regulating a continuous flow through said outlet conduit of one of said expired gas from the first inlet conduit, inspired gas from the second inlet conduit, or calibration gas from the third inlet conduit, said regulating means thereby serving to alternately allow passage of one gas at a time through said outlet conduit;

    (f) a cooler for cooling gas passing therethrough, said cooler being in gaseous communication with said outlet conduit so as to be positioned on the output side of said regulating means and said cooler serving to remove water from or add water vapor to the gas continuously flowing from said regulating means as needed to approximately equalize the water vapor pressure of each gas flowing through said cooler;

    (g) first sensing means in communication with the cooler for measuring the amount of carbon dioxide in a gaseous sample;

    (h) second sensing means in communication with the cooler for measuring the amount of oxygen in a gaseous sample; and

    (i) means for comparing the amounts of carbon dioxide and oxygen in one gaseous sample with those in another gaseous sample.

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