The objective of this project is to develop a practical monitoring system that noninvasively and continuously measures every significant parameter associated with oxygen and carbon dioxide transport. The system would have the additional features of requiring minimal patient contact and being noninterfering to gas exchange or any monitored parameters. Thus, the system would be available for monitoring patients ranging in disease severity from critically ill to normal. Monitoring would be applicable to newborn to adult patients, and for activities ranging from sleep to exercise.The uniqueness of the methodology lies in (1) the use of the lung as a noninvasive port from which all significant gas exchange information is available by analysis of tracer gas components, and (2) the simultaneous measurement and analysis of a sufficiently large and independent set of tracer components to provide characterization of all essential elements of the complex gas exchange process.The technologies required to support the methodology are (1) high-powered computer technology with efficient software, and (2) mass spectroscopy, which has a combination of sensitivity, frequency response, dynamic range, and accuracy not yet found in practical instruments. The necessary computer power is now available at a practical cost. Also, because of recent advances in mass spectrometer technology, the development of a mass spectrometer with the technical specifications, operational practicality, and sufficiently low cost to support the development of a practical monitor appears feasible.Firmly establishing such feasibility is the goal of Phase I of this project. The commercial development of the total monitor is the goal for Phase II if Phase I is successful.National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute
