Skip to main content
Log in

A new method for breath-to-breath determination of oxygen flux across the alveolar membrane

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A new method for breath-to-breath determination of the oxygen flux across the alveolar membrane is described. The principle of the method is to integrate the product of oxygen concentration and flow in the respiratory gas over an interval, which covers a complete respiratory cycle. The result is corrected for the change in oxygen content of the lungs through a formula, which, in contrast to those used in other methods, is independent of the residual capacity of the lungs.

The method was evaluated with respect to repeatability by repetitive measurement of oxygen flux in twenty volunteer subjects, and with respect to accuracy by comparing the measured oxygen fluxes with those obtained by the gas collection method. The coefficient of variation was found to be 8% and the breath to breath determinations were, on an average, 6% lower than those of the gas collection method.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beaver WL, Lamarra N, Karlmann K (1981) Breath by breath measurement of true alveolar gas exchange. J Appl Physiol 51: 1662–1675

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaver WL, Wassermann K, Whipp BJ (1973) On-line computer analysis breath by breath graphical display of exercise functions tests. J Appl Physiol 34: 128–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortese DA, Rodarte JR, Rehder K, Hyatt RE (1976) Effect of posture on the single breath oxygen test in normal subjects. J Appl Physiol 41: 474–479

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim TS, Rahn H, Farhi LE (1966) Estimation of true venous and arterial \(P_{{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}} }\) by gas analysis of a single breath. J Appl Physiol 21: 1338–1344

    Google Scholar 

  • Landmark SJ, Knopp TJ, Rehder K, Sessler AD (1977) Regional pulmonary perfusion and V/Q in awake and anesthetized-paralyzed man. J Appl Physiol 43: 993–1000

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnarsson D, Lindborg B (1974) Breath by breath measurement of respiratory gas exchange using on-line analog computation. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 34: 219–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundsgaard JS, GrØnlund J, Einer-Jensen N (1979) Evaluation of a constant temperature hot wire anemometer for respiratory gas flow measurements. Med Biol Eng Comp 17: 211–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Noguchi H, Ogushi Y, Yoshiya I, Itakura N, Yamabayashi, H (1982) Breath by breath \({\text{V}}_{{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}} }\) and \({\text{V}}_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) require compensation for transport delay and dynamic response. J Appl Physiol 52: 79–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue DY, Hansen JE, Blais M, Wassermann K (1980) Measurement and analysis of gas exchange during exercise using a programmable calculater. J Appl Physiol 49: 456–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Weicsteinas A, Gussoni M (1980) A simple method for measuring oxygen uptake on a single breath basis. Eur J Appl Physiol 45: 19–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenneberg LA (1975) A new formula for estimating oxygen consumption in man and animal. Eur J Appl Physiol 34: 65–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessel HU, Stout RL, Bastanier CK, Paul MH (1979) Breath by breath variation of FRC: Effect on \({\text{V}}_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) and \({\text{V}}_{{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}} }\) measured at the mouth. J Appl Physiol 46: 1122–1126

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GrØnland, J. A new method for breath-to-breath determination of oxygen flux across the alveolar membrane. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 52, 167–172 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433387

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433387

Key words

Navigation