Metabolic monitor

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to provide information about the technical solutions behind the Datex Deltatrac^™ Metabolic Monitor.

Deltatrac^™ measures oxygen consumption$(\dot V_{O2} )$, carbon dioxide production$(\dot V_{CO2} )$ and calculates from those respiratory quotient$(RQ = \dot V_{CO2} /\dot V_{O2} )$ and energy expenditure (EE). Deltatrac^™ can monitor both mechanically ventilated and spontaneously breathing patients.

In Deltatrac^™ carbon dioxide is measured with conventional infrared technique but both in oxygen and flow measurement novel innovative methods have been used. A fast differential paramagnetic O₂ sensor as well as the gas dilution system to measure flow have been developed specially for this application.