An apparatus to measure
cardiac output (Q) and other parameters such as alveolar ventilation (VA), minute CO2
elimination from the
lung (VCO2 ), minute
oxygen consumption (VO2), oxygenated mixed venous
partial pressure of CO2, (PvCO2-oxy), true mixed venous
partial pressure of CO2(PvCO2), PaCO2, mixed venous
oxygen saturation (SvO2), pulmonary shunt, and anatomical
dead space, consisting of: a) a
breathing circuit with characteristics that: i. on
exhalation, exhaled gas is kept substantially separate from
inhaled gas; ii. oninhalation, when VE is greater than FGS flow, the subject inhales FGS first and then inhales a gas that is substantially SGS, for the balance of
inhalation; b) gas sensor means for monitoring gas concentrations at the patient-circuit interface c) a first gas set (FGS), and a second gas set (SGS), said second gas set which may comprise previously exhaled gases or exogenous gases or both d) a gas flow control means for controlling the rate of FGS flow into the
breathing circuit e) means to identify phase of
breathing, said means may consist of pressure sensors or analysis of
signal generated by gas sensors or other means known to those skilled in the art; f)
machine intelligence consisting of a computer or logic circuit capable of controlling the gas flow control means, receiving the output of the gas sensor means and means to identify phased of breathing, and performing the calculations for measuring
cardiac output and other parameters as outlined in the disclosure.