NON-INVASIVE ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS DETERMINATION
A breathing circuit for use in conjunction with a ventilator serving a mechanically-ventilated patient includes an expiratory gas airflow pathway; an inspiratory gas airflow pathway; and a gas mixing mechanism operable to mix inspiratory gas and expiratory gas in an amount sufficient to equilibrate the patient's P ET CO 2 and arterial PCO 2 such that the patient's P ET CO 2 is a clinically reliable approximation of the patient's PaCO 2 .
1 - 30 . (canceled)
31 . A method for determining an arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2 ) in a ventilated or spontaneously breathing patient with pulmonary dysfunction, preliminary to a diagnostic assessment of the patient's respiratory condition, comprising the steps of:
(a) delivering to the patient, for a plurality of respective inspiratory cycles, at least one carbon dioxide containing gas in an amount sufficient to equilibrate the patient's end tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (P ET CO 2 ) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2 ) such that the patient's P ET CO 2 is a clinically reliable approximation of the patient's PaCO 2 before delivery of the carbon dioxide containing gas; and
(b) measuring the patient's P ET CO 2 at least upon completion of the plurality of inspiratory cycles and obtaining, for diagnostic assessment of the patient's respiratory condition, a measurement of the patient's P ET CO 2 as a clinically reliable record of the patient's PaCO 2 before delivery of the carbon dioxide containing gas; wherein gases having respective particular partial pressures of carbon dioxide (PCO 2 ) are delivered in the respective inspiratory cycles, the respective particular PCO 2 s characterized in that they approximate the patient's respective P ET CO 2 s in respective preceding inspiratory cycles.
32 . A method according to claim 31 , wherein a gas that supplies the patient's respiratory needs for a breath is delivered in one portion of the respective inspiratory cycle, and wherein a carbon dioxide containing gas is delivered to the patient in another portion of the respective inspiratory cycle.
33 . A method according to claim 31 , wherein the carbon dioxide containing gas comprises gas exhaled by the patient.
34 . A method according to claim 32 , wherein the carbon dioxide containing gas comprises gas exhaled by the patient.
35 . A method according to claim 31 , wherein the carbon dioxide containing gas is delivered at the end of a respective inspiratory cycle.
36 . A method according to claim 32 , wherein the carbon dioxide containing gas is delivered at the end of a respective inspiratory cycle.
37 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the patient is a spontaneously breathing patient and wherein the carbon dioxide containing gas is delivered via a rebreathing circuit.
38 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the patient is a ventilated patient and wherein the carbon dioxide containing gas is delivered by adding the carbon dioxide containing gas into an inspiratory gas delivered by a ventilator.
39 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the patient is a ventilated patient and wherein the carbon dioxide containing gas is delivered to the patient in the respective inspiratory cycle via a breathing circuit connected to a ventilator by directing ventilator flow from an inspiratory limb of the breathing circuit and to an expiratory limb of the breathing circuit during the respective inspiratory cycle, such that gas exhaled by the patient residing in the expiratory limb of the breathing circuit is driven towards the patient for inspiration in the respective inspiratory cycle.