METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PULMONARY BLOOD FLOW BY PULMONARY EXCHANGE OF OXYGEN AND AN INERT GAS WITH THE BLOOD

摘要

A method and apparatus for measuring pulmonary blood flow in a subject by pulmonary exchange of oxygen and an inert gas with the blood using a divided respiratory system. One method of isolating two or more divisions of the respiratory system uses a multi-lumen cuffed endobronchial catheter. In one embodiment, a triple-lumen cuffed endobronchial catheter is provided. In another embodiment, gas mixtures are supplied to each lumen using a bag-in-a-box type ventilator for each breathing system for synchronizing the rate and pressure of mixed gas supplied to the lumens.