APPARATUS FOR EXAMINING A PATIENT'S PULMONARY FUNCTION

摘要

Apparatus for examining pulmonary function parameters of a patient comprises a rebreathing system (1-6) adapted to be connected with the patient and including a variable-volume reservoir (1), a carbon dioxide absorber (19) in an inhalation conduit (3), and means (24) for selectively switching the carbon dioxide absorber (19) on and off. A carbon dioxide meter (25) is controllable to selectively measure the carbon dioxide content of respiratory gas being exhaled and of exhaled respiratory gas collected in the reservoir (1). Volume monitoring means (17, 18) monitor the volume variations of the reservoir (1). A computing unit (30) computes the pulmonary blood flow and other pulmonary function parameters using carbon dioxide concentration parameters measured by means of the carbon dioxide meter (25) and ventilatory rate parameters measured by means of the monitoring means (17, 18).