Biomaterial Database

Transcutaneous blood gas measurement using a mass spectrometer. 1978

M B McIlroy, and G Simbruner, and Y Sonoda

We use a Perkin Elmer MGA 1100 mass spectrometer modified for blood gas tension measurements to study transcutaneous measurements of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium in normal subjects. We use an aluminum sampling chamber heated to 42--44 degree C and connected to the mass spectrometer by about 2 m of stainless steel tubing. The sampling area of 5 cm2 is covered with a polytrifluorochloroethylene membrane 18 micrometer thick (Allied Chemical Co., Aclar 33c). The membrane is supported by sintered stainless steel disc with a thermistor incorporated for measurement of "membrane" temperature. The chamber is heated with a printed circuit heater (Minco) and is temperature regulated by a servo circuit. We have used the system to measure, O2, CO2 N2 and He via the heated skin in four normal subjects, breathing air and then 100% oxygen. We also observed the response to a single breath of helium. Helium appears at the skin within 10--15 sec. The time constant of its disappearance is about 70 sec. The average uncorrected gas tensions which we obtained breathing air were 11.2 kPa for oxygen, 5.1 kPa for carbon dioxide and 67.1 kPa for nitrogen. The corresponding values breathing oxygen were 41.1 kPa for oxygen, 4.4 kPa for carbon dioxide and 13.1 kPa for nitrogen.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009584	Nitrogen	An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D010100	Oxygen	An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration.	Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D010313	Partial Pressure	The pressure that would be exerted by one component of a mixture of gases if it were present alone in a container. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Partial Pressures,Pressure, Partial,Pressures, Partial
D001784	Blood Gas Analysis	Measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.	Analysis, Blood Gas,Analyses, Blood Gas,Blood Gas Analyses,Gas Analyses, Blood,Gas Analysis, Blood
D002245	Carbon Dioxide	A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals.	Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D004566	Electrodes	Electric conductors through which electric currents enter or leave a medium, whether it be an electrolytic solution, solid, molten mass, gas, or vacuum.	Anode,Anode Materials,Cathode,Cathode Materials,Anode Material,Anodes,Cathode Material,Cathodes,Electrode,Material, Anode,Material, Cathode
D006371	Helium	A noble gas with the atomic symbol He, atomic number 2, and atomic weight 4.003. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is not combustible and does not support combustion. It was first detected in the sun and is now obtained from natural gas. Medically it is used as a diluent for other gases, being especially useful with oxygen in the treatment of certain cases of respiratory obstruction, and as a vehicle for general anesthetics.	Helium-4,Helium 4
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D013058	Mass Spectrometry	An analytical method used in determining the identity of a chemical based on its mass using mass analyzers/mass spectrometers.	Mass Spectroscopy,Spectrometry, Mass,Spectroscopy, Mass,Spectrum Analysis, Mass,Analysis, Mass Spectrum,Mass Spectrum Analysis,Analyses, Mass Spectrum,Mass Spectrum Analyses,Spectrum Analyses, Mass