Importance

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Abstract

A disposable endotracheal airway adapter for use in proximity of a patient's mouth in the measurement of the concentraton of respiratory gases. The disposable airway adapter of the invention provides a conduit for patient respiratory gases and allows the passage of infrared radiation through the gases for measuring the constituent concentration of the respiratory gases while keeping the patient gases from coming in contact with the analyzer mechanism. The body of the airway adapter is designed to connect in series with the airway tubing which connects a patient to a mechanical respirator or anesthesia breathing circuit. The body of the airway adapter is very light in weight and is formed of inexpensive material such as polyethylene or polypropylene so that it may be manufactured inexpensively and discarded after each use. An inexpensive optical window in the adapter is also formed of material such as polyethylene or polypropylene so that the gas analyzer can pass light into the sample for analysis. Preferably, the optical windows of the invention are made of the same material as the adapter body. Since the adapter of the invention may be disposed of after use on a single patient, sterilization expenses and cross-contamination may be minimized. Also, calibrating integrity is maintained through a calibration process which accounts for the non-linearity of the absorption spectra of the window material in the region of interest.

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First Claim