Inventors:
Julian M. Goldman - Denver CO
Lyle Kirson - Denver CO
International Classification:
A61M 114
Abstract:
A system which provides information necessary to diagnose a failure or malfunction of an oxygenator. The system provides information to differentiate oxygenator failure from other causes of hypoxemia (inadequate blood oxygen concentration). Such as malfunction of the ventilating circuit, or components of the ventilating circuit. This is accomplished by analyzing the oxygen concentration of the ventilating gas entering the oxygenator, the flow of the ventilating gas entering the oxygenator, and also the pressure in the ventilating gas circuit or the pressure of gas within the oxygenator. As a result the invention provides information to diagnose ventilating gas flow obstruction or a gas leak from an oxygenator housing.