METHOD OF DETERMINING DIFFUSIVE CAPACITY OF LUNGS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING SAME Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: medicine and medical engineering. SUBSTANCE: essence of this method for determining diffusive capacity of lungs resides in measuring content of carbon oxide in inhaled, exhaled and alveolar air in quiet breathing after preliminary inhalation of carbon oxide admixed with air using gas analyzer and apparatus incorporating containers for inhaled and exhaled gaseous mixtures, assessing diffusive capacity of lungs using standard formula, assaying gaseous mixture resulting from inhalation of oxygen and exhalation of carbon dioxide into auxiliary container for measuring content of carbon oxide in alveolar air exhaled by patient suffering from pulmonary insufficiency of 2-nd and 3-rd degrees, allowing patient to continue enhaling and exhaling during 1.5 min in auxiliary container to produce gaseous mixture having carbon dioxide content exceeding normal concentration by 5 to 10 mm Hg, and finally repeating inhalation and exhalation of prepared gaseous mixture during 20 s. Apparatus designed for carrying out disclosed method of determining diffusive capacity of lungs incorporates container for inhaled gaseous mixture (air plus carbon oxide) and container for exhaled gaseous mixture (air and carbon oxide). These containers intercommunicate via distributor employed for directing air flow. EFFECT: disclosed method permits examining patients suffering from pulmonary insufficiency of 2-nd and 3-rd degrees and having breathing volume less than 700 - 800 ml. 4 cl, 2 dwg