A calibration system of O-2 consumption and CO2 production for premature infants

An apparatus to calibrate the system of measuring O-2 consumption and CO2 p roduction has been developed for premature infants. This system is based on the alcohol combustion principal. The alcohol combustion is used to test t he indirect calorimetric system due to its simplicity and reliability. In t he previous studies, the O-2 consumption rate of alcoholic combustion is to o large to simulate the breath of premature infants. A new design is propos ed to burn alcohol continuously at a rate as low as 0.004 ml min(-1), equiv alent to an O-2 consumption rate of only 3.9 ml min(-1), a level in the bre ath range of preterms of about 660 g based on the measurement 5.9 ml kg(-1) min(-1). The alcohol combusts with various steady-state rates to imitate t he breath of premature infants, and it is useful for a canopy open-circuit system. The calibration tool proposed here would be helpful in the clinical study of energy expenditure for preterms. (C) 2001 American Institute of P hysics.