The Boc Group, Inc.

Brian Goodwin

David G Wardle

Michael K Sahm

Systems and methods are disclosed for determining heat transfer in an environment. In one system, heat transfer is determined with a probe including at least one element, a power supply, an amplifier, a temperature monitor, a timing structure, and a system controller. In another system, heat transfer is determined with a temperature sampler. In yet another system, the heat transfer rate is controlled in at least a partially closed environment. The disclosed methods include a method for calculating heat transfer from a first predetermined temperature, a second predetermined temperature, measured time and temperature of the environment. In another method, heat transfer is calculated from a first determined temperature, a second measured temperature, a predetermined period of time, and temperature of the environment.

System and method for determining heat transfer in an environment

A catheter probe for use in the analysis of gases absorbed in liquids, particularly suitable for the in vivo analysis of blood gases, the probe includes an equilibration chamber disposed within the active length of the probe at the distal end of the probe and which is surrounded by a gas permeable membrane. A carrier gas is introduced into the probe and enters the equilibration chamber where the gas sought to be analyzed from the blood equilibrates with the carrier gas and forms a bolus of sample gas. That bolus is then caused to flow out of the probe to an analyzer. The equilibration chamber is formed of an elongated, tortuous path that allows a high surface area to unit volume ratio, that is, the ratio of the area of the equilibration chamber that is immediately beneath the gas permeable chamber to the volume of the flow path though the equilibration chamber is high. Preferable the equilibration chamber is formed as a spiral path. The cross-sectional area of the paths through which carrier gas passes through the catheter probe are designed to be substantially the same to minimize mixing of the bolus of carrier gas containing the blood gases with the non-equilibrated carrier gas.

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Ferndale, PA, United States of America

Brian Goodwin