Automatic monitoring of breath-to-breath occlusion pressure and ventilatory parameters during CO2 rebreathing.

A computerized system for occlusion pressure measurement during a rebreathing test is described. The system is implemented on an Apple II microcomputer. A set of programs allows calibration, data acquisition during the experiment, and fast automatic processing of the various parameters of ventilation and occlusion pressure versus end tidal PCO2. The use of a limited memory system is made possible by an electronic interface which allows preprocessing of the mouth pressure. In addition, that device drives a new simple electromagnetic valve with low flow resistance and dead space.