Behaviour of Apparatus for Oxygen Administration

Abstract

Widespread recognition of the danger of producing carbondioxide narcosis by oxygen therapy in patients with acute respiratory failure has led to the development of apparatus designed to control the oxygen concentration given to these patients This paper describes methods of determining the accuracy with which such apparatus controls the inspired-oxygen concentration. In particular, attention is drawn to the Venturi apparatus (Campbell, 1 960b), but an analysis is also given of the behaviour of the Polymask, a blower system and a simple oxygen mask, both of our design.