| abstract |
A portable system for the measurement of the metabolic parameters of an individual, athlete or patient, in real conditions of physical activity, using a “breath by breath” technique. The portable system includes a portable unit ( 1 ) that has a reduced weight and dimensions, and is fixed to the body of the individual by means of an anatomic harness ( 2 ) during the test, a turbine flowmeter ( 3 - 4 - 8 ) applied at the mouth of the individual through an anatomic face mask ( 6 - 7 - 8 ), a heart rate monitor belt ( 10 ), a rechargeable battery ( 11 ) for supplying the system, and a receiver unit ( 12 ) that is connected to a personal computer ( 14 ) by RS232 connection ( 13 ), allowing the receipt and display of the measurement in real time on the screen. n The portable unit includes a fast CO 2 analyzer, an intrinsically slow oxygen analyzer, whose output signal is elaborated in order to obtain a response time short enough to allow the accurate measurements on a “breath by breath” basis, a microprocessor, a memory for data storage, a UHF transmitter, an LCD display, and a keyboard. n The receiver unit includes a UHF receiver module and an interface for the connection to the personal computer. n The flowmeter is a bidirectional turbine ( 3 ) and an optoelectronic reader that, based on the infrared interruption technique, detects the rotations of a blade and consequently the volumes ventilated by the individual. |