| abstract |
Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring the breath chemistry of a patient's breath using a specially designed self- condensing sensor (34) mounted in a mask (36), nasal cannula, headband with boom apparatus, or similar device for directing the patients' breath towards the self-condensing sensor (34). Monitoring of a patient's breath pH provided by the miniaturized self- condensing pH sensor (34) provides for real-time monitoring of patient airway pH values. The specially designed self-condensing sensor module (34) incorporates a data transfer device, e.g. direct wiring (29) or a transmitter (40) with an antenna (28) for wirelessly transferring of the pH data to a processing receiver. The self-condensing pH sensor (34) comprises a multi-tubular design with the outer tubular member (35) housing a silver chloride reference element, an ion conducting path, and an antimony sensor plug (46) isolated in an inner tubular member (37) that is co-linearly or coaxially configured with the outer tubular member (35). |