An analog device to facilitate occlusion pressure measurements

The "oclusion pressure" technique is widely used to test the response of respiratory centers to CO2. The graphic treatment of the test necessitates a fast recording of the mouth pressure signal, thus using a great deal of paper and requiring a tedious interpretation. The device described here controls an electromagnetic valve closing it during expiration and opening it after a given time delay, following the onset of inspiration. During that time only, the mouth pressure signal goes through an analog switch, the highest signal value is then equal to the occlusion pressure. This device allows the use of a slow recorder without loss of information. In addition, it has the advantage of generating very short respiratory occlusions, thus sparing the subject being tested from interferences in subsequent respiratory cycles. It can be used as a pretreatment unit to be associated with a microprocessor.