Improved simulation system for routine cardiopulmonary exercise test equipment: introductory remarks. ECSC Working...

The instruments used in the evaluation of cardiorespiratory function employ extraordinarily fast and complex techniques: instantaneous ventilatory flow-volume transducer operate together with rapid CO2-O2 analysers, and are coupled to on-line cardiocirculatory monitors working in real time under the control of advanced software. It is clear that, with such powerful equipment, the calibrations currently made at rest before exercise are insufficient and must be accompanied by, or replaced with, methods capable of continuous (breath-to-breath) monitoring of the instrument's activity throughout the exercise period. Two new simulation and check systems were developed for the calibration and the continuous monitoring of exercise equipment. The former applies to metabolic determinations, the latter to the cycle ergometers employed to impose varying workloads in the implementation of specific protocols.