A pilot trial in healthy volunteers to determine the reliability and accuracy of the oxygen compliance monitor, oxymon.
BACKGROUND
Oxygen has been shown to improve morbidity, mortality and quality of life in hypoxaemic patients with chronic lung conditions. Assessing compliance has always been difficult and there are no accurate means of assessment available in clinical practice. We have trialled an oxygen compliance monitor called oxymon to address this. The aim of this study was to determine oxymons accuracy in recording oxygen use; including failure of oxygen supply and to alert users if oxygen supplies are disrupted.


METHODS
The monitor continuously records oxygen flow and inspiratory pressure. We determined the accuracy of oxymon by determining the sensitivity and specificity of the oxygen and inspiratory pressure sensor.


RESULTS
The accuracy of the oxygen and inspiratory pressure sensors is 96%.


CONCLUSIONS
Oxymon is accurate; objectively measuring compliance to oxygen, recording duration of oxygen use and identifying failure in oxygen delivery from the oxygen source or lack of inspiratory pressure by alarming.
Princess Royal hospital, Respiratory Department, Haywards Heath, UK. satu.karki@tut.fi
E
E
Holden
M
M
Jackson
D000328:Adult; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011312:Pressure; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000628:therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen