SprintIR™ CO2 sensor evaluation in expired gas measurement during exercise (UWS/GSS Ltd.)
University: Dr Lon Kilgore, University of the West of Scotland
Collaborative Partner: Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.
Project Type: Concept (Grant £5K)
Project Duration: Three months
Project Abstract
Expired gas analysis is a staple analytical and research technique used in exercise, physiological teaching, clinical evaluation of cardiopulmonary function etc.
The basic calculation of volume of oxygen consumed (VO2) at rest and during exercise is conducted using a metabolic cart which comprises an O2 measurement device, CO2 measurement device, and pneumotachometer.
There are limitations to using this equipment for field-based exercise as it is cumbersome and poorly suited to portable measurement. There is one portable device on the market at the moment (a waist and shoulder harness), however this adds mass and this restricts the range of motion in the wearer and, with a price tag of over £20,000, the device is not viable for field applications in health promotion, exercise training or sport purposes.
Part of the issue surrounding instrument bulk may be found in the CO2 gas analysis portion of the device: current analysers are based on infra-red measurement of gas flow through the device, which adds weight and bulk, plus they must be warmed up for 15-30 minutes prior to use in order to obtain valid measures.
This project will compare GSS Ltd’s proprietary SprintIR CO2 measurement device to a standard infra-red device in terms of measurement accuracy. SprintIR CO2 monitor is a low power device weighing less than 50 grams, with an ability to power up and ready to take measurements in under 10 seconds.
S3C Project Impact
The outcomes of this project may effectively reduce the limitations of existing portable metabolic measurement systems by reducing the mass and dimension of the device carried by the subject, patient, or trainee. The worldwide sports medicine market is conservatively worth £60M pa.
The SprintIR CO2 monitor, if found to be valid and reliable for these purposes, should significantly reduce the cost of portable (and potentially laboratory-based) CO2 testing equipment. This would have a direct benefit to field based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, community-based health promotion, and sport training organisations as previously unaffordable but invaluable measurement technology would become more affordable.
