High-sensitivity device for continuous measurements of tissue O2 uptake.

An analysis system for continuous measurements of O2 uptake by rat diaphragm during several hours is described. The tissue was set in a chamber where a medium was flowing at a known and constant flow rate, temperature, and partial pressure of oxygen (PO2). The decrease in PO2 of the medium was measured with a Clark O2 cathode at the outlet of the chamber. To increase the sensitivity of the system and the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurements, a sweeping device was designed. It provided homogenization of the medium in the chamber. The main characteristics of this analysis system are a) a sensitivity of +/-0.2% of the mean PO2 value of the perfused medium, +/-0.8% of the mean O2 uptake of rat diaphragm, b) a linearity of +/-1.75% in the range of 0+/-200 Torr, c) a stability of +/-0.38% of the initial PO2 value, and d) a time constant of 8 min 30 s. This type of system can be used for high-sensitivity measurements of O2 uptake of any tissue after adaptation of the chamber and of the medium flow rate.