Noninvasive CO2 Sensor for Controlling Ventilation of Combat Casualties

Polestar Technologies, Inc. proposes a Phase I SBIR project for the development of a new transcutaneous CO2 sensor to address the need for a noninvasive sensor that is capable of providing reads with the accuracy required for controlling mechanical ventilation during ambulatory care. The new sensor is designed to provide significantly faster response times compared with existing transcutaneous sensors thus reducing the potential for differences due to measurement lag as is observed with current transcutaneous sensing technologies when compared with sampled blood gas analyzer readings. Animal studies will be conducted to evaluate the performance of the new sensor under a range of conditions including normal ventilation, and induced hypocapnia and hypercapnia.