Respiratory Function Measurement System

To address the CBD need for a real-time measurement system for nonhuman primate tidal volumes, suitable for a Class 3 biological safety (BSL-3) cabinet, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Respiratory Function Measurement (RFM) system. This system is based on a piezoelectric strain transducer that responds to movement of an animal’s thoracic cage during respiration. The innovative system architecture, with the piezoelectric strain transducer incorporated into a wearable harness, wireless data transmission, real-time data processing and display, and materials compatible with decontamination chemicals, will enable the RFM system to accurately measure the respiratory parameters of animals during aerosol exposure inside a BSL-3 cabinet and display the data on a PC outside the cabinet in real time. In Phase I POC demonstrated the feasibility of the RFM system by developing a concept and design for real-time wireless output of respiratory parameters, including tidal volume from normal and complex breathing patterns, and demonstrating the compatibility of the transducer with formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide gas decontamination. In Phase II POC will develop a fully functional engineering prototype for measuring respiratory parameters in different animal species under aerosol exposure with high-consequence agents.