THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EASILY USABLE, NONTRAUMATIC APPARATUS FOR THE ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF BODY VOLUME IN NORMAL AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS.

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EASILY USABLE, NONTRAUMATIC APPARATUS FOR THE ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF BODY VOLUME IN NORMAL AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS. A SECONDARY GOAL IS THE INCLUSION OF AN ASSESSMENTOF ENERGY EXPENDITURE INTO THE SAME APPARATUS. THE METHOD PROPOSED FOR THE VOLUME DETERMINATION INCORPORATES THE PROVEN METHOD OF FLUID DISPLACEMENT BUT UTILIZES A CONCEPT THAT ALLOWS THE USE OF AIR AS THE WORKING FLUID INSTEAD OF AMORE CONVENTIONAL LIQUID DISPLACEMENT APPROACH. THE ADDITION OF ENERGY EXPENDITURE MEASUREMENT CAPABILITY RELIESON THE USE OF AN INTEGRAL HEAT EXCHANGER/CALORIMETER AND ON THE ABILITY TO MEASURE THE HEAT CONTAINED IN WATER VAPORIZEDBY THE INFANT IN NORMAL RESPIRATION AND THERMAL CONTROL PHYSIOLOGY.