The Measurement of pO2 by O2 Electrode in the Presence of Changing pCO2

Authors

Ellen M. Lackermann, University of Iowa
Ferdinand Kreuzer, University of NijmegenFollow
G. Edgar Folk Jr., University of IowaFollow
Hans-Peter Kimmich, University of Nijmegen

Document Type

Research

Keywords

Oxygen measurements; catheter electrodes; gas analysis

Abstract

Studies on the transport of O₂ and CO₂ in the alveoli and blood have focused on simultaneous measurements of the two gases with classical instruments; an interaction between the two gases has been assumed (see Bohr Effect and Rahn-Otis Plot). Nevertheless, of late years with wide use of the Kimmich-Kreuzer Oxygen Electrode in liquids and gases, the measurements have included oxygen alone. These small (2mm) polarographic catheter electrodes have been used in both physiologic and bioengineering applications. Within a particular range of polarization voltage, the electrode current is limited by O₂ diffusion across a membrane; i.e., at a constant polarization voltage, current is linearly related to pO₂. Since it is often the case that measurements of pO₂ are taken while pCO₂ is changing, CO₂ effects on the electrode current should be known and corrected for. In the present experiments, electrical currents at 5% and 21% O₂ with varying amounts of CO₂ were measured. Polarograms (a plot of current v. voltage) made in the presence and absence of CO₂ were compared. The pO₂ measurement is significantly affected by CO₂ at 21% O₂, but not a 5% O₂; i.e., the O₂ value changed with different CO₂ levels. These results are particularly interesting since the electrode membrane is a physical model of the alveolar membrane.

Publication Date

December 1983

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

90

Issue

4

First Page

141

Last Page

143

Copyright

©1983 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Lackermann, Ellen M.; Kreuzer, Ferdinand; Folk, G. Edgar Jr.; and Kimmich, Hans-Peter (1983) "The Measurement of pO2 by O2 Electrode in the Presence of Changing pCO2," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 90(4), 141-143.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol90/iss4/7