An indirect calorimeter for measuring the metabolic rate of a subject includes
a disposable portion and a reusable portion. The disposable portion includes a
respiratory connector configured to be supported in contact with the subject so
as to pass inhaled and exhaled gases as the subject breathes. The disposable portion
also includes a flow pathway operable to receive and pass inhaled and exhaled gases,
having a first end in fluid communication with the respiratory connector and a
second end in fluid communication with a source and sink for respiratory gases.
The disposable portion is disposed within the reusable portion, which includes
a flow meter, a component gas concentration sensor, and a computation unit. The
flow meter generates a signal as a function of the instantaneous flow volume of
respiratory gases passing through the flow pathway and the component gas concentration
sensor generates a signal as a function of the instantaneous fraction of a predetermined
component gas in the exhaled gases. The computation unit receives the electrical
signals from the flow meter and the concentration sensor and calculates at least
one respiratory parameter for the subject as the subject breathes through the calorimeter.
