Validation of a Novel Oxygen Consumption Measurement Technique in Neonates
Conditions: Neonatal Respiratory Failure, Congenital Heart Defect
Sponsor: Boston Children's Hospital

Validation of a novel oxygen consumption measurement technique in neonates 
John Kheir, MD 
Peter Clemensen, MSc 
Erin Rescoe, MD 
Kristen T. Leeman, MD 
Einav Nachman 
Last update: March 15, 2017

A. Specific Aims/Objectives  
To compare oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), resting energy 
expenditure (REE), and respiratory quotient (RQ) using a novel and responsive technique to 
measurements made using a gold standard technique (i.e. Douglas bag) in neonates. 
B. Background and Significance 
The importance of measuring resting energy expenditure  
Resting energy expenditure (REE) is defined as the number of calories the body expends daily during 
resting conditions.  Currently, there are two ways of estimating REE in patients: (1) equations that 
estimate REE based on patient characteristics such as age, weight, and gender, and (2) indirect 
calorimetry (IC) which uses measured VO2 and VCO2 to calculate patient-specific REE.  There are several 
equations available to mathematically estimate REE, however, these equations are substantially less 
accurate than IC.  Prior studies have demonstrated that true REE is both over- and underestimated 
when relying on such equations due to variation in patient conditions, activity levels, and temperature 
(Rousing et al., 2016). In fact, recent studies comparing estimated REE to measured REE using IC in the 
pediatric ICU have found that a significant number of patients were being overfed when comparing 
caloric intake to measured energy needs (Dokken et al., 2013; Mehta et al., 2010).  This may have 
detrimental effects on patient outcomes, including fluid overload, carbon dioxide overproduction, 
and feeding intolerance.  Therefore, REE estimates based on IC are considered the gold standard for 
the clinical assessment of energy expenditure (Mehta et al., 2014). It has also been demonstrated that 
adequate nutrition in critically ill children improves outcomes and reduces mortality (Mehta et al., 
2012), making the ability to measure VO2 and VCO2 vitally important to improving outcomes in the 
neonatal and pediatric ICU. 
Additional benefits of measured oxygen consumption 
In addition to measuring the caloric needs of critically ill children, oxygen consumption can be used in 
the direct Fick principle together with arterial and mixed venous oxygen contents for calculation of 
hemodynamic indices including cardiac index, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance. In these 
calculations, accuracy is vital as an error in VO2 will translate directly into an equivalent percentage 
error in cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance.  At Boston Children’s Hospital, VO2 is 
routinely estimated using the LaFarge equation (LaFarge, 1970) for use in the Fick equation, a practice 
which has been shown in multiple studies to overestimate VO2 relative to measured values (Li, 2013), 
particularly in neonates and infants in whom the magnitude of the error was up to 75%.  Thus, direct 
measurement of VO2 rather than its estimation is necessary in children with congenital heart disease 
undergoing cardiac catheterization, particularly in infants and children <3 years of age – who 
comprise the majority of congenital heart patients. 
 
Measured oxygen consumption can also be used to identify derangements in oxygen delivery in the 
postoperative setting, as oxygen consumption becomes supply dependent at a critical threshold 
(Shoemaker, 1991, Shoemaker, 1983, Shoemaker, 1988) at which point oxygen delivery is dangerously 
low.  Identifying these changes in VO2 can alert the clinician to the presence of poor tissue 
oxygenation (Mills, 2016).  Further, a decrease in measured VO2 in excess of 30% from baseline during 
pressure supported ventilation has been shown to be predictive of extubation failure in the intensive 

care setting (Mehta et al., 2014).  In order to apply this finding to infants and neonates, the ability to 
quantify oxygen consumption in the setting of tachypnea and low tidal volume respiration is vital. 
Methods used to quantify oxygen consumption 
Currently, all patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for any reason are monitored using a 
capnograph, a device which uses an adapter fitted onto the end of the endotracheal tube for the 
continuous monitoring of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2), and other basic spirometric measures (e.g. 
tidal volume, VCO2, lung compliance). There are several different capnograph devices in current use 
within BCH.  However, none of these devices measure VO2, which is a critical endpoint for the reasons 
described above.  Our group has investigated two modules manufactured by GE (Datex Ohmeda, GE 
Healthcare, E-CAIOVX module) to monitor VO2 in neonates and infants in both benchtop and clinical 
settings, finding it to be inaccurate and not clinically informative in the setting of infants and young 
children (Smallwood, 2012, Smallwood, 2016, Mills, 2016) 
In principle, VO2 measurements for indirect calorimetry in ventilated patients can be done in different 
ways, including breath-by-breath methods, mixing chamber/mixed expired methods and Douglas gas 
collection methods. However, measurements of oxygen consumption in newborns by any of these 
approaches is challenging for several reasons.  
When applying VO2 measurements on a breath-by-breath basis, respiratory flow and oxygen 
concentration are measured proximally during inspiration and expiration. The principle is to integrate 
the product of flow and concentration and calculate the difference between inspired and expired 
volumes of oxygen.  Ultra-fast gas analyzer response time and perfect time alignment between flow 
and gas concentration signals are required to obtain accurate values, . The flowmeter typically 
responds instantaneously, whilst the side stream gas analyzer responds with a requisite delay due to 
the transport of gas from the sampling site to the gas detector through the gas sample line. Even small 
errors in time alignment can cause significant errors in the calculated VO2.  For the flowmeter to detect 
both inspired and expired flows it needs to be placed between the endotracheal tube and wye piece. 
This presents a problem in patients with a small breathing volume such as newborns as it affects 
anatomic dead space, a critical parameter.  Also, flowmeters do not cope well with humidified 
ventilation systems because water tends to affect the detection mechanism. This causes calibration to 
change when measurements are conducted for long durations.  The breath-by-breath method may be 
useful for short term measurements in patients over ~3 years of age, where an added dead space is 
acceptable and breathing frequency is relatively low.  For smaller infants, particularly those with rapid 
respiratory rates, the method is impractical because of added dead space, gas analyzer response time, 
critical time alignment between flow and gas signals, and possible condensation of water vapor in the 
flowmeter.. 
Alternatives to the breath-by-breath method have been proposed such as using a mass 
spectrometer system and avoiding the use of flowmeters by a mixing chamber for the expired gas 
(Davies and Denison, 1979).  Oxygen concentrations in the inspired gas and gas at the outlet of the 
mixing chamber are measured by the mass spectrometer. Minute ventilation is calculated by adding a 
small but constant flow of an inert gas, e.g. argon, to the inlet of the mixing chamber and measuring 
its concentration downstream at the outlet. This technique is the basis for the AMIS 2000 medical 
mass spectrometer, the only device which has proven reliable in newborns in several studies 
(Shekerdemian et al., 1996; Li et al., 2000; Li et al., 2003; Li et al., 2004; Li et al., 2006; Li et al., 2007; Li et 

al., 2008; Li, 2013).  Unfortunately, mass spectrometers are physically cumbersome and complex 
devices that are neither easy to use nor scalable in an ICU environment. 
Most studies using indirect calorimetry have used the Deltatrac II Metabolic Monitor (Datex-Ohmeda, 
Helsinki, Finland, and later Sensormedics, CA, USA) which has become acknowledged as a gold 
standard reference tool and criterion method among indirect calorimetry devices based on several 
validation studies and years of use in clinical and research settings (McLellan et al., 2002; Singer et al., 
2006; Cooper et al., 2009; Graf et al., 2013; Sundström et al., 2013; Ashcraft and Frankenfield, 2015; 
Black et al., 2015; Graf et al., 2015; Sundström Rehal et al., 2016). The monitor has been evaluated in 
several in vitro studies (Takala et al., 1989; Makita et al., 1990; Phang et al., 1990; Weissman et al., 1990; 
Shortland et al., 1992; Weyland et al., 1994; Tissot et al., 1995; Wells and Fuller, 1998; Behrends et al., 
2001; Joosten et al., 2000; Melendez et al., 2001), and even though it has been regarded by many as a 
gold standard, results have been of varying quality. Moreover, few studies have tested the device in 
infants or at metabolic rates corresponding to infants (Shortland et al., 1992; Weyland et al., 1994; 
Behrends et al., 2000; Joosten et al., 2000). 
The Deltatrac II is connected to the exhaust port of the ventilator and consists of an infrared CO2 
analyzer, a differential paramagnetic O2 analyzer, and a constant flow generator. All expiratory gas is 
led through a mixing chamber and then drawn through a fixed-flow generator that dilutes the expired 
gas with room air to a total constant flow rate of typically 40 L/min for adults down to 3 L/min for 
babies. VCO2 is calculated by multiplying the constant flow by the fraction of CO2 in the diluted 
expiratory gas mixture at the output of the fixed-flow generator. VO2 is derived from the inspiratory O2 
fraction and the respiratory quotient (RQ), which is calculated prior to dilution using the Haldane 
transformation. The results are expressed as an average and are regarded as a moving average of the 
previous 3–5 minutes depending on the patient’s minute ventilation. 
The production of both the AMIS2000 and Deltatrac have been discontinued, but several new devices 
have been introduced into the market that potentially could serve as a replacement. However, none of 
these commercially available devices are suitable for use in very small patients. 
A novel technique for measuring oxygen consumption 
Thia study represents a collaboration between the Boston Children’s Hospital investigative team and 
InnoCC/Innovision in Denmark.  Innovision is a company specialized in cardiopulmonary diagnostics 
based on advanced pulmonary gas exchange technologies. The company has been a leader in gold 
standard technologies for measurement of oxygen consumption, including the AMIS2000, the mass 
spectrometry based device described above.  InnoCC is a wholly owned subsidiary to Innovision that 
has a license to exploit Innovision’s technologies within the field of mechanically ventilated patients. 
The company has collaborated with the PI’s Translational Research Laboratory at BCH for a couple of 
years. Peter Clemensen, who has a master of science degree in biomedical engineering, is employed 
by InnoCC/Innovision and has moved from Denmark to Boston to work as a visiting scientist at within 
the Translational Research Lab at BCH for the past year to advance the company’s technologies for 
measuring oxygen consumption in neonates. 
The current study aims to test a novel measurement apparatus for oxygen consumption (VO2) 
measurements in newborns. While the equipment itself is novel, it connects to the ventilator circuitry 
in a noninvasive manner similar to that of FDA approved capnometry devices except that the sensor 
and gas sample line are connected at the ventilator ports, remote from the proximal Y-piece.  This 

important feature avoids the addition of dead 
space, and also the risks association with a 
weighted sensor attached to a small tracheal 
tube (risking displacement).  The technique is 
based on sampling of inspired and mixed 
expired gas and measurement of inspiratory 
flow. Unlike other techniques, this technique 
should be suitable for use in mechanically 
ventilated pediatric patients where minute 
ventilation is low and respiratory rates are 
high. 
The study device and a schematic of the 
Mixing Chamber setup are shown in Figure 1. 
The inspiratory flowmeter (differential 
pressure type pneumotach) is inserted at the 
inspiratory outlet of the ventilator prior to the 
humidifier so that it measures the flow of dry 
inspiratory gas. The flowmeter is connected to 
a differential pressure sensor in the VO2 device 
using double-lumen rubber tubing. The VO2 
device also contains an O2 sensor (laser diode 
sensor) with CO2 module (NDIR infra-red 
sensor).  Nafion gas sample tubes are 
connected between the de vice and the 
inspiratory limb for measurement of the 
inspired oxygen concentration and between the device and the exhaust port or mixing chamber 
outlet for measurement of mixed expired carbon dioxide and oxygen concentrations, respectively. A 
solenoid valve connected to both Nafion gas sample tubes inside the device is used to automatically 
alternate between inspiratory and expiratory gas measurements. 
The design of the novel system is intended to overcome several small but compounding errors in 
oxygen measurements.  First, ventilators are 
known to deliver fluctuating oxygen 
concentrations (FIO2) to different degrees (see 
Figure 2), which can have significant effects on 
metabolic measurements.  By compensating 
measures of inspiratory flow of dry gas for FiO2-
dependent changes in viscosity and flow-
weighting FIO2 measurements (rather than simple 
time-weighted estimates, as other current 
instruments do), we believe it is possible to 
determine both inspired volume flow and 
average FIO2 accurately and thereby effectively 
make the novel system insensitive to fluctuations 
in FIO2 from the ventilator.  Expired 
concentrations (FEO2 and FECO2) are measured at 
the exhaust port of the ventilator in order to 
Figure 1.  (Top) Image of the device, run using a 
standard  tablet application, integrated with a standard 
Servo I ventilator.  (Bottom)  Schematic of the devices 
integration with Servo ventilation circuit, including a 
flowmeter, two gas sampling lines, and an optional 
airway pressure line.   
Figure 2.  Measured fluctuations in FiO2 (blue line) 
during changes in measured inspiratory flow rate 
(orange line) using a standard Servo I ventilator and 
routine ventilatory flow rates.  This finding renders the 
absolute precision of time alignment of flow and 
oxygen measurements mandatory. 

obtain reliable average estimates. By combining inspired flow and FIO2 with time shifted FEO2 and 
FECO2, it is possible to determine expired flow, VO2, VCO2, RQ and REE.  The system also accounts for 
the presence bias flow (used to enable flow triggering of patient breaths in modern ventilators), and 
uses a lower sampling rate (60 mL/min) than any device on the market.   
C. Preliminary Studies 
As part of the preclinical validation of this device, we have recently completed both in vitro and in vivo 
interrogations of the device.   
In vitro lung simulator experiments 
To determine absolute measurement 
accuracy using our novel device, we 
created a lung simulator (Figure 3) 
consisting of artificial lungs in which VO2 
and VCO2 are simulated with precision 
using a mass flow controller.  Briefly, we 
created an in vitro system consisting of a 
silicone bellows reservoir including a 
minimum volume (i.e. FRC) and a tidal 
volume.  To simulate metabolic gas 
exchange, a flow of a precision test gas 
with known fractional concentrations of 
CO2 and O2 (50% CO2, balance O2 with 
0.03% absolute accuracy) is continuously 
injected at a constant rate (0-50 mL/min 
using a mass flow controller with an accuracy of ±0.2%).  It should be noted that the lung simulator 
produces negative VO2 (i.e. O2 production).  We designed this system to permit a standard ventilator to 
drive phasic respiration, to titrate FIO2, and to permit simultaneous humidication.  This is more robust 
test of a respiratory module than we have previously described (Smallwood, 2016), which an active 
test lung and pistons to drive ventilation and a 21% CO2/N2 mixture for the infusion and displacement 
of oxygen.  
Using this setup, we have examined 
the performance of the novel device 
among a range of VO2, RR and FiO2 
values (Table 1).  Note that in all cases 
the error was <1 mL/min of VO2 (most 
were <0.5 mL/min), even when 
interrogated at RR as high as 80 
breaths/minute, Tv as low as 10 mL, 
and FiO2 as high as 60%.  These 
findings cover the clinically relevant 
range in infants and neonates, and 
provide significant optimism that this 
system will be able to accurately 
measure VO2. VCO2 is measured by 
Figure 3.  Lung simulator which permits the quantification 
of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production 
during phasic ventilation.  Gold standard measures of each 
are provided by an inflow of precise volumes of oxygen and 
carbon dioxide production using a mass flow controller. 
Table 1.  Accuracy of novel device during lung simulator testing. 

this system with even greater accuracy (since FiCO2 is always negligible), and we have elected not to 
show these data.  
In vivo rat experiments 
 To simulate the performance of the device in extremely low birth weight infants, we compared 
measures of VO2 and VCO2 in Sprague Dawley (N=5, weight 662±61 g).  Animals were intubated and 
the trachea sealed against the ETT using suture purse string.  They were ventilated using a Servo I 
ventilator in SIMV pressure control with pressure support, PEEP of 5 cmH2O, peak pressure 10 cmH2O 
and mandatory rate of 30 bpm.  FIO2 was maintained at 0.4.  In each experiment, VO2 measurements 
were made under two conditions: 40% FiO2 provided by the ventilator as in clinical practice, and 
when provided using a certified gas mixture of 40% FiO2 with <±0.03% absolute accuracy.   The latter 
condition was used to obviate the complicating factor of fluctuations in FiO2 as described above.  In 
both conditions, device measurements were compared to those calculated using a Douglas bag 
method.  Briefly,  expired gases were collected within a 5 L non-diffusing gas collection bag connected 
to the exhaust port of the ventilator.  The bag was flushed three times with expired gas and emptied. 
Then, measurements were performed with the device and gas collected simultaneously for 
comparison over ~6 
minutes.  The contents of 
the bag were 
subsequently analyzed, its 
volume measured with a 
calibrated syringe, and VO2 
and VCO2 calculated using 
the Douglas technique. As 
shown in Table 2, 
differences between 
device estimates and 
reference measurements 
were below 0.4 mL/min in 
all cases, which would be clinically acceptable for even the smallest infants. During the completion of 
these experiments, we did not note any significant technical problems with the ventilator and its 
interaction with the ventilation of the animal. 
Given these encouraging results, we would now like to test the novel device for accuracy and 
precision in newborn infants, comparing the results to those from the Douglas technique as described 
above. 
D. Design and Methods  
1.  Study Design 
This will be a single center, prospective, observational study comparing two methods of measuring 
VO2, VCO2 and REE in mechanically ventilated infants.  We will choose patients who have the most 
significant clinical need and no current methods of measuring these endpoints, including preterm 
infants in the NICU and infants in the CICU.  Briefly, consented patients will undergo measurements by 
two methods: (1) the novel method, in which inspired and expired oxygen will be measured using the 
Insp. 
source 
Mixing 
technique 
Douglas bag 
Difference 
  
VO2 
VCO2 
VO2 
VCO2 
VO2 
VCO2 
  mL/min mL/min mL/min mL/min mL/min mL/min 
Avg. 
7.84 
6.46 
8.17 
6.24 
-0.34 
0.23 
Vent. 
8.00 
6.71 
8.35 
6.51 
-0.35 
0.20 
Tank 
7.67 
6.22 
8.00 
5.97 
-0.33 
0.25 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
N=5 (625-770 g) 
  
  
  
  
  
Table 2.  Accuracy of novel device during in vivo testing. 

novel device, and VO2, VCO2, and REE outputted in real-time, and compared with (2) collected gas 
stored within gas-impermeable bags and analyzed post hoc for gas contents and volumes.   
 
In this study, we have also elected to use a fixed FiO2 of 40% in order to permit us to, during a portion 
of the study, to utilize a certified gas mixture as a gas inlet for the ventilator, ensuring a precise input 
of FiO2.  This step will remove an additional variable in our gold standard measurement (i.e. 
fluctuation of inspired gas fraction and the requisite perfect time alignment), improving our 
confidence in the reference standard even further.   
(2) Study Population 
Inclusion criteria. 
1. Mechanically ventilated neonates and infants (<1 year of age). 
2. Inpatients in the cardiac (8S) or neonatal (7N) intensive care unit. 
3. Assent of patient’s intensive care attending physician, including agreement to place patient 
on 40% oxygen for up to 60 minutes.   
4. Written parental informed consent. 
 
Exclusion criteria. 
1. Hemodynamic or respiratory instability. 
2. Patients on ECMO. 
3. Clinically significant tracheo-esophageal fistula  
4. Measured ETT leak >20% (i.e. difference between inspiratory and expiratory tidal volumes) 
 
Recruitment Methods.  The inpatient census of each ICU will be screened daily by a member of care 
study team.  The attend physician of eligible patients will be approached to discuss study candidacy. 
The family members of appropriate patients (as per discussion with the ICU physician) will be 
approached for informed consent.  We aim to recruit 30 patients. 
(3) 
Description of Study Treatments or Exposures/Predictors 
Essentially, this study will involve an ~1 hour, single point in time measurement of VO2, VCO2, REE and 
RQ using two methods to achieve a set FiO2 of 40%: standard FiO2 setting on the ventilator and a 
certified gas mixture.  Responsive measurements will be compared with those from a Douglas bag.  
This is precisely the same experimental protocol we used for the rodent experiments above. 
 
Following informed consent, completion of the study will be coordinated with members of the 
bedside nursing and respiratory care team.  The device will be connected to the patient’s ventilator 
circuit according to Figure 4, and will include the following. 
 
(1) When the patient, bedside nurse and respiratory therapist are ready, the inspiratory limb will 
be temporarily disconnected for attachment of the pneumotach in-line.  This takes 1-2 
seconds and would be the same interruption in ventilation required to manually ventilate the 
patient, such that in most cases the patient will stay attached to the ventilator circuit.  In our 
rodent experiments, we were able to complete this very efficiently with no detectable changes 
in patient condition.     

(2) An inspiratory gas sampling 
connection will be placed into a 
luer locked side port in the 
inspiratory limb.  This will draw a 
sample flow of 60 mL/min from the 
bias flow.  
(3) Similarly, an expiratory gas 
sampling connection will be placed 
at the exhaust port of ventilator, 
distal to which a Douglas bag will 
be attached.  In patients with a 
spontaneous respiratory rate <30, 
we will add an optional passive 
mixing chamber to ensure that the 
expired gas collected is completely 
mixed.   
 
Following these connections, the patient 
will be allowed to stabilize on 40 % FIO2 
administered in standard fashion using the 
ventilator for 10 minutes.  During this time, 
we will make continuous and responsive 
measurements of VO2, VCO2, REE and RQ 
using the novel device.  The same expired 
gases used create these measurements will 
be also be collected by the Douglas bag in 
timed fashion.  As described above, the Douglas bag is a gas-impermeable, foil-lined, compliant bag 
routinely used for the collection of expired gas such as this.  Following each timed collection, the bag 
will be disconnected, labeled, and stored for later analysis.  Measurement will then be repeated twice 
in total. 
 
Because of the fluctuations inherent in FiO2 measurements set by the ventilator (ref Figure 2 above), 
we will change the source of oxygen to a certified gas mixture (USP medical grade, oxygen 
concentration 40±0.03%) with the aid of the respiratory therapist.  Measurements will then be 
completed twice using this inspired gas mixture, including the Douglas bag collections.   
 
Following study end, all equipment will be carefully disconnected from the ventilator and removed 
from the bedside.  Family and the care team notified of the end of study and of any adverse events.  
Data will be compared between replicates and the study team’s best estimate (based on all available 
data) of VO2, VCO2, REE and RQ will be provided to the study team.  A detailed timeline of these 
events is shown in Section 6 below.   
 
 (4) 
Definition of Primary and Secondary Outcomes/Endpoints 
Primary endpoints 
(i) 
VO2, VCO2, REE and RQ measured during steady state by novel device. 
(ii) 
Same endpoints measured by Douglas technique. 
Figure 4.  Schema of device attachments required as part of 
the study.   

Secondary endpoints 
(iii) Estimated gestational age 
(iv) Current body weight 
(v) 
Tracheal tube size, presence of cuff, leak percentage (difference between inspired and 
expired tidal volumes) 
(vi) Spirometry metrics 
a. Tidal volume 
b. Respiratory rate 
c. Baseline FiO2 
d. Minute ventilation 
(vii) SBS score, total daily doses of opiates and benzodiazepines, current use of neuromuscular 
blocking agents  
(viii) Temperature, heart rate, arterial blood pressure at study initiation and study termination 
(ix) Adverse events 
(x) 
Daily caloric intake on the day of study. 
(5) 
Data Collection Methods, Assessments, Interventions and Schedule (what assessments 
performed, how often)  
Outcome measurements 
Measured VO2, VCO2, REE and RQ, as well as the endpoints listed above will be recorded at the bedside 
onto the data collection form.  
 
Patient variables 
Upon study enrollment, we will record the patient demographics, vital signs and treatments as 
described above.  
 
Adverse events 
The most important and significant potential adverse events will be related to the brief (i.e. 1-2 
seconds) interruptions in the ventilator circuit.  The risks will be lung derecruitment, a temporary 
decrease in oxyhemoglobin saturations, or potentially hemodynamic instability.  We have mitigated 
this risk through our inclusion criteria, which will include patients who (in the opinion of the medical 
team) are able to tolerate an FiO2 of 0.4, which would exclude patients with severe lung disease.  We 
will also exclude patients with minimal cardiopulmonary reserve in the opinion of the medical team.   
 
Members of the study team will be present at the bedside for the duration of this study.  We will 
monitor carefully for oxygen desaturation and for alterations in heart rhythm (e.g. bradycardia) or 
blood pressure from baseline.  
 
Safety end points 
Individual patient studies will be terminated for any of the following: (1) withdrawal of informed 
consent, (2) hypotension (defined as MABP<35 mmHg in term infants, and <30 mmHg in preterm 
infants), (3) oxygen desaturation (10% lower than baseline saturations at the beginning of the study).  
Any adverse events will be recorded on the data safety form and discussed with the data safety and 
monitoring board (DSMB) as per below. 
 
Parameters for discontinuation of the research 

We will meet with the DSMB following any adverse events (as above) and following the inclusion of 
the first 10 patients with our DSMB, which will include Ravi Thiagarajan, MD (Chief, Cardiovascular 
Intensive Care Unit) and James DiNardo, MD (Chief, Cardiac Anesthesia) to determine whether there is 
a need to modify the study protocol or to terminate the study early. 
(6) 
Study Timeline  
STEP 
TIME 
(HH:MM) 
TASK 
1 
 
Eligible patient screening (daily). 
2 
 
Approach treating team for assent. 
3 
 
Approach family for consent. 
4 
 
Arrange time with RN and RT. 
5 
 
Calibrate device and edit setup. 
6 
00:00 
Attach device to inspiratory and expiratory limb of ventilator. 
Connect stopcock and collection bag to exhaust port. 
7 
00:02 
Set FIO2 to 40%. 
8 
00:04 
Flush Douglas bag 3 times and wait for steady-state. 
9 
00:10 
Measure VO2/VCO2/REE using device and collect expired gas (Douglas 
method) for 10 minutes (TEST A1). 
10 
00:18 
Disconnect Douglas bag and connect new bag. 
11 
00:18 
Flush Douglas bag 3 times. 
12 
00:24 
Measure VO2/VCO2/REE using device and collect expired gas (Douglas 
method) for 10 minutes (TEST A2). 
13 
00:32 
Disconnect Douglas bag and connect new bag. 
14 
00:32 
Change air inlet to certified 40% FIO2 tank. 
15 
00:33 
Flush Douglas bag 3 times and wait for steady-state. 
16 
00:39 
Measure VO2/VCO2/REE using device and collect expired gas (Douglas 
method) for 10 minutes (TEST B1). 
17 
00:47 
Disconnect Douglas bag and connect new bag. 
18 
00:47 
Flush Douglas bag 3 times. 
19 
00:55 
Measure VO2/VCO2/REE using device and collect expired gas (Douglas 
method) for 10 minutes (TEST B2). 
20 
01:03 
Change inlet to wall outlets. 
Set ventilator to pre-protocol FIO2 value. 
21 
01:04 
Disconnect device.  Discuss results with care team and adverse events 
with family. 
22 
01:05 
End study. 

 
 
 

E. Adverse Event Criteria and Reporting Procedures 
We will meet with the DSMB following any adverse events (as above) and following the inclusion of 
the first 10 patients with our DSMB, which will include Ravi Thiagarajan, MD (Chief, Cardiovascular 
Intensive Care Unit) and James DiNardo, MD (Chief, Cardiac Anesthesia) to determine whether there is 
a need to modify the study protocol or to terminate the study early. 
 
F. Data Management 
Data management methods 
Upon entry into the study, each patient will be assigned a unique patient identifier that is unique from 
their medical record number for the purpose of patient tracking. A spreadsheet which links each 
patient’s UPI and BCH medical record number will be kept in a separate binder, locked in the PI’s 
office. The UPI will be used to identify patients on all study-related materials and on the data 
collection forms. 
 
Logistic considerations 
At the time of study enrollment, baseline characteristics will be collected and recorded on a 
deidentified form. After informed consent is obtained by the family, the study device will be brought 
to the room by study personnel, and data recording will begin in real time and data will be collected 
and saved automatically by date and time. The data files will therefore not contain confidential 
information. Douglas bags will be labeled with date and time for later identification. 
 
Using a study laptop, all requisite information will be entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Data 
will be imported into the spreadsheet from data files saved automatically by the study device by a 
member of the research team, and annotated as necessary to clarify discussions with relevant parties. 
Data from Douglas bag analyses will be hand-entered or copied from raw data files by a member of 
the research team. These data will be double checked by a second member of the study team within 7 
days. 
 
G. Quality Control Method  
Quality in the data collected by the oxygen consumption monitor will be ensured by following a 
calibration protocol prior to startup. Further, study personnel will be instructed to monitor for the 
degree of air leak from the respiratory system by looking at the difference between inspiratory and 
expiratory measured tidal volumes on the ventilator. If the air leak exceeds a value corresponding to 
the inspiratory gas sample flow, data will be excluded.  VO2 measurements are known to be unstable 
for several minutes following suctioning (Smallwood and Mehta, 2012), so we will exclude VO2 data for 
10 minutes following any ETT disconnect from analyses. 
 
Quality in the transfer of data from the medical record to the spreadsheet will be ensured by an 
independent review of the primary data by a second member of the study team. 
 
H. Data Analysis Plan 

Each endpoint (i.e. VO2, VCO2, REE and RQ) will be compared between the gold standard (Douglas 
method using 40% FiO2) and the responsive device measurements will be compared using Bland 
Altman analysis. Bland-Altman plots will be used to graphically examine the magnitude of differences 
between the two methods in a pairwise fashion as a function of the measurement mean, and to see 
whether systematic variation exists.  The plots will be examined to assess whether most 
measurements are within the calculated limits of agreement (± 2s, where s is the standard deviation of 
the observed Method 1 vs. Method 2 clinical measurement differences).  For enhanced interpretability, 
the plots will also be constructed as function of the % difference between the two methods.  For a 
quantitative assessment of agreement, the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) will be estimated and 
its 95% confidence interval constructed.  The ICC ranges from 0 to 1 and represents the proportion of 
the variation in the measurements that is due to differences between patients (as opposed to 
differences in measurement by the two methods being compared).  If there is, as desired, little 
variation in measurement using the responsive device vs. Douglas measurement, then the ICC will be 
high.  The anticipated ICC for this study is approximately 0.90.  With a sample size of 30 patients, the 
width of the 95% confidence interval for the ICC will be 0.14 (that is, we can be 95% certain that the 
interval of width 0.14 contains the true ICC).  If the ICC is larger than 0.90, then the width of the 
confidence interval for the planned sample size will be narrower.   
I.  Statistical Power and Sample Considerations 
Based on the data achieved in rodents, the anticipated ICC for this study is approximately 0.90.  With a 
sample size of 30 patients, the width of the 95% confidence interval for the ICC will be 0.14 (that is, we 
can be 95% certain that the interval of width 0.14 contains the true ICC).  If the ICC is larger than 0.90, 
then the width of the confidence interval for the planned sample size will be narrower.   
 
J. Risks and Discomforts 
As described above, the most important and significant potential risks will be related to the brief (i.e. 
1-2 seconds) interruptions in the ventilator circuit.  These risks will be lung derecruitment, a temporary 
decrease in oxyhemoglobin saturations, or potentially hemodynamic instability.  We have mitigated 
this risk through our inclusion criteria, which will include patients who (in the opinion of the medical 
team) are able to tolerate an FiO2 of 0.4, which would exclude patients with severe lung disease or a 
tenuous hemodynamic state.  It is possible that the brief ventilator disconnect would cause the 
patient to cough or become more awake, though this should be well tolerated in study patients.  We 
have minimized these risks by minimizing the number of variables (e.g. FiO2) we intend to study, and 
by selecting only hemodynamically stable mechanically ventilated patients.      Members of the study 
team will be present at the bedside for the duration of this study and will monitor carefully for these 
risks and discomforts.  
 
K.  Potential benefits 
Following termination of each patient’s study, the study team will disclose the REE and RQ to the 
treating team based on the Douglas method.  This information is not currently available by any means 
and may be helpful to titrate a patient’s caloric intake to better meet their needs.  
 
L.  Study organization 
The study team will be directed by John Kheir, MD who will oversee the screening and enrollment of 
patients, the performance of measurements, analysis of the data, and adjudication of any adverse 
events.  Other members of the study team will be responsible for completion of these tasks under his 
direction.   

 
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Paragraph for cover letter: 
The study is a collaboration between Boston Children’s Hospital and InnoCC/Innovision in Denmark. 
Innovision is a company specialized in cardiopulmonary diagnostics based on advanced pulmonary 
gas exchange technologies. The company has been a leader in gold standard technologies for 
measurement of oxygen consumption, including the AMIS2000, a mass spectrometry based device. 
InnoCC is a wholly owned subsidiary to Innovision that has a license to exploit Innovision’s 
technologies within the field of mechanically ventilated patients. The company has collaborated with 
the Translational Research Laboratory at BCH for a couple of years. Peter Clemensen, who has a master 
of science degree in biomedical engineering, is employed by InnoCC/Innovision and has moved from 
Denmark to Boston to work as a visiting scientist at BCH for a year to advance the company’s 
technologies for measuring oxygen consumption in neonates.