Patent ID: 7621271

Claim:
A device for measurement of oxygen consumption incorporating a flowmeter adapted to measure the exhaled gas flow of a person whose breathed flow is monitored, a mixing chamber, a duct adapted to convey a portion of the exhaled air into the mixing chamber, detectors for detecting percentage of O 2 in the exhaled gas within the mixing chamber, an electronic control system adapted to process parameters associated with the breathed flow, a constant flow rate aspirating pump connected to the mixing chamber, a three-way valve positioned between and outside of the constant flow rate aspirating pump and the mixing chamber and adapted to open communication passage between said pump and said mixing chamber and close another communication passage between the pump and an outside environment when the flowmeter detects an exhalation by the person, and adapted to open the another communication passage between the pump and an outside environment and close communication passage between said pump and said mixing chamber when the flowmeter detects an interruption in the exhalation by the person.