Abstract
BLOOD oxygen tension (Po2) may be measured polarographically by shielding the cathode with a membrane1. Existing electrodes have two types of cathode, large and small. The large cathode of 1–2 mm diameter passes a current of 1–2 µamp at a Po2of 150 mm mercury. Unfortunately reduction at the cathode produces a local zone of oxygen depletion and a steady reading can only be obtained by vigorous stirring2. Stirring inevitably requires a rather large cuvette and a blood sample which is too large for repeated estimations on the infant and small experimental animal.
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References
Clark, L. C., Trans. Amer. Soc. Art. Int. Org., 2, 41 (1956).
Severinghaus, J. W., and Bradley, A. F., J. App. Physiol., 13, 515 (1958).
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BUTLER, R., NUNN, J. & ASKILL, S. Coiled Cathode Oxygen Polarograph. Nature 196, 781 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/196781a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/196781a0
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