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Bedside monitors designed to continuously measure and display the partial pressure (concentration) of carbon dioxide (PCO2) and/or oxygen (PO2) gases in blood; some monitors can also measure pH. These monitors include electronic circuits that are capable of acquiring and processing signals from one or more sensors, one or more visual displays (e.g., graphic, numeric), and audible/visual alarms. Bedside blood gas monitors may use several mechanisms to acquire data regarding the blood gas concentrations and/or blood pH, including (1) a transcutaneous method, which uses electrode sensors located on the patient\'s skin surface; (2) an extracorporeal method, which uses a sensor cassette that is inserted in series with the arterial catheter tubing system (these devices typically include a bundle of three detectors that combine an optical fiber with a fluorescent dye [i.e., fluorescent optodes] at their distal tip); and (3) an intravascular method, which uses a vascular catheter equipped with three detectors that combine an optical fiber with a fluorescent dye (i.e., fluorescent optodes) at their distal tip. Blood gas bedside monitors are used in a wide range of applications intended to assess patients\' respiratory and metabolic status.
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