Application of ion mobility analysis method to surgical anesthesia gas monitoring

To improve patient safety, anesthetic agent monitoring and identification have become accepted standard practice. A simple and cost effective device called an aspiration condenser has been used for ion mobility analysis in a variety of gas monitoring applications. This device has the potential to become a competitive alternative to existing anesthesia monitoring technologies. The aim of this research is to investigate the possible application of this device to anesthesia gas monitoring. Spectra of the five commonly used volatile anesthetic agents (Halothane, Isoflurane, Enflurane, Sevoflurane, and Desflurane), in varying concentrations were gathered to investigate the response of the system to increasing concentrations of anesthetic agent. This new measurement method proved to be very sensitive to changes in anesthetic agent in the percent concentration range.