The OxyMask(™) development and performance in healthy volunteers.

Background: The OxyMask(™) is a unique, open-style, oxygen mask that was originally developed in 2005. The original mask was modified, using computational fluid dynamics numerical simulations, with the goal of allowing it to produce a wider range of FiO(2). This analysis was used to guide the modification of the mask shell and the location for the oxygen diffuser.

Both the OxyArm and Capnoxygen mask provide clinically useful capnographic monitoring capability in volunteers.

Purpose: To compare the capnography monitoring performance of the new OxyArm (OA) with the Capnoxygen mask (CM), a conventional oxygen mask with a carbon dioxide sampling port.

Methods: Eleven healthy volunteer adult subjects underwent capnographic monitoring (in a non-randomized, un-blinded crossover study) at baseline and while receiving oxygen at seven different flow rates (0.5, 1.