NEW INSTRUMENT TO ASSESS ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN INFANTS

提出的研究的具体目的是证明一种新的全身间接热量计的概念，用于测量婴儿的能量消耗。婴儿能量消耗的测量很重要，原因有很多，包括确定健康和疾病中的能量需求、生长的代谢成本、最佳环境条件以及对不同饲料的反应。由于目前难以获得该人群的能量消耗测量值，因此通常从表或回归方程中估计值。这些估计值显示出相当大的可变性，在代谢研究中价值有限。拟议的仪器将纳入与间接量热法所需的关键测量相关的新技术：气体分析和气流控制。此外，整个系统的设计将提高测量的准确性和稳定性。如果这一开发成功，结果将是一种新的婴儿间接量热仪，符合以下标准：(1)无创，(2)准确，(3)稳定，(4)维持正常环境（21% O2, 0.03% CO2），(5)易于使用，(6)便携。这种产品的可用性可以大大有助于在各种情况下对婴儿的研究和护理。拟议的商业应用：由此产生的全身间接热量计在研究和医疗保健方面有商业应用；包括研究能量平衡、生长和在某些情况下（如烧伤患者）提高营养需求。系统中使用的组件技术，特别是气流测量和氧气分析方法，也是具有商业市场价值的技术，具有医疗保健和工业应用。

The specific aim of the proposed research is to demonstrate proof-of- concept for a new whole-body indirect calorimeter for the measurement of energy expenditure in infants. The measurement of energy expenditure in infants is important for a number of reasons, including determination of energy requirements in health and disease, the metabolic cost of growth, optimal environmental conditions, and response to different feeds. Due to the current difficulty in obtaining energy expenditure measurements in this population, values are commonly estimated from tables or regression equations. These estimates show considerable variability and are of limited value in metabolic studies. The proposed instrument will incorporate new technologies related to the key measurements required for indirect calorimetry: gas analysis and airflow control. Furthermore, the overall system design will lead to enhanced accuracy and stability of measurement. Should this development prove successful, the result will be a new indirect calorimeter for infants that meets the following criteria: (1) non-invasive, (2) accurate, (3) stable, (4) maintains normal environment (21% O2, 0.03% CO2), (5) easy to use, and (6) portable. The availability of such a product could significantly contribute to the study and care of infants under a variety of circumstances. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: There are commercial applications in research and health care for the resultant whole-body indirect calorimeter; including the study of energy balance, growth, and enhanced nutritional requirements under certain conditions, e.g., in burn patients. The component technologies used in the system, specifically the methods of airflow measurement and oxygen analysis, are also commercially marketable technologies having both health care and industrial applications.