zorro
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Is there any way to monitor N2(nitrogen) level in our blood during the dive?
N2 level in our blood
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Charlie99
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There is equipment that can measure partial pressure of N2 in blood, but it is not feasible to bring such large, power hungry stuff underwater.
There really isn't any benefit to knowing the level of N2 in the blood. That is very predictable --- you know what fraction of N2 is in the gas you are breathing. Do the small correction for water vapor and CO2 in the lungs and you can pretty precisely predict the N2 in the blood.
What IS difficult to predict is the level of dissolved N2 in the various tissues. Much more difficult, if not impossible to measure in a living person.
Even more difficult is to predict is the level of bubble formation and growth in the various tissues. Again, that is very difficult if not impossible to measure in a living tissue, even in a laboratory. Sometimes bubbles do become visible (eyes?? tear ducts ??) but so far that hasn't proven to be useful.
Tear film bubbles and decompression illness. Finally diagnostic test to cry for? Rubicon Research Repository: Item 6028
There really isn't any benefit to knowing the level of N2 in the blood. That is very predictable --- you know what fraction of N2 is in the gas you are breathing. Do the small correction for water vapor and CO2 in the lungs and you can pretty precisely predict the N2 in the blood.
What IS difficult to predict is the level of dissolved N2 in the various tissues. Much more difficult, if not impossible to measure in a living person.
Even more difficult is to predict is the level of bubble formation and growth in the various tissues. Again, that is very difficult if not impossible to measure in a living tissue, even in a laboratory. Sometimes bubbles do become visible (eyes?? tear ducts ??) but so far that hasn't proven to be useful.
Tear film bubbles and decompression illness. Finally diagnostic test to cry for? Rubicon Research Repository: Item 6028
silverfish88
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The equiptment to test for nitrogen is quite cumbersom and not really able to take underwater with you as far as I know. More importantly, you would need to look at if the nitrogen was forming bubbles rather than how much nitrogen is really there. It is the important question b/c it is the bubbles that cause the disease/illness. From what I have read, laser bubble monitors are in developement these days and are probably going to be the way of the future. They are quiet large now (but my opinion) in the not so distant future, the part of the dive computer that sits on the skin will have a monitor that can "see" bubbles and alarm if you are forming them allowing you to ascend slower. Just my guess though. Will add a new level of safety to diving.
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