Central nervous system respiratory depression is a well-known side-effect of the opioid drug family and respiratory depression is the primary cause of fatal opioid overdose.
Whole Body Plethysmography permits a continuous and noninvasive approach to assess changes in conscious respiratory behaviour which result from drug administration. It is the ideal approach to monitor the effects on respiratory functions of fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine and many others.
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Reference
Hill et al. examined both the signalling profile of the novel µ-opioid receptor ligand PZM21, and its capacity to induce respiratory depression. Respiratory rate and tidal volume were assessed using plethysmography, comparing saline control and morphine-treated subjects to those administered PZM21.
- Easy-to-use
- No surgery required
- Tracks conscious subjects' ability to respond to real-time changes
- Swivel/tether system for measurement of physiological parameters (EEG), drug infusion or blood sampling
- Integrates easily with gas challenges, through the use of automated mass flow controllers
- Measures respiratory rate (RR), estimated tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation (MV) and flow rates
