Bedside blood gas testing without a hospital lab
Blood Gas Analysis Without the Laboratory
Building a quick, bedside way to measure blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH for people in critical care and emergency settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176035 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm seriously ill and on a ventilator, doctors need blood gas results fast to adjust treatment. This project is creating new small sensors that can measure oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH near the patient instead of sending blood to a central lab. The team will test and refine the sensors in the lab and in physiologic models, then compare their readings to standard hospital lab results to confirm accuracy. The aim is to use these devices in ICUs, during patient transport, and in field-hospital or disaster settings so care decisions can happen more quickly.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people in intensive care or emergency settings who need frequent blood gas checks, such as those on mechanical ventilation or with respiratory failure or severe acid-base disturbances.
Not a fit: Patients who are stable and do not need blood gas monitoring, or those with conditions that prevent use of bedside sensors, are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide faster, more frequent blood gas measurements so clinicians can treat breathing and acid-base problems sooner and reduce delays from lab testing.
How similar studies have performed: Some point-of-care and transcutaneous monitors already exist but often sacrifice accuracy or cost, so this project seeks a more accurate and affordable option and still requires validation.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Evans, Conor Lee — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Evans, Conor Lee
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.