B-17 
Effect of interfering gas 
Gas under test 
Error (%O
2
) 
50% He/50% O
2
 <1 % 
80% N
2
O/20% O
2
  1 % to 1.5 % 
4% Halothane/28.8% O
2
 /67.2% N
2
O  1.5 % to 2 % 
5% Sevoflurane/28.5% O
2
 / 66.5% 
N
2
O 
1 % to 1.5 % 
5% Enflurane/28.5% O
2
 /66.5% N
2
O  1.2 % to 1.8 % 
5% Isoflurane/28.5% O
2
 /66.5% N
2
O  1.2 % to 1.8 % 
5% CO
2
 / 28.5% O
2
 /66.5% N
2
O <1 % 
Theory of Operation 
O
2
 sensor can monitor the patient’s FiO
2
. O
2
 sensor is of the self-powered, diffusion limited, 
metal-air battery type comprising an anode, electrolyte, diffusion barrier and air cathode as shown 
below: 
 
At the cathode oxygen is reduced to hydroxyl ions according to the equation: 
 
 OHeOHO 442
22
 
The hydroxyl ions in turn oxidise the metal anode as follows: 
 
 eOHPbOOHPb 42242
2
 
 
Overall the cell reaction may be represented as: 
Air supply 
Cathode 
Electrolyte 
Anode 
Load resistor 
Solid membrane 
Diffusion barrier