Final answer:
A specific oxygen delivery device provides precise oxygen concentrations needed for treating conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, ensuring that oxygen binds preferentially to hemoglobin over carbon monoxide. A pulse oximeter is used to monitor oxygen saturation levels. Synthetic oxygen carriers can substitute for whole blood when necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
An oxygen delivery device that can provide specific concentrations of oxygen is designed to support and manage patients' respiratory needs. In medical settings, such as treating carbon monoxide poisoning, 100 percent oxygen is administered to rapidly displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, as oxygen has a higher affinity for hemoglobin than carbon monoxide. Measurements of oxygen levels using a pulse oximeter are crucial in monitoring a patient's oxygen saturation, ensuring oxygen is efficiently delivered and carbon dioxide levels are maintained within normal limits.
In case of severe blood loss or when whole blood transfusions are not possible, synthetic oxygen carriers based on fluorinated alkanes serve as an emergency replacement for blood, mimicking the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin. These carriers have very high Henry's law constants for O₂, resulting in dissolved oxygen concentrations comparable to normal blood, without the need for refrigeration and with long shelf life.