The CO
2
electrode is a membrane covered glass pH electrode with an internal electrolyte film containing NaCl and NaHCO
3
. The electrical output is a log function of
p
CO
2
(partial pressure) exposed to the sensor face. At 37°C, output is 60 mV for a 10‐fold change in
p
CO
2
. The CO
2
electrode was invented by Richard Stow, Ph.D. at Ohio State University Hospital in 1954 to help with management of paralyzed polio victims who were being artificially ventilated. His original device failed because his internal electrolyte was distilled water. Severinghaus added bicarbonate and salt to stabilize it. Manufacture of the device began in 1959.
Transcutaneous (tc) CO
2
electrodes were introduced in the mid‐1970s when transcutaneous O
2
electrodes were found to adequately reflect arterial blood oxygen pressure (
p
aO
2
), especially in premature infants whose immature lungs required extra oxygen, but where too much oxygen caused blindness. The tc
p
CO
2
electrodes are combined with tc
p
O
2
electrodes in a single small sensor that is attached with adhesive to skin surfaces. These devices are internally heated to increase local skin blood flow. At 43–45°C, skin surface
p
O
2
resembles (arterial)
p
aO
2
, but skin surface tc
p
CO
2
is ∼ 1.4 times higher than
p
aCO
2
. The instrument is calibrated to correct this difference.
Transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide electrodes have found many uses in addition to their use for newborn infants. However, their usefulness fell after pulse oximetry became common in 1985. The electrodes need careful maintenance with membrane changes and limitation of time on a skin location, to avoid burns.