Spirometer 1
Spirometer
A spirometer is an apparatus for measuring the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs. It is a precision
differential pressure transducer for the measurements of respiration flow rates. The spirometer records the amount of
air and the rate of air that is breathed in and out over a specified period of time.
A Tank-type spirometer works on the same principle as the gasometer.
A canister of soda is usually attached to absorb carbon dioxide and a
kymograph trace is produced to record changes in total volume gas.
From this, vital capacity, tidal volume, breathing rate and ventilation
rate (=tidal volume x breathing rate) can be calculated. From the
overall decline on the graph, the oxygen uptake can also be measured.
Pulmonary function tests
Spirometer is one of the equipments used for basic Pulmonary
Function Tests (PFTs). It is useful as a preliminary test of the health
condition for patient's lung. Lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, A modern USB PC-based spirometer.
and emphysema can be ruled out from the tests. In addition, it is often
used for finding the cause for shortness of breath, assessing the effects
of contaminants on lung functions, effect of medication, and progress
for disease treatment.[1]
History
Early development
The earliest attempt for the measurements of lung volumes can be
dated back to period 129-200 A.D. Claudius Galen, who was a Greek
doctor and philosopher, first did a volumetric experiment on human
ventilation. He had a boy breathe in and out of a bladder and found out
that the volume did not change. Nothing much was learnt from this
experiment.[2]
In 1681, Borelli tried to measure the volume of air inspired in one
breath. He assembled a cylindrical tube partially filled with water, with
An incentive spirometer - used to help patients
an open water source entering the bottom of the cylinder. He occluded
improve the functioning of their lungs
his nostrils, inhaled through an outlet at the top of the cylinder and
measured the volume of air displaced by water. This technique is very
important in getting parameters of lung volumes nowadays.[2]
Spirometer 2
Nineteenth century
In 1813, Kentish E used a simple "Pulmometer" to study the effect of diseases on pulmonary lung volume. He used
an inverted graduated bell jar standing in water, with an outlet at the top of the bell jar controlled by a tap. The
volume of air was measured in units of pints.[2]
In 1831, Thrackrah C.T described the "Pulmometer" similar to that of Kentish. He portrayed the device as a bell jar
with an opening for the air to enter from below. There was no correction for pressure. Therefore, the spirometer not
only measured the respiratory volume, but also the strength of the respiratory muscles.[2]
In 1845, Vierordt in his book named "Physiologie des Athmens mit besonderer Rücksicht auf die Auscheidung der
Kohlensäure" in which his main interest was to measure the volume of expiration accurately. However, he also
completed accurate measures of other volume parameters by using his "Expirator". Some of the parameters described
by him are used today which included residual volume and vital capacity.[2]
The water spirometer measuring vital capacity was developed by a surgeon named John Hutchinson, in 1846. He
invented a caliberated bell, inverted in water, which was used to capture the volume of air exhaled by a person. John
published his paper about his water spirometer and the measurements he had taken from over 4,000 subjects,[2]
describing the direct relationship between vital capacity and height and inverse relationship between vital capacity
with age. He also showed that vital capacity does not relate to weight at any given height. He also used his machine
for the prediction of premature mortality. He coined the term vital capacity, which was claimed as a powerful
prognosis for heart disease by Framingham study. He believed that his machine should be used as an acturial
predictions for companies selling life insurances.[3]
In 1854, Wintrich developed a spirometer, which was easier to use than Hutchinson's. He did an experiment with
4,000 experimental subjects, and concluded that there are 3 parameters affecting vital capacity: body heights,
weights and age, which showed similar results as Hutchinson's study. In 1879, Gad J. published a paper named
"Pneumatograph" which allowed the recording of lung volume changes.[2]
Twentieth century
In 1902, Brodie T.G was the first using a dry-bellowed wedge spirometer. Wright B.M. and McKerrow C.B.
introduced the peak flow meter in 1959. In 1969, DuBois A.B. and van de Woestijne K.P. experimented on humans
the whole body plethysmograph. In 1974, Campbell et al. refined the previous peak flow meter and put forward a
cheaper and lighter version of a peak flow meter.[2]
Types of spirometer
Whole body plethysmograph
This type of spirometer gives a more accurate measurement for the components of lung volumes as compared to
other conventional spirometers. A person is enclosed in a small space when the measurement is taken.
Pneumotachometer
This spirometer measures the flow rate of gases by detecting pressure differences across the fine mesh. One
advantage of this spirometer is that the subject under investigation can breathe in fresh air during the experiment.[4]
Fully electronic spirometer
Electronic spirometers have been developed that compute airflow rates in an channel without the need for fine
meshes or moving parts. They operate by measuring the speed of the airflow with techniques such as ultrasonic
transducers [5], or by measuring pressure difference in the channel such as the DynamicMT spirometer [6]. These
spirometers have greater accuracy by eliminating the momentum and resistance errors associated with moving parts
Spirometer 3
such as windmills or flow valves for flow measurement. They also allow improved hygiene between patients by
allowing fully disposable air flow channels.
Incentive spirometer
This spirometer is specially designed to improve one's functioning of the lungs.
Peak flow meter
This device is useful for measuring the ability of a person breathing out air.
Windmill-type spirometer
Windmill-type spirometer is also known as Spiropet spirometer. It is used specially for measuring forced vital
capacity without using water and has broad measurements ranging from 1000 ml to 7000 ml. It is more portable and
lighter as compared to traditional water-tank type spirometer. This spirometer should be held horizontally while
taking measurements because of the presence of rotating disc.[7] [8]
References
[1] Pulmonary function tests (http:/ / www. nlm. nih. gov/ medlineplus/ ency/ article/ 003853. htm) URL assessed on 27 December 2009
[2] Spirometer history (http:/ / medizin. li/ spirometer/ spirometer-history. html) URL assessed on 21 November 2009
[3] John Hutchinson's Mysterious Machine Revisited (http:/ / chestjournal. chestpubs. org/ content/ 121/ 5_suppl/ 219S. full. pdf+ html) URL
assessed on 21 November 2009
[4] PNEUMOTACHOMETER/GRAPH (http:/ / home. btconnect. com/ MalcolmBrown/ entries/ PNEUMOTACHOMETER_GRAPH. html) URL
assessed on 26 December 2009
[5] http:/ / www. nddmed. com/ index/ ultra-flow
[6] http:/ / www. dynamicmt. com/ Patents. html
[7] Spiropet spirometer (http:/ / www. fact-canada. com/ SpiroTiger/ Spiropet-Spirometer. html) URL assessed on 21 November 2009
[8] AME Spirometer (http:/ / www. advancedmedicalengineering. com/ spirometer. html) URL assessed on 21 November 2009
Article Sources and Contributors 4
Article Sources and Contributors
Spirometer Source: [Link] Contributors: A2Kafir, Arcadian, Astralblue, Bensaccount, [Link], BillC, Bobjgalindo, Bobo192,
CameronB, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Cerevisae, CommonsDelinker, Coolhandscot, David H. Flint, Dbrawner, Discospinster, Dlodge, El Mayimbe, FreplySpang, Fæ, Gaius Cornelius,
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RA0808, Rockfang, Skysmith, Tobin is a rat, Tpb, Tristanb, Valliandbozzo, Vashthestampede, Victuallers, Weetoddid, Wickey-nl, WikHead, Woggly, Wrelwser43, Yamamoto Ichiro, 80
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Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
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