Spirometery is the most common of the pulmonary function tests. The spirometery test is performed using a device called a spirometer. Spirometers are widely applied by the healthcare professionals to access lung function. This medical equipment measures the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs. Spirometer is a precision differential pressure transducer for the measurements of respiration flow rates. The spirometers record the amount of air and the rate of air that is breathed in and out over a specified time. The spirometer and attached flow head function together as a pneumotachometer, with an output signal proportional to airflow. It was invented by john hutchinson in 1846.
The output produced by a spirometer is called a kymograph trace. To use spirometer, a person breathes into a mouthpiece. The doctor may ask the person to breathe normally or to take a deep breath and blow the air quickly out of the lungs, like blowing up a balloon. A recording device measures the amount of air inhaled or exhaled and how much time each breath took. These measurements can help the doctor find out if a person has a lung problem, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Different type of spirometers are available for the medical field that include portable spirometer, pc-based spirometer, handheld spirometer and others. Pc-based spirometer is directly connected to the serial port turns any pc into a spirometer that allows any user to manage lung function screening in a simple and quick way. The portable spirometer offers true portability, desk-charger/holder, calibration syringe and printer for full interpretation documentation. Handheld digital spirometer is also available that are very small, handy unit that runs with very low maintenance cost.
This medical equipment is generally applied to determine how well the lung receive, hold and utilize air and can monitor a lung disease. This hospital medical equipment is even used to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment, to determine the severity of a lung disease and to find whether the lung disease is restrictive or obstructive. Spirometers are also used to estimate limits of activity for people with respiratory problems.
Using incentive spirometer after surgery will help you keep your lungs clear. The incentive spirometers also help to keep lungs active when one is recovering from surgery, as if you were at home performing your daily activities.
With a flow head of a suitable size, this medical equipment can be used with animals of all sizes, from mice and rats, to large animals and humans. The spirometer and attached flow head function together as a pneumotachometer, with an output signal proportional to airflow.
