The Key Features Of Spirometers

By Tonia Merritt


In the medical field, many professionals utilize spirometers. These special machines are primarily employed for the purpose of checking air volume. That is, the total volume of air that is exhaled and inhaled through the lungs of a person. The apparatus is also designed to record the total of air, and the rate, breathed in a specific duration of time. It provides respiration rates and is also known as a pressure transducer.

This machine is applied for a variety of different tests in the medical world, including Pulmonary Function Tests or PFTs. This is a preliminary exam that is used to check overall health of lungs. There are various diseases of the organ that are ruled out solely based on test results, such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis. Spirometers can also be utilized to check the impact of disease treatments and prescriptions.

The first of such structures was created during the 1900s. It was a dry-bellowed wedge version designed by Brodie TG. Prior to this development, unsuccessful attempts had been made to create a device that measure lung volume. Since this invention in 1902, the device has improved in many respects and is now highly effective. Other people who were involved in the development of this apparatus include DuBois AB, Woestijine JP and Compton SD.

There are multiple versions of spirometers available for use. Often they differ the most in the results that they offer. Full electronic, peak flow, windmill, whole body plethysmograph, pneumotachometer, incentive meter and tilt-compensated are just some examples of the different models used in modern times.

When matched against other modern versions, the whole body plethysmograph is recognized as the most accurate when it comes to producing volume measurements. This model is used while patients are placed in small areas. The pneumotachometer can be used to detect the difference in pressure over fine mesh. As a result, it is typically used to assess the rate of gas flow too.

Fully electronic versions, and other electronic models, do not require fine meshes or moving parts. They are able to compute the airflow rates by using channels, rendering these extra parts unnecessary. They also do not apply techniques or equipment such as ultrasonic transducers to measure the airflow speed.

Incentive models are mostly used to repair function of lungs. Peak flow versions are good for measuring ability of one to breath the air out, or exhale. Windmill, also called spiropet, meters are usually applied to measure forced vital capacity. Still, they do not use water. Tilt-compensated styles are more modern and can be in a horizontal position when measurements are being recorded.

Spirometers are units that are applied in the medical field to check respiratory function of lungs. There are numerous models employed, each offering different results and function. Generally speaking, the apparatus is used to measure air volume being exhaled or inhaled. The device is frequently used with Pulmonary Function Tests. The original version of these devices was created during the nineteenth century, although many attempts had been made prior to this.




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