An Insight Into The Development Of A Spirometer

By Dorothea Garner


A spirometer is an instrument that measures the volume of air in the lungs during respiration. It is very significant in that the gases entering the body can be determined and correctly measured. It is also an important apparatus in the diagnosis of respiratory conditions. It gives a clear view of the airways and the lung tissues which enables detection and diagnosis of conditions affecting the system like obstructive lung diseases or even restrictive diseases.

The currently available devices are of many types and are specialized for specific tests. The earliest attempts to measure the volume and rate of air entering the lung was 200A. D by a guy called Claudius Galen who was a Greek medical doctor and a philosopher. He had a young boy breath into a bladder and noted that there was no change in the air volume. This experiment although it gave way into further research, it was inconclusive.

Many years later a researcher called Borelli tried to measure the amount inspired in one cycle. He used water displacement as the unit to estimate volume. This idea was well accepted amongst many scientists and was borrowed to design most of the currently available types. With time more researchers have tried to refine and modify existing apparatus into more efficient equipments for diagnosis and management of lung and heart diseases.

As technology and knowledge increases, many different varieties have come into place. Today the devices are more specific in the results they give and the test they do. An example includes the whole body plethysmograph which is considered to be very accurate in measurement unlike the other types. It is the standard of reference for the other devices when measuring lung function. The patient doing this test must be kept in an enclosed small space for best results.

Another example is the pneumotachometer type which is designed to measure the flow rates of gases using a fine mesh. The mesh is designed such that it is sensitive enough to detect a difference in pressure in the outside environment from that inside the lungs. The advantage with this form of device is that the patients can breathe in fresh air as the experiment is being done.

Electronic types have also been developed that are able to measure flow rates without need of fine meshes or moving parts. They operate by measuring speed of flow using ultrasonic transducers. They have the advantage of having greater accuracy in their measure of pressure difference because they have fewer chances of errors. They also allow better hygiene among patients because they allow fully disposable channels of air flow.

There is a specialized types which is the best for patient who need respiratory lung support called incentive spirometers. These devices have a unique ability of supporting the pulmonary function in addition to obtaining lung volumes. Where there is need to determine the ability of a patient to breathe out properly a special type called a peak expiratory device is used.

The tilt-compensated of a spirometer is among the very latest in the market. It can be tilled to a horizontal position to accommodate the position of a patient. It is therefore better for sick people. Generally this device has improved the clinical practice and management of respiratory diseases.




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