Spirometers are part of the many medical tools that are used in medicine to specifically identify problems arising from breathing. They are used to record the volume of air while breathing and the rate at which air flows. This enables them to be helpful in the diagnosis of respiratory disease and in the monitoring of such patients. Discussed here are the major types of these tools.
The use of spirometers was an idea that began a very long time ago by a Greek doctor at around 200A. D. The medical doctor found it necessary to be able to measure and understand lung volumes and speed of flow in order to diagnose respiratory conditions. In his experiment where he used the bladder to estimate volume he opened up the world of research into this matter. From that time with the increase in knowledge and technology the current devices have arose.
A plethysmograph is one type used to measure changes in volume within a specific organ or even the whole body usually through detecting the amount of blood or air reaching the specified object. Pulmonary plethysmographs are mostly used in the measuring of functional residual capacity in the lungs. This refers to the volume in the lungs when the muscles used in breathing are relaxed after a normal expiration. The use of this device involves a patient entering a small enclosed space from which the test is done.
The pneumotachometer spirometers measure the rate of flow of air entering or leaving the lungs by using a specially designed fine mesh. The mesh is sensitive to changes in pressure of air within the lungs and that from the outside environment. The main advantage with this form of instrument is that the patient is able to breathe natural air as normal as the experiment is being done.
The incentive spirometers are a very special group of devices which in addition to the normal measuring of lung volumes, they have the additional ability of being able to support the functioning of the lungs. They therefore mostly used in those patients that are very sick or patient who have had surgeries involving the chest and heart. The equipments will help reduce build up of fluids in the lungs.
A peak expiratory device is small hand held equipment that is used when determining the maximum speed with which an individual can breathe out. It helps monitor the ability of a person to expire and thus monitoring recovery in people undergoing treatment for obstructive lung conditions. It can also be used to determine the degree of obstruction of the airway.
The electric spirometers measure air as it passes through disposable air channels. The channels are able to detect the rate of air passing through them by using ultrasonic transducers that are sensitive to pressure changes within the channels. They are very accurate and efficient in their reading with few error chances because it is automatic. Due to the disposable channels, it is also good for hygiene reasons.
A windmill-type is another special variety that is mainly used to determine forced vital capacity. It employs a principle of volume and water displacement in reaching to the volume results. Care should be taken in the used of this type because wrong positioning can displace rotating disks that make the device to work properly.
The last type in these subtypes of spirometers is the Tilt-compensated type which is among the latest to be invented. It has been designed such that is has the ability to be tilted and adjusted so as to fit the position of the patient. It thus has the advantage of flexibility.
The use of spirometers was an idea that began a very long time ago by a Greek doctor at around 200A. D. The medical doctor found it necessary to be able to measure and understand lung volumes and speed of flow in order to diagnose respiratory conditions. In his experiment where he used the bladder to estimate volume he opened up the world of research into this matter. From that time with the increase in knowledge and technology the current devices have arose.
A plethysmograph is one type used to measure changes in volume within a specific organ or even the whole body usually through detecting the amount of blood or air reaching the specified object. Pulmonary plethysmographs are mostly used in the measuring of functional residual capacity in the lungs. This refers to the volume in the lungs when the muscles used in breathing are relaxed after a normal expiration. The use of this device involves a patient entering a small enclosed space from which the test is done.
The pneumotachometer spirometers measure the rate of flow of air entering or leaving the lungs by using a specially designed fine mesh. The mesh is sensitive to changes in pressure of air within the lungs and that from the outside environment. The main advantage with this form of instrument is that the patient is able to breathe natural air as normal as the experiment is being done.
The incentive spirometers are a very special group of devices which in addition to the normal measuring of lung volumes, they have the additional ability of being able to support the functioning of the lungs. They therefore mostly used in those patients that are very sick or patient who have had surgeries involving the chest and heart. The equipments will help reduce build up of fluids in the lungs.
A peak expiratory device is small hand held equipment that is used when determining the maximum speed with which an individual can breathe out. It helps monitor the ability of a person to expire and thus monitoring recovery in people undergoing treatment for obstructive lung conditions. It can also be used to determine the degree of obstruction of the airway.
The electric spirometers measure air as it passes through disposable air channels. The channels are able to detect the rate of air passing through them by using ultrasonic transducers that are sensitive to pressure changes within the channels. They are very accurate and efficient in their reading with few error chances because it is automatic. Due to the disposable channels, it is also good for hygiene reasons.
A windmill-type is another special variety that is mainly used to determine forced vital capacity. It employs a principle of volume and water displacement in reaching to the volume results. Care should be taken in the used of this type because wrong positioning can displace rotating disks that make the device to work properly.
The last type in these subtypes of spirometers is the Tilt-compensated type which is among the latest to be invented. It has been designed such that is has the ability to be tilted and adjusted so as to fit the position of the patient. It thus has the advantage of flexibility.
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