The spirometer is a fundamental instrument in the medical field, as it helps to diagnose a long series of pathologies that concern breathing.Choosing the right tool therefore becomes essential.
Let's now see what the main types of spirometers on the market are.
What is the spirometer and what types of spirometers exist
The spirometer is a medical device used to measure the volume of air inhaled and exhaled by a patientduring a normal respiratory cycle. This is possible thanks to the presence of an integrated pressure transducer.spirometry is therefore a test that measures respiratory function.
The doctor, having analyzed the data received, will be able to establish a more accurate diagnosis.
The patient exhales through a plastic tube that conveys the air inside the spirometer,in which there is a sensor and a component that serves to measure the movements of the air, the transducer.They can have different shapes and sizes.
There are different types of spirometer on the market.
The volume spirometers record variations in air volumes thanks to the movement of a bell with an edge immersed in water, detecting lung capacity,both during calm and forced breathing
In the flow spirometers (turbine-based, much more common), however, the volume of air that is moved by breathing is calculated electronically through the rotation of the turbine blade.
There are bench spirometers, fixed,suitable for outpatient use, such as for example pulmonology doctors' offices, or the portable spirometers, most used in hospital settings.All the most recent models are connected to a computer via Bluetooth, with a specific application, which allows the doctor to check the data in real time.
Many models, both fixed and portable, are also equipped with a pulse oximeter, a particular instrument that measures the oxygen saturation in the blood,another important data in the analysis of respiratory function.
You can also find incentive spirometers on the market. In their main body there are three chambers with three spheres of different colors and weights inside.In the act of inhaling from each of the three chambers, the sphere rises in a different way in proportion to the proposed inhaling force.
In which fields are spirometers used
The spirometric test as mentioned serves to diagnose a possible respiratory pathology,and finds its practical application in various fields, from the more specifically clinical one, to research, up to sports practice.
A spirometer can be used for different breathing tests.
In simple spirometry tests,the so-called slow vital capacity (SVC) can be measured through a full and slow breath, after having completely filled the lungs with air, naturally and without any effort.
Or you can measure the forced vital capacity (FVC) by asking the patient to take a deep inspiration,until the lungs are filled, and then a stronger and faster exhalation, an action to be repeated three times consecutively.
The difference in data collected between slow and fast breathing can be of great help for diagnostic purposes.
Similarly, thanks to the spirometer,other types of tests can also be performed which give the possibility of verifying further parameters.
You can detect the volume of air exhaled in the first second (FEV1,forced expiratory volume in 1 second) after a maximum inspiration.
The ratio between this value and that of the forced vital capacity (FVC) is called the Tiffenau index. It is used by specialists to understand whether you are dealing with an obstructive or restrictive pathology.It is expressed as a percentage value compared to the theoretically normal value for the patient, based on his physical parameters.If this percentage is less than 70% we are in the presence of an obstructive deficit.
Another common use of the device is for thoracic surgery preparatory exams,or more commonly in medical-sports suitability.
visitsDepending on the type of test to be carried out, it is necessary to consider the different characteristics that a spirometer can have.
The features to consider before purchasing a spirometer
To understand which spirometer to buy,based on your needs, some technical characteristics must be taken into consideration.
Firstly, the precision of the device, which is fundamental especially in the case of multiple measurements of a patient's respiratory capacity over the course of a single day.In the case of FVC measurement, the device must be able to accumulate a certain volume of air for at least 15 seconds, and for 30 seconds in the case of SVC measurement.It is ideal, then, to have a device that can measure volumes greater than or equal to 8 liters (BTPS) with an accuracy of +/- 3% or +/- 0.050 liters, with a flow between 0 and 14 liters per second.
Another important feature of a spirometer is the data display mode,which must allow flow-volume and volume-time curves to be displayed in a precise and continuous manner, given that the doctor will make his assessments precisely on the variations of these between one breath and another, as well as on the numerical data that the device will provide him, such as the FVC,the SVC or the Tiffenau index.
The quality of the transduceris also important.Disposable devices are used to avoid contamination of valuables between various patients.
The prices of spirometers can be very different from each other due to all these characteristics.
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