| 摘要 |
This invention relates generally to instrumentation for pulmonary monitoring and diagnosis and particularly to a compact, hand held, battery powered spirometer, measuring and monitoring expiratory and inspiratory flow rates, volumes and other lung function parameters. An electronic "pocket" spirometer comprises an elongated handle having a mouth piece connected to a flow chamber mounted on one end thereof as an integral assembly. The flow chamber includes a centrally mounted pivotal vane which is restrained by a spring and driven by incoming breath to provide an output signal through an optical encoder to a microprocessor. The vane may move forward or backward providing expiratory as well as inspiratory flow/volume measurement. An optical wheel is locked in synch with the vane and moves correspondingly to activate the encoder which supplies flow rate and volume signals and other calculated parameters to an LCD display. The flow chamber is removable, washable and reusable which eliminates the need for a filter to prevent cross contamination with subsequent users as well as eliminates a variable and a possible source of error in measurement.
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