Spirometer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A spirometer for measuring throughput airflow comprising:
- a spirometer body having a cylindrical wall defining a cavity and having one or more windows arranged to admit ambient light to the cavity;
one or more deflectors configured to cause an airflow input to the cavity defined by the spirometer body to rotate;
a rotor arranged inside the cavity defined by the spirometer body to be caused to rotate responsive to the rotating airflow; and
one or more photodetectors, arranged at the wall of the spirometer body facing into the cavity to detect an amount of light incident thereon inside the cavity;
wherein the spirometer is configured such that, as an angle of the rotor changes as it rotates, the amount of the ambient light admitted to the cavity by the one or more windows and conveyed to the or each photodetector is varied due to obstruction by the rotor; and
wherein the one or more photodetectors form part of an electrical network configured to, in use, provide an electrical signal useable to detect the rotation rate of the rotor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The chronic nature of asthma necessitates regular self-monitoring of respiratory function in susceptible individuals, however the available devices for performing the necessary measurements are either inaccurate or expensive and bulky. The present invention provides a small, cheap spirometer for efficient, accurate and convenient measurement of breathing characteristics.
7 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A spirometer for measuring throughput airflow comprising:
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a spirometer body having a cylindrical wall defining a cavity and having one or more windows arranged to admit ambient light to the cavity; one or more deflectors configured to cause an airflow input to the cavity defined by the spirometer body to rotate; a rotor arranged inside the cavity defined by the spirometer body to be caused to rotate responsive to the rotating airflow; and one or more photodetectors, arranged at the wall of the spirometer body facing into the cavity to detect an amount of light incident thereon inside the cavity; wherein the spirometer is configured such that, as an angle of the rotor changes as it rotates, the amount of the ambient light admitted to the cavity by the one or more windows and conveyed to the or each photodetector is varied due to obstruction by the rotor; and wherein the one or more photodetectors form part of an electrical network configured to, in use, provide an electrical signal useable to detect the rotation rate of the rotor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of manufacturing a spirometer, comprising:
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a. Providing a spirometer body having a cylindrical wall defining a cavity and having one or more windows arranged to admit ambient light to the cavity; b. providing inlet and outlet deflectors configured to cause an input airflow to the cavity defined by the spirometer body to rotate and a rotor comprising a vane portion rigidly connected to a shaft portion; c. providing one or more photodetectors arranged at the wall of the spirometer body facing into the cavity to detect an amount of light incident thereon inside the cavity; d. forming part of an electrical network, coupled to the or each photodetector and configured to, in use, provide an electrical signal useable to detect the rotation rate of the rotor; e. assembling the rotor between the inlet and outlet deflectors such that both end portions of the shaft portion are pivotably mounted in respective sockets defined at a radial center of the deflectors, such that the vane portion is mounted to rotate in the rotating airflow such that, in use as an angle of the rotor changes as it rotates the amount of the ambient light admitted to the cavity by the one or more windows and conveyed to the or each photodetector is varied due to obstruction by the rotor; and f. coupling or rigidly connecting a phone plug to the spirometer and connecting the electrical network to one or more contacts of the phone plug that is coupled to or rigidly connected to the spirometer.
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Specification