Real-time cyclic pulmonary function test system

• US 3,896,792 A
• Filed: 05/15/1974
• Issued: 07/29/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwin G. Vail, Maxwell W. Lippitt Jr, Phillip D. Seymour
• Original Assignee: Edwin G. Vail, Maxwell W. Lippitt Jr, Phillip D. Seymour
• Inventors: Vail, Edwin G., Lippitt, Maxwell W. Jr., Seymour, Phillip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/470,255
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.08,2.07,DIG.29 73/421.5R,23
• US Class Current: 600/532
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0803 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/336 Magnetic recording apparatus

Abstract

A pulmonary function testing system is described, together with a method of testing, which system is characterized by sensing of flow, volume, pressure, and constituent parameters of respiratory gases, in a real time sense. Graphic recording of analog values of the parameters, concurrently and with high resolution during performance of various pulmonary maneuvers, reveals asymptomatic as well as symptomatic disease conditions.

Claims

1. A pulmonary function testing system comprising in combination:

valveless conduit means adapted to conduct respiratory gases to and from a subject during pulmonary maneuvers;

valveless spirometer means, connected to said conduit means, for generating first analog signals representative of flow rates of said respiratory gases;

mass spectrometer means, connected to said conduit means, for generating second analog signals representative characterized by being out of phrase of partial pressures of constituents of said respiratory gases, said second analog signals being in time a predetermined amount relative to corresponding occurrences of flow rate fluctuations in said respiratory gases;

pressure transducer means, connected to said conduit means, for generating third analog signals representative of oral pressures in said respiratory gases;

time delay means, connected to receive said first analog signals, for providing delayed first analog signals that are retarded in time by said predetermined amount;

multiplier means, connected to said mass spectrometer means and to said delay means, for providing fourth analog signals as products of said delayed first analog signals and said second analog signals and representative of volumes of said respiratory gas constituents per breath; and

multiple channel chart recorder means, coupled to said spirometer means, to said mass spectrometer means, to said pressure transducer means and to said multiplier means, for concurrently providing individual graphic traces of said first, second, third, and fourth analog signals with reference to time, whereby the simultaneous effects of physiological events on said flow rates, said oral pressures, said partial pressures, and said volumes of said respiratory gases are depicted in substantially real time and with time parity existing betWeen traces of said flow rate fluctuations and of said partial pressures of constituents of said respiratory gases.

2. A pulmonary function testing system as defined in claim 1, and further comprising:

integrator means, coupled to said spirometer means, for integrating said first analog signals to provide fifth analog signals representative of volume of said respiratory gases per breath; and

said chart recorder means is responsive to said fifth analog signals to provide an individual graphic trace of said volume of said respiratory gases per breath.

3. A pulmonary function testing system as defined in claim 2, and further comprising:

time code generator means, connected to said chart recorder means, for providing time signals thereto at predetermined intervals.