Sensing device for human lung exhalation/inhalation air flow measurement
First Claim
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1. A spirometer comprising:
- a container having a top end cap and a bottom end cap;
an opening in said top end cap and an opening in said bottom end cap;
an air flow housing positioned within said container extending between said end caps;
an air flow path extending longitudinally through said housing, said path terminating at one end in an air inlet communicating with said opening in said top end cap and at the opposite end in an outlet communicating with said opening in said bottom end cap;
an arcuate cavity in said housing communicating with said flow path and extending transversely thereto;
a multi-blade paddle wheel type rotor mounted coaxially with said cavity for rotation within said housing with the blades of said rotor extending partially across said flow path;
an air gap defined between the ends of the blades and the housing, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of said air gap to said inlet being approximately 1;
3; and
,means for counting the rotations of said rotor when air is inhaled or exhaled through said top end cap opening.
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Abstract
A spirometer is provided having an air flow path with a housing extending between the ends of a container. A paddle wheel rotor rotates within a cavity and partially cuts across the flow path to define an air gap. The ratio of the cross sectional area of the air gap to the inlet to the flow path is approximately 1:3. A light source/detector is activated by a chopper wheel coaxially mounted with the rotor and adapted to rotate therewith. The detector generates a train of pulses proportional to the rotation of the rotor which in turn is proportional to the volume of air flowing through the air path.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A spirometer comprising:
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a container having a top end cap and a bottom end cap; an opening in said top end cap and an opening in said bottom end cap; an air flow housing positioned within said container extending between said end caps; an air flow path extending longitudinally through said housing, said path terminating at one end in an air inlet communicating with said opening in said top end cap and at the opposite end in an outlet communicating with said opening in said bottom end cap; an arcuate cavity in said housing communicating with said flow path and extending transversely thereto; a multi-blade paddle wheel type rotor mounted coaxially with said cavity for rotation within said housing with the blades of said rotor extending partially across said flow path; an air gap defined between the ends of the blades and the housing, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of said air gap to said inlet being approximately 1;
3; and
,means for counting the rotations of said rotor when air is inhaled or exhaled through said top end cap opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification