Peak flow meter
First Claim
1. A peak flow meter comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal direction and a predetermined cross sectional shape, said body having an open entering end and an open exit end, a piston and an indicator, means for mounting said piston in said body for longitudinal movement thereof upon exhalation into said open entering end, means for mounting said indicator in said body for engagement by said piston for movement by said piston longitudinally of said body, said indicator staying in the position to which it has been moved by said piston, means for retracting said piston independently of said indicator, a mass longitudinally movable in said body for returning said indicator independently of said piston, and means along said body against which the position of said indicator can be read.
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Abstract
A peak flow meter is provided comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal direction and a predetermined cross sectional shape and a growing area. The body has an open entering end and an open exit end. The body is circumferentially continuous substantially from end to end. A piston and an indicator are mounted in said body for movement longitudinally thereof upon exhalation into the open entering end. The indicator is pushed along said body for movement by the piston longitudinally of said body. The indicator is of low mass so as not to overshoot, and is returned to rest by shaking a weight against it. A logarithmic scale is provided along said body against which the position of said indicator can be read.
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Citations
42 Claims
- 1. A peak flow meter comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal direction and a predetermined cross sectional shape, said body having an open entering end and an open exit end, a piston and an indicator, means for mounting said piston in said body for longitudinal movement thereof upon exhalation into said open entering end, means for mounting said indicator in said body for engagement by said piston for movement by said piston longitudinally of said body, said indicator staying in the position to which it has been moved by said piston, means for retracting said piston independently of said indicator, a mass longitudinally movable in said body for returning said indicator independently of said piston, and means along said body against which the position of said indicator can be read.
- 15. A peak flow meter comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal direction and a predetermined cross sectional shape, said body having an open entering end and an open exit end, a piston with a predetermined cross sectional area, means for mounting said piston in said body for longitudinal movement thereof upon exhalation into said open entering end, an indicator mounted internally of said body and independently of said piston for movement by said piston longitudinally of said body, said piston having a fixed predetermined cross sectional area, said body having a cross sectional area varying logarithmic along said longitudinal direction, and means along said body against which the position of said indicator can be read.
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18. A peak flow meter for determining peak air flow of an exhaling patient, comprising:
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a hollow body for accommodating a flow of exhaled air therethrough; an indicator adjacent to said body and movable relative to said body to a position along a scale on said body, said position related to a peak of the flow of exhaled air through said body; said body having an internal area related to said scale such that said scale represents a logarithmic scale of the peak of the exhaled flow of air through said body; and at least one zone adjacent said logarithmic scale said zone indicating a predetermined range of a patient'"'"'s air flow independent of placement along said logarithmic scale. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A peak flow meter comprising:
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a hollow elongated body; an entering end on the hollow elongated body for receiving a flow of air; an exit end opposite the entering end; an indicator adjacent to said body and movable relative to said body to a position along a scale on said body, said position related to a peak of the flow of air through said body; said scale being a logarithmic scale extending longitudinally along the body; and said hollow elongated body having a non-linearly expanding diameter designed to cooperate with the logarithmic scale. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A peak flow meter comprising:
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a hollow elongated body; an entering end on the hollow elongated body for receiving a flow of air; an exit end opposite the entering end; a longitudinal tube inside the hollow elongated body extending substantially from the entering end to the exit end; a piston slidably mounted on the longitudinal tube; an indicator slidably mounted on the longitudinal tube, said indicator separate from the piston and positioned between the piston and the exit end; an indicator return mass for returning the indicator to a rest position separately from the piston; a logarithmic scale on the hollow elongated body, said logarithmic scale extending longitudinally along the body; and said hollow elongated body having a non-linearly expanding diameter designed to cooperate with the logarithmic scale. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification