Whole-body plethysmograph

• US 5,680,871 A
• Filed: 10/30/1995
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter Ganshorn
• Original Assignee: Peter Ganshorn
• Inventors: Ganshorn, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/550,084
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 128/600.02, 128/716-725, 128/727, 128/630, 600/21, 600/22
• US Class Current: 600/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/085 Measuring impedance of respiratory organs or lung elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6888 Cabins
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/22 using measurement of acoustic effects

Abstract

Whole body plethysmograph for medical lung examinations having a pressure gauge (8) that responds to the interior pressure of cubicle (1), a pneumo-tachometer (5) which is disposed in cubicle (1) and is provided with a mouthpiece (4), a signal transmitter for the temperature difference between the inspired and the expired air, an output device (28) and an evaluation unit (7) with signal inputs (10, 18, 20, 25), to which are connected signal lines (6) from pressure gauge (8), from pneumo-tachometer (5) and from the signal transmitter for the temperature difference, having a signal output (11 ) for the respiratory flow rate measured by pneumo-tachometer (5) and a signal output (27) for the interior pressure measured by pressure gauge (8), which is at least partially corrected for temperature-caused pressure fluctuations by evaluation unit (7), whereby the two signal outputs (11, 27) are connected to output device (28) via signal lines (6), whereby the signal transmitter for the temperature difference is an ultrasound source and an ultrasonic sensor, which is affixed to or in mouthpiece (4) of pneumo-tachometer (5).

Claims

1. A whole-body plethysmograph, comprising:

an air tight, lockable cubicle for reception of a person to be examined;

a cubicle-pressure gauge located within said cubicle which responds to an interior pressure of said lockable cubicle;

a pneumo-tachometer with a mouthpiece for the person to be examined, said pneumo-tachometer including an ultrasound source and an ultrasonic sensor connected to said mouthpiece for measuring a temperature difference between air inhaled and air exhaled by the person to be examined, said pneumo-tachometer being disposed within said lockable cubicle;

an evaluation unit being connected to said cubicle-pressure gauge and said pneumo-tachometer for evaluating a corrected pressure based upon a measured pressure value taking into account a pressure fluctuation caused by the temperature difference between the air inhaled and the air exhaled by the person to be examined; and

,

an output device connected to said evaluation unit for calculating and displaying breathing resistance.

2. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation unit is a computer.

3. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said pneumo-tachometer further comprises a signal transmitter for measuring relative humidity of ambient air within said lockable cubicle for determining a relative air humidity difference between the air inhaled and the air exhaled by the person to be examined, and said evaluation unit evaluates the corrected pressure based upon a measured pressure value taking into account pressure fluctuation caused by the temperature difference and the relative air humidity difference between the air inhaled and the air exhaled by the person to be examined.

4. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 3, wherein said signal transmitter for the relative air humidity is an adjustable controller.

5. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 3, wherein said signal transmitter for the relative air humidity is a hygrometer.

6. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said lockable cubicle is connected to said evaluation unit via a first signal line and said evaluation unit is connected to said output device via a second signal line.

7. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 6, wherein said first signal line and said second signal line include an electrical signal transmission.

8. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 6, wherein said first signal line and said second signal line include an optical signal transmission.

9. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said output device is a recording instrument.

10. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said output device is an oscilloscope.

11. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said output device is a monitor with alphanumeric or graphical display.

12. The whole-body plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said pneumo-tachometer includes a housing and said ultrasound source and ultrasonic sensor are located in said housing.