Spirometer and method to measure the ventilatory function by spirometry
First Claim
1. Method of measuring the ventilatory function of a patient including obtaining respiratory restriction and obstruction values of a patients by spirometry using an electronic spirometer provided with flow detector means, microprocessor control means to carry out calculations on the basis of measured data, and means associated with said microprocessor to store the measured results, and to visualize the results and compare the stored results, said method comprising the steps of:
- capturing data by means of said spirometer of a test consisting of a VC (vital capacity) maneuver, where from a maximal inhalation the subject has to exhale slowly until no more air can be expelled;
capturing data by means of said spirometer of a FEV maneuver consisting of a forced and continuous exhalation from maximal inhalation, and exhaling the air until at least one second has already lapsed;
processing the expiration flow data obtained during the previously-mentioned maneuvers by said microprocessor to obtain main parameters and an evaluation of the ventilatory function and the respiratory condition of the patient; and
wherein said data processing step comprises calculating an FEV maneuver index (IM) consisting of a 2-digit numerical expression based on the flow/time curve, which reflects the FEV maneuver performed by the patient, which includes drawing a flow/time curve taking as the first digit of said index the time measurement in tenths of a second, from a maximum flow point until the first second of forced exhalation relative to the initial exhalation intensity of the patient, and as the second digit of said index the time in tenths of a second of descending and concave portions of a curve viewed from above, from the maximum flow point until the first second of forced exhalation, relative to the intensity and the uniformity of the expiration of air during the first second;
the results being classified according to a weighted score from 99 to 00.
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Abstract
The function of the multispirometer and procedure to measure the ventilatory function by spirometry is to know how a person exhales or expels air with the objective to study and monitor the functioning of his/her lungs and many pathologies. By means of this method, the ventilatory function by spirometry is measured, and is capable of obtaining respiratory restriction and obstruction values of a patient. To perform the above mentioned method, an electronic spirometer provided with flow detector means, microprocessor control means to carry out calculations on the basis of measured data, and means associated to said microprocessor to store the measured results, to visualize the results and to compare the stored results, is used.
45 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Method of measuring the ventilatory function of a patient including obtaining respiratory restriction and obstruction values of a patients by spirometry using an electronic spirometer provided with flow detector means, microprocessor control means to carry out calculations on the basis of measured data, and means associated with said microprocessor to store the measured results, and to visualize the results and compare the stored results, said method comprising the steps of:
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capturing data by means of said spirometer of a test consisting of a VC (vital capacity) maneuver, where from a maximal inhalation the subject has to exhale slowly until no more air can be expelled; capturing data by means of said spirometer of a FEV maneuver consisting of a forced and continuous exhalation from maximal inhalation, and exhaling the air until at least one second has already lapsed; processing the expiration flow data obtained during the previously-mentioned maneuvers by said microprocessor to obtain main parameters and an evaluation of the ventilatory function and the respiratory condition of the patient; and wherein said data processing step comprises calculating an FEV maneuver index (IM) consisting of a 2-digit numerical expression based on the flow/time curve, which reflects the FEV maneuver performed by the patient, which includes drawing a flow/time curve taking as the first digit of said index the time measurement in tenths of a second, from a maximum flow point until the first second of forced exhalation relative to the initial exhalation intensity of the patient, and as the second digit of said index the time in tenths of a second of descending and concave portions of a curve viewed from above, from the maximum flow point until the first second of forced exhalation, relative to the intensity and the uniformity of the expiration of air during the first second;
the results being classified according to a weighted score from 99 to 00. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Spirometer comprising:
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flow detector means effective to measure Vital Capacity (VC) from a VC maneuver and Forced Expiratory Volume during the first second (FEV) of an FEV maneuver, wherein said flow detection means are of turbine and open circuit type, microprocessor controlled means to carry out calculations from measured data, and means associated with said microprocessor to store the measured results, to visualize the results, and to compare the stored results, said means associated with said microprocessor comprising a plurality of keys for the different test options, for the different registration number options, and for the possibility to set a registration number in each of the above options; a screen that progressively lights up to indicate function of the percentage of a predetermined normal reference value or a personal reference value obtained from an analysis supervised by a physician, when it is deemed that a patient is clinically and functionally stable, said predetermined normal reference value and said personal reference value are for VC in the VC maneuver, as well as FEV in FEV maneuver and FVC in an FVC maneuver, and a plurality of lighted indicators showing the results and respiratory status, where the indicators indicate whether there is restriction or obstruction and the intensity—
light, moderate, intense, severe, or very severe and, if personal values have been previously entered, the respiratory status as stable or indicating the degree of alteration. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for measuring ventilatory function and specifically for obtaining respiratory restriction and obstruction values of a patient comprising the steps of:
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using an electronic spirometer having flow detector means, microprocessor control means to carry out calculations on the basis of measured data, and means associated with said microprocessor for storing the measured results, for visualizing the results, and for comparing the stored results; data entry by means of said spirometer, said data being obtained by a first test comprising a VC (vital capacity) maneuver, where from a maximal inspiration said patient exhales slowly until no more air can be expelled; and
by a second test comprising a FEV maneuver (forced expiratory volume during the first second) consisting of a forced and continuous exhalation from maximal inspiration, and exhaling the air until a minimum predetermined time has elapsed;processing, by computer means, the expiration flow data obtained during said VC and FEV maneuvers; wherein said procession step comprises calculating an FEV maneuver index (IM) consisting of a 2-digit numerical expression based on the flow/time curve, which reflects the FEV maneuver performed by the patient, which includes drawing a flow/time curve taking as the first digit of said index the time measurement in tenths of a second, from a maximum flow point until the first second of forced exhalation relative to the initial exhalation intensity of the patient, and as the second digit of said index the time in tenths of a second of descending and concave portions of a curve viewed from above, from the maximum flow point until the first second of forced exhalation, relative to the intensity and the uniformity of the expiration of air during the first second;
the results being classified according to a weighted score from 99 to 00;and obtaining the main parameters and an evaluation of the ventilatory function and the respiratory condition of the patient.
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Specification