Saturday, November 9, 2013

Increase Your Knowledge About Spirometer

By Marsha Klein


Medicine has become a major part of modern life. Without the aid of modern medicine we would not be able to fight the life threatening diseases that exist today. But even with the aid of modern medicine man would be helpless if he was not able to diagnose the health problems that are affecting them. We can keep track of our lung capacity and functioning with the aid of any spirometer.

When we talk of this machine we are not talking about just a single device. There are many varieties of this device that works in different ways to measure lung function and capacity. One common variety of this machine is Pneumotachometer. Here the patient is allowed to breath in natural air that has not been treated through any machine.

Another common device is the whole body plethysmograph. This device requires the patient to occupy an enclosed space, generally the size of a telephone booth. Having been placed in the enclosed space, the patient is given a device to breath into and out of. As the patient breathes in and out the meter records the air breathed in and out.

Devices that use movable parts and meshes are bound to offer incorrect readings at times. The chances of such error are reduced with the help of the electronic devices. The device uses ultrasonic transducers and change in air pressure to measure the lung capacity. So, it can offer a more correct reading.

Since measuring lung capacity may not be enough for many recovering patients, there are devices that can help patients recover. The Incentive Spirometers are devices that patients need to blow into and hold the breath for a few seconds. After which there is a backflow. This backflow helps pop the alveoli that help breathing.

Another device which is known as the peak flow device helps measure airflow. The machine is popular since the device is a hand held device. The air flow can be measured to ensure whether there is any obstruction in the lung or not. If there is any blockage then this is the best device that can be used to understand any such problems.

Having rotating discs measure the air flow instead of any fluid is the best way to measure lung capacity. You can thus blow into the windmill-type or spiropet device to get the measurements. Expert supervision may be required to help you hold the device in the right position. If the device is not held horizontally the measurements may be incorrect.

Similar to the windmill-type is the tilt compensated type of the device. Here the machine needs to be held horizontally but at an angle. If the tilt is too much, then the measurements can go wrong. This is why it is best to have experts looking over the test process so as to ensure that there are not problems during the process. Some spirometer can be used without expert assistance. So, if you do need to keep a check on your lung capacity then it is best to buy this device.




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