Types of Spirometers & Technologies used

Apr 23, 2024

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Spirometer is the instrument used to measure lung capacity and volume. The record obtained from spirometer is called a spirogram. There are a number of spirometers used in respiration volume measurements. In this article, we look at general types of spirometers according to their application and some of the technologies utilized in these spirometers.

There are monitoring spirometers that are used to measure the volumes of gas flows entering and leaving the lungs and which can also be incorporated in ventilator circuits.

Diagnostic spirometers are used to monitor the degree and nature of respiration, with these spirometers, a clinician can establish patient respiratory condition by various measures and clinical manoeuvers.

The measurement capabilities of the aforementioned types of spirometers include the gas volume of a single exhalation and also the peak expiratory flow for diagnostic types measured in liters and liters per second respectively.

Low cost, light weight, speed of response and patient safety are key considerations for selecting a given spirometer.

There are various technologies employed in spirometers for instance, the Wright respirometer refers to a type of hand-held spirometer that uses a special type of tangential turbine transducer with a two-bladed rotor connected to a mechanical pickup and dial readout for the volume. These specific spirometers use usually used by respiratory therapists for patient weaning and ventilator checking.

Another type of technology used in spirometers is the utilization of ultrasonic pulses. Ultrasonic spirometers basically depend on transmitting ultrasound between a pair of transducer and measuring changes in transit time caused by the velocity of the intervening fluid medium.

Find out more about: Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor