Portable electronic spirometric device

Abstract

A portable hand held electronic spirometric device for analyzing the strength of the exhalation of a patient under a doctor's care. The electronic spirometric device is designed to sense and measure exhaled air flow rate and exhaled breath temperature, determine air flow volume, and record and display the respiratory movement of the patient for helping make medication recommendations. The spirometric device includes an electronic package mounted inside a hand held housing for computing and recording the strength, the temperature, and the volume of the exhalation along with the time and date of the exhalation. The device includes a replaceable air flow chamber mounted on the housing. A disposable mouthpiece is releasably attached to the air flow chamber. A hot wire acting as an anemometer is disposed inside the air flow chamber and provides for measuring both air flow rate and temperature. An output of the hot wire is connected to electronic circuitry inside the housing for determining the proper proportion and evaluation of the peak flow rates and volumes along with recording the exact time and date of the measured event. The device is also designed to give interpretive feedback and recommendations which are pre-programmed by the doctor for the patient and to detect before hand a possible chronic episode, for example a pending asthmatic attack, and alert the patient to take necessary medication to avert the episode. The portable device may be periodically connected to a computer system to up-load stored information and provide a chronological report stored therein for analysis by the doctor. The stored data can be transferred from the spirometric device via telephone and modem to the doctor's office.