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What is a spirometer?

A pocket spirometer is a precision instrument used by health care personnel to measure the air capacity of the lungs. These small and portable devises use a differential pressure transducer to measure and record the exact amount of air and the rate that it is inspired and expired over a set period of time, thus allowing doctors and nurses to correctly gauge, diagnose and treat diseases and injuries to the respiratory system.

Uses for a spirometer

Even a cheap spirometer has several different uses including determining lung age, testing for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, testing for asthma, measure the lung capacity of athletes and to clear fluid in the lungs.

One of the most basic functions of a pocket spirometer is to determine the age of the lung. Testing for lung age is done to determine a patient's susceptibility to developing lung cancer or other serious breathing disorder.

The only way that doctors can test for COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, is by use of a spirometer, often a pocket spirometer. Even a cheap spirometer can help to diagnose this dangerous and often debilitating disease. During this test, a measurement of the forced vital capacity is taken and if it is below the 70% mark and the forced expiratory volume is lower than the 80% mark, then the patient will need to endure further testing using a larger and more invasive spirometer.

Testing for asthma, especially in young patients can be difficult, but with a cheap spirometer becomes much easier. Simply have the patient blow into the mouthpiece and if the forced expiratory volume is less than 400 ml, further testing is in order.

Athletes must rely heavily on their ability to breath. The more air that can be taken into the lungs the more strength and endurance they enjoy. Regular testing with a pocket spirometer can catch any changes in the overall health of an athlete so that the cause can be treated early allowing for maximum performance.

Last but not least, any patient that has gone through a surgical procedure on either the heart or the lungs is often in danger of developing fluid in the lungs. In this situation, patients are often required to use a spirometer a few times per day to expel any such build up. Using a pocket spirometer after surgery also allows doctors to check the health of the lungs and adjust treatment accordingly.

Types of spirometer

Those who are considering looking for spirometers for sale will need to carefully consider the needs of their patients against the different types that are available. Currently, there are six different kinds of spirometers for sale: the whole body plethysmograph, pneumotechometer, the fully electric spirometer, incentive spirometer, the peak flow meter and the windmill-type spirometer. Most of these spirometers for sale are not small enough to be a pocket spirometer or cheap spirometers, but are large enough to need an entire room for space and cost several thousands of dollars.