Device and method for measuring a spirogram

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention pertains to a device and method for measuring critical portions of an individuals forced expiratory effort.
The device can be used to measure critical portions of a patients forced expiratory effort in a much shorter period and more accurately than traditional spirometry.
For example, critical diagnostic criteria may be measured during a three second exhalation or "blow" into the device.
The patient will generally blow as hard and fast as possible as in traditional spirometry, but rather than having to blow for an exhaustive period of up to 20 seconds or more, the critical measurements can be obtained in a small percentage of that time, typically less than two seconds.
The parameters measured are also believed to be approximately 100% more accurate in the diagnosis of lung disease in patients with Cystic Fibrosis and other lung diseases than traditional spirometry.
The method of the present invention utilizes parameters, such as duration of forced expiration greater than each of the arbitrary air flow rates, in the central range, instead of measuring the extremes, of lung function.
This can be done by measuring the duration of time air flow exceeds selected flow rates.
The test is sensitive to the presence of both obstructive and restrictive pulmonary problems.
The test can be executed by a device that stores date, time and multiple test results, for example, 500 or more results.
The results can be downloaded into a computer in a physicians office or other location either directly or remotely by telephone.
In one embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention, the device includes a series of preset negative pressure sensors attached to a sensor tube located in a breathing tube of predetermined dimension.
Blowing through the breathing tube triggers the various sensors "on" and "off" as the flow rate through the tube rises above and drops below the preset negative pressure for each sensor.
The time each of the sensors is activated is recorded, providing data which can be used for diagnostic purposes