Abstract
Educational aims
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To outline the characteristics of currently available types of spirometer.
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To explain the requirements a spirometer should fulfil.
Summary There are many spirometers on the market. They can be divided roughly into a group that primarily measures volume and a group that primarily measures flow. Quality control and calibration should be performed on a regular basis to ensure that a device (still) functions appropriately. The types have different characteristics and are optimal for different circumstances (from a simple peak-flow meter to monitor asthma at home to an ultrasonic device to measure a patient in a pulmonary function lab). In this article, the characteristics of the currently available spirometers are discussed, as well as the requirements they should fulfil.
- ©ERS 2008