RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Spirometers
JF Breathe
JO breathe
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 251
OP 254
VO 4
IS 3
A1 F. de Jongh
YR 2008
UL http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/4/3/251.abstract
AB Educational aims To outline the characteristics of currently available types of spirometer. 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.