CA2242847A1 - Respiratory test apparatus - Google Patents

Respiratory test apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2242847A1
CA2242847A1 CA 2242847 CA2242847A CA2242847A1 CA 2242847 A1 CA2242847 A1 CA 2242847A1 CA 2242847 CA2242847 CA 2242847 CA 2242847 A CA2242847 A CA 2242847A CA 2242847 A1 CA2242847 A1 CA 2242847A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
test
subject
profile
pressure
target
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2242847
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kenneth Chatham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MEDRUS TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2242847A1 publication Critical patent/CA2242847A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B23/00Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
    • A63B23/18Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for improving respiratory function
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/08Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs
    • A61B5/087Measuring breath flow

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Physiology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus for testing the respiratory ability of a subject, comprises a unit (10) through which the subject can inspire, the unit (10) including a pressure sensing device connected to a data processing unit (20). The data processing unit is arranged to compare the time-varying pressure, or a parameter thereof, with a prestored target.

Description

ResPiratorY Test Apparatus The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing the respiratory ability of subjects.
There are a number of situations where it is necessary or desirable to test the respiratory ability of a subject, and indeed to improve that ability. For example, it is often necessary to test and improve the respiratory ability of a patient prior to a surgical operation and/or during the rehabilitation of such a patient. As another example, it is often desirable to improve the respiratory ability of athletes lO or other sportsmen.
have now devised an apparatus for testing and improving the respiratory ability of subiects.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus which comprises a unit through which a 15 subject can inspire, this unit including a pressure sensing device, and a data processing unit to which the pressure sensing device is connected, and arranged to compare the time-varying pressure, or a parameter thereof, with a prestored target.
Preferably the apparatus is arranged to store a target for each individual subiect. Preferably this target comprises a time-varying pressure profile taken from the subject during a pre-test trial inspiration, but then reduced by a predetermined fraction in pressure amplitude. Additionally or 25 instead, the target may comprise an integral of the trial inspiration pressure profile, reduced by a predetermined fraction. Preferably the target is selected as the best result from a number, say three, trial inspirations.
The apparatus is preferably arranged for the subject to 30 carry our successive test inspirations, the measured results of each of these being compared against the target, with the time intervals between successive tests progressively reducing.
Preferably, the apparatus prompts the subject to commence each successive inspiration (e.g. by means of a display and/or 35 audible signal). Preferably a set of successive tests (e.g.
six tests) are carried out with the same interval (e.g. 60 seconds) between them, then a second set of tests are carried out with a smaller internal (e.g. 45 seconds) between them, and 50 on.
At each test, the apparatus is arranged to determine if 5 the subject has "passed" that test, in which case the apparatus prompts the subject to carry out the next test, and so on. At some stage, the subject will fail an individual test, and this completes the exercise: the point in the overall program at which the failure occurs is recorded.
10During each test, preferably the prestored target profile is continuously displayed on a visual display, and the measured profile is built up on the display as the subject breathes in: the subject is thus able to compare his performance with the target, and can adjust his effort in an 15 attempt to exceed the target. This "feedback" to the subject is particularly valuable.
Preferably the apparatus requires the measured time-varying profile to exceed the target profile by a predetermined margin, in terms of the integral of that curve (e.g. the area 20 under the curve, which is therefore a measure of the work done). Preferably also the apparatus requires the duration of the measured time-varying profile to exceed a predetermined fraction (e.g. 90%) of the duration of the target profile.
Preferably the apparatus is arranged to display one or 25 more of the following: the peak pressure of the target profile, the average peak pressure from the successive test, the integral of the target profile, the accumulating integral of each test profile, and the accumulated integral of the successive tests (corresponding to the total wor~ done by the 30 subject during the test program).
Preferably at each session of use, the subject creates a fresh target, in the manner described above, against which he compares his performance during the tests which he carried out in that session.
35The peak pressure, measured typically over the first second of each inspiration, gives an indication of measured respiratory muscle strength. The integral of each test profile is a measure of the work done. The accumulated integral, over all tests completed successfully in the session, is a measure CA 02242847 1998-07-lO

of respiratory endurance. These results therefore provide an effective assessment of the subject's respiratory muscles.
Through use of the above-described apparatus in successive sessions, I have found that the subject's 5 respiratory ability improves significantly (particularly muscle strength and endurance).
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for testing the respiratory ability of a patient;
FIGURE 2 is a typical time-varying measure of pressure sensed in a trial use of the apparatus of Figure 1;
FIGURE 3 is a typical display of a target profile and a measured profile; and FIGURE 4 is a typical results grid following a test session.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown 20 an apparatus for carrying out respiratory tests, the apparatus comprising a hand-held unit 10 having a mouthpiece 11, and through which the patient or subject inspires, and a personal computer 20 to which a manometer of the unit 10 is connected.
The computer 20 includes a visual display unit (VDU) 22 and 25 keyboard 24 is connected to a printer 26. The computer is loaded with a respiratory test program in accordance with the invention, arranged for the apparatus to function as follows.
The computer creates and stores a record for each subject: thus for each subject, data is entered on the 30 computer keyboard 24 to identify the subject, and various other items of data concerning the subject are also entered. In an initial phase, a target pressure profile for the subject is created and stored: thus, the VDU prompts the subject to break in through the hand-held unit 10; the negative pressure created 35 within the air passage of the unit 10 is monitored by the manometer, and a corresponding time-varying profile P as shown in Figure 2 is displayed on the VDU and also stored. This procedure is carried out three times, with an interval of time (e.g. of two minutes) between each inspiration. The computer then selects the "best " pressure profile of the three (as a combination of the largest peak and longest duration): the computer then calculates a target profile T which is predetermined fraction (e.g. 80~) in amplitude of the selected "best" pressure profile; this target profile is then displayed continuously on the VDU.
After a rest, the subject is prompted by the computer to commence the testing phase. Thus, the subject breathes in again through the hand-held unit 10, and a trace of the 10 measured pressure M is built up on the VDU, as shown in Figure 3: thus, as the subject breathes in, he can visually compare his performance against the target profile being displayed.
Also the computer continuously calculates an integral of the trace which is being created (i.e. the area under the curve, 15 therefore a measure of the work done), and displays this accumulating figure on the VDU. The VDU also continuously displays the corresponding final integral of the target profile.
If at the end of this test the computer finds that the integral of the subject's measured trace exceeds the integral of the target profile by a predetermined margin (e.g. by 10%), then the computer regards the subject as having "passedl' the test. The computer then prompts the subject (via the VDU
and/or by an audible signal), to repeat the exercise, after an interval of 60 seconds. The test proceeds in this manner, until the subject has "passed " the test six times in succession (with 60 seconds between each test). Then the test proceeds six more times, with a reduced interval (45 seconds) between successive tests, followed by six tests with 30 seconds intervals, six test with 15 second intervals, six tests with 10 seconds intervals, and finally six tests with 5 seconds intervals. However, at some stage during this test program, the subject will fail to exceed his target.
Thus, Figure 4 shows the results for a subject who 35 passed all six tests for each of the 60, 45, 30 and 15 seconds intervals tests (A to D), then passed four of the tests at 10 seconds intervals but then failed the next test. It will be appreciated that the results for this subject can be categorised as r'E4". The results table shown in ~igure 3 is W O 97/19635 PCT/G~61'~2g32 displayed on the VDU, together with the accumulated total of the intervals under the test curves (being a measure of the total work done). This information can be printed out, and is also stored by the computer in the data record for that subject.
At the next session of use by the same subject, the subject undergoes an initial phase as described above, and a new target profile is created in the same manner. The test then proceeds as described above.
It will be appreciated that as a result of successive sessions of use of the apparatus, each subject improves his or her performance, firstly by progressing further through the full program of 36 tests, secondly by improving the accumulated "work done" figure, and also by improving the average peak 15 pressure figure.

Claims (5)

Claims
1. An apparatus for testing and improving the strength and endurance of the respiratory muscles of one or more subjects, the apparatus comprising a unit through which a subject can inspire, said unit including a pressure sensing device, and a data processing unit to which the pressure sensing device is connected, said data processing unit being arranged to respond to said pressure sensing device during an initial, trial inspiration to store a target time-varying pressure profile which corresponds to the actual time-varying pressure profile reduced in pressure amplitude by a predetermined fraction, said data processing unit also being arranged to prompt the subject subsequently to perform a series of test inspirations, with the time intervals between successive test inspirations being progressively reduced, and the data processing unit being further arranged to respond to said pressure sensing device during each said test inspiration to compare the time-varying pressure occurring during that test with the stored target profile.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said data processing unit is arranged to determine the integral of said target profile and to determine whether the integral of the measured pressure profile of each test inspiration exceeds the target integral by a predetermined margin, in order to determine if the subject has passed that test.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said data processing apparatus is arranged to determine and store a target duration corresponding to a predetermined fraction of said target profile, and to determine whether the duration of the pressure profile of each test inspiration exceeds the target duration, in order to determine if the subject has passed that test.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said data processing means is arranged to display said prestored target profile and to build up a display of the pressure profile as the subject performs each test inspiration.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said data processing unit is arranged to display one or more of: the peak pressure of the target profile, the average peak pressure of the series of test inspirations, the integral of the target profile, and the accumulated integral of the series of test inspirations.
CA 2242847 1995-11-28 1996-11-28 Respiratory test apparatus Abandoned CA2242847A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9524258A GB2307641A (en) 1995-11-28 1995-11-28 Apparatus for testing respiratory ability
GB9524258.2 1995-11-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2242847A1 true CA2242847A1 (en) 1997-06-05

Family

ID=10784531

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2242847 Abandoned CA2242847A1 (en) 1995-11-28 1996-11-28 Respiratory test apparatus

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0871398A1 (en)
CN (1) CN1208335A (en)
AU (1) AU7701596A (en)
CA (1) CA2242847A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2307641A (en)
NZ (1) NZ322972A (en)
WO (1) WO1997019635A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO301210B1 (en) * 1994-12-14 1997-09-29 Camtech As Use of sensors to measure an individual's respiration time volume
DE19713636A1 (en) * 1997-04-02 1998-10-08 Pari Gmbh Breath simulator
KR20050049987A (en) * 2003-11-24 2005-05-27 삼공물산 주식회사 Circuit for displaying remainder of air respirator
EP1978460B1 (en) 2007-04-05 2014-01-22 ResMed R&D Germany GmbH Monitoring device and method
CN101310678B (en) * 2008-05-07 2010-06-02 上海力申科学仪器有限公司 Measuring method of anesthesia apparatus tidal volume
EP2408502B1 (en) 2009-03-20 2018-10-24 Koninklijke Philips N.V. System for adjusting tidal volume of a self-ventilating subject
CN105381570B (en) * 2015-12-29 2018-11-13 中国人民解放军***总医院 A kind of portable intelligent respiratory training device and method

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3991304A (en) * 1975-05-19 1976-11-09 Hillsman Dean Respiratory biofeedback and performance evaluation system
GB2133157B (en) * 1982-10-09 1986-02-19 Richard Bernhard Richardson Electronic lung function analyser
US4495944A (en) * 1983-02-07 1985-01-29 Trutek Research, Inc. Inhalation therapy apparatus
CA1325460C (en) * 1988-02-10 1993-12-21 Sherwood Medical Company Pulmonary function tester
US4984158A (en) * 1988-10-14 1991-01-08 Hillsman Dean Metered dose inhaler biofeedback training and evaluation system
GB8923982D0 (en) * 1989-10-25 1989-12-13 Clement Clarke Int Measurement apparatus
GB9108370D0 (en) * 1991-04-18 1991-06-05 Clement Clarke Int Measurement apparatus
GB2267758A (en) * 1992-05-28 1993-12-15 Nagano Limited Airflow measuring device
US5373851A (en) * 1993-04-19 1994-12-20 Brunswick Biomedical Corporation Specialized peak flow meter
DE69424992T2 (en) * 1994-02-14 2000-10-26 Aradigm Corp., Hayward Inhalation exercise device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7701596A (en) 1997-06-19
EP0871398A1 (en) 1998-10-21
GB2307641A (en) 1997-06-04
GB9524258D0 (en) 1996-01-31
NZ322972A (en) 1998-12-23
CN1208335A (en) 1999-02-17
WO1997019635A1 (en) 1997-06-05

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