Personal spirometer

Abstract

A portable hand-held spirometer is disclosed for use in taking respiratory tests and storing and displaying test results. The configuration of the spirometer includes handgrips that are positioned to ensure that the user is properly positioned to provide maximum breathing required for valid test results to be obtained. The spirometer also includes a progressively illuminated indicator that can be viewed by the user during a test to provide an indication in real-time to the user of the expected/desired duration of the exhalation or inhalation test. The indicator is completely illuminated only when the measured accumulated volume of air passing through the spirometer equals a predicted volume determined based on the age, gender, height, weight and ethnicity of the user stored in the spirometer. The structures and arrangement of a turbine assembly and sensors is also disclosed. Further, a method of receiving, storing and displaying information on the spirometer via a color touch screen display is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable, hand-held personal spirometer, comprising:
 a casework housing having front and rear panels, proximal and distal ends, and opposite side edges;   an opposed pair of handgrips formed by said housing at said opposite side edges;   a pair of finger-receiving throughholes extending through said housing adjacent each of said handgrips permitting each of said handgrips to be gripped by a hand of a user such that the hand of the user is able to fully encircle, extend around, and gird said handgrip;   an air flow tube mounted to said housing and extending underneath said front panel across said housing in a direction from said proximal end to said distal end, said air flow tube being located centrally between said opposed pair of handgrips and being spaced from each of said handgrips; and   a mouthpiece connected to said air flow tube and extending from said proximal end of said housing.   
     
     
         2 - 22 . (canceled)