KR20230164989A - Apparatus and method for measuring lung capacity and expiratory gas - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for measuring vital capacity and expired gas is provided. The lung capacity and expiratory gas measuring device includes a main body forming an expiratory passage inside, an inlet and an outlet formed at each end of the main body, a flow sensor that measures the amount of exhaled air in the expiratory passage, and trapping the exhaled air inside, A chamber that detects the gas component of the exhaled air, an input valve that introduces or blocks the flow of exhaled air from the expiratory passage into the chamber depending on opening and closing, and an input valve that introduces or blocks the flow of exhaled air from the chamber into the exhalation passage according to opening and closing. Includes output valve.

Description

Lung capacity and expiratory gas measuring device and method {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING LUNG CAPACITY AND EXPIRATORY GAS}

This disclosure relates to a device and method for measuring lung capacity and expiratory gas, and more specifically, to a device and method for measuring lung capacity and expired gas that simultaneously performs spirometry for lung function testing and expiratory gas measurement for lung inflammation testing. .

There are two ways to non-invasively test for abnormalities in the lungs: a spirometry test that measures the maximum expiratory volume and an expiratory gas test that measures the type of gas exhaled during normal breathing.

The method of measuring the maximum effort expiratory volume or the type of exhaled gas is all done by blowing through the mouth. However, while the method of measuring the maximum effort expiratory volume requires exhalation as strong and long as possible, the expiratory gas test In this case, the measurement should be made while controlling the flow of exhalation by blowing at a medium intensity as if breathing normally. Therefore, even though it is the same mouth-blowing method, there is an inconvenience in that in order to check for abnormalities in the lungs, it must be tested in a separate way using different devices.

In particular, when there are signs of abnormalities in the lungs, breathing is often difficult. Performing two types of tests together with one breath has great utility in terms of use, and simultaneously tests the amount of exhaled air and the type of exhaled gas through a single breathing test. You need a device that can do it.

The problem that the present disclosure aims to solve is to provide a spirometric and expiratory gas measurement device and method that can simultaneously perform spirometric measurement and expiratory gas measurement with one exhalation through a single device.

According to one embodiment, a device for measuring vital capacity and expired gas is provided. The lung capacity and expiratory gas measuring device includes a main body forming an expiratory passage inside, an inlet and an outlet formed at each end of the main body, a flow sensor that measures the amount of exhaled air in the expiratory passage, and trapping the exhaled air inside, A chamber that detects the gas component of the exhaled air, an input valve that introduces or blocks the flow of exhaled air from the expiratory passage into the chamber depending on opening and closing, and an input valve that introduces or blocks the flow of exhaled air from the chamber into the exhalation passage according to opening and closing. Includes output valve.

According to an embodiment, in order to test for lung abnormalities, a single device can measure the amount of exhaled air using only one breath and also analyze exhaled gas components.

Therefore, even patients who have breathing problems and find it difficult to measure their breathing can easily be tested for lung abnormalities.

1 and 2 are diagrams showing an example of a lung capacity and expiratory gas measuring device according to an embodiment.
Figure 3 is a flowchart explaining a method of measuring lung capacity and expired gas according to an embodiment.
Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling an input valve and an output valve in a control unit according to an embodiment.

Below, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present disclosure. However, this description may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In order to clearly explain the description in the drawings, parts that are not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are given similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification and claims, when a part is said to ""include"" a certain component, this means that other components may be further included rather than excluding other components, unless specifically stated to the contrary. do.

Now, the apparatus and method for measuring lung capacity and expired gas according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are diagrams showing an example of a lung capacity and expiratory gas measuring device according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the lung capacity and expiratory gas measuring device 100 includes an inlet 110, a main body 120, a flow sensor 130, an outlet 140, an input valve 150, and a chamber 160. , includes an output valve 170, a gas sensor 180, and a control unit 190.

An inlet 110 is formed on one side of the main body 120. The inlet 110 corresponds to a mouthpiece through which the examinee holds the mouth and blows exhalation.

An outlet 140 through which exhaled air blown through the inlet 110 is discharged is formed on the other side of the main body 120.

Inside the main body 120, an exhalation passage for the exhaled air to move is formed between the inlet 110 and the outlet 140.

A flow sensor 130 is provided that can measure the amount of exhaled air in the exhalation passage. The flow sensor 130 detects the amount of exhaled air in the exhalation passage.

Additionally, an input valve 150 and an output valve 170 connecting the exhalation passage and the chamber 160 are formed in the downward direction of the exhalation passage. In this way, when the input valve 150 is facing downward, when the input valve 150 is opened, exhaled air can be introduced into the chamber 160 with a stronger pressure due to gravity.

When the input valve 150 is opened, it allows some of the exhaled air flow in the exhalation passage to pass through the chamber 160, and when closed, it blocks the flow of exhaled air in the exhalation passage from the chamber 160.

When the output valve 170 is opened, it allows the flow of exhaled air within the chamber 160 to pass through the exhalation passage, and when closed, it blocks the flow of exhaled air within the chamber 160 from the exhalation passage.

When the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are opened and an appropriate amount of exhaled air flows into the chamber 160, the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are closed.

The gas sensor 180 inside the chamber 160 analyzes exhaled gas components from the exhaled air inside the chamber 160.

The control unit 190 determines the opening and closing of the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 based on the amount of exhaled air detected by the flow sensor 130, and determines the opening and closing of the input valve 150 and the output valve 170. The input valve 150 and output valve 170 are opened or closed accordingly.

Then, the method of measuring lung capacity and expired gas based on FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Figure 1 shows the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 in a closed state, and Figure 2 shows the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 in an open state.

Figure 3 is a flowchart explaining a method of measuring lung capacity and expired gas according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, measurement begins with the input valve 150 and output valve 170 closed as shown in FIG. 1 (S310).

The test subject blows exhaled air through the inlet 110.

When the test subject blows in exhalation through the inlet 110, the exhaled air flows into the exhalation passage (S320), and the exhaled air flowing into the exhalation passage flows in the direction of the outlet 140.

The control unit 190 determines to open the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 based on the amount of exhaled air detected by the flow sensor 130.

Next, the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are opened according to the decision of the control unit 190 (S330).

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the exhaled air flow in the exhalation passage flows into the chamber 160 through the open input valve 150. And the flow of exhaled air flowing into the chamber 160 flows back into the exhaled passage through the opened output valve 170 (S340).

After the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are opened, if the control unit 190 determines that the amount of exhaled air detected by the flow sensor 130 has stabilized, the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 decided to close. go

Next, according to the decision of the control unit 190, the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are closed (S350).

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the chamber 160 is separated from the exhalation passage, so that exhaled air does not flow into the chamber 160, and the exhaled air flow within the chamber 160 is controlled.

Next, the flow sensor 130 detects the amount of exhaled air in the exhalation passage (S360). At this time, the amount of exhaled air flowing into the chamber 160 through the input valve 150 and the amount of exhaled air output from the chamber 160 through the output valve 170 are constant, so that the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 Regardless of whether it is open, the amount of exhaled air flowing through the exhalation passage in the main body 120 is the same. Therefore, the flow sensor 130 can detect the amount of exhalation in the exhalation passage regardless of whether the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are opened or closed.

Additionally, the gas sensor 180 analyzes exhaled gas components present inside the chamber 160 (S370).

The amount of exhaled breath detected by the flow sensor 130 and the exhaled gas component analyzed by the gas sensor 180 may be collected by a separate device (not shown).

In this way, the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are opened to allow the flow of exhaled air from the exhalation passage into the chamber 160, and when an appropriate amount of exhaled air flows into the chamber 160, the input valve 150 ) and closing the output valve 170 to separate the chamber 160 and the exhalation passage, measurement of the amount of exhaled air in the exhalation passage and analysis of the exhaled gas composition in the chamber 160 can be performed through one device.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling an input valve and an output valve in a control unit according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, measurement begins with the input valve 150 and output valve 170 closed.

When the control unit 190 receives a measurement start signal from the outside (S410), it analyzes the amount of exhaled air detected by the flow sensor 130 in real time (S420).

If the amount of exhaled air detected by the flow sensor 130 is more than the set standard (S430), the control unit 190 determines to open the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 (S440), and opens the input valve 150. ) and the first control signal for opening the output valve 170 is transmitted to the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 (S450).

After the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are opened, if the control unit 190 determines that the amount of exhaled air detected by the flow sensor 130 is stabilized (S460), the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 are opened. It is determined to close 170 (S470), and a second control signal for closing the input valve 150 and output valve 170 is transmitted to the input valve 150 and the output valve 170 (S480). That is, when an appropriate amount of exhaled air flows into the chamber 160, the amount of expired air detected by the flow sensor 130 maintains a constant value. From this, the control unit 190 can determine that the amount of exhaled air detected by the flow sensor 130 has stabilized. Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the scope of rights of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims may also be applied to the present disclosure. It falls within the scope of rights.

Claims (1)

In spirometric and expired gas measurement devices,
A body forming an exhalation passage inside,
An inlet and outlet formed at both ends of the main body,
A flow sensor that measures the amount of exhaled air in the exhalation passage,
A chamber that confines exhaled air therein and detects gas components of the exhaled air,
An input valve that introduces or blocks the flow of exhalation from the exhalation passage into the chamber depending on opening and closing, and
An output valve that introduces or blocks the flow of exhaled air from the chamber into the exhaled passage according to opening and closing.
A lung capacity and expired gas measuring device comprising a.

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