Spirometers

Spirometry

Spirometry is a medical test used to assess and measure lung function. It is a common diagnostic tool used to evaluate respiratory health and can help diagnose various lung diseases. During a spirometry test, patients are typically asked to take a deep breath and then exhale forcefully into a device called a spirometer. This device measures several key parameters, including:

Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): This measures the maximum amount of air a patient can exhale after taking a deep breath.

Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1): This measures the amount of air a patient can forcibly exhale in the first second after taking a deep breath.

FEV1/FVC Ratio: This ratio helps determine if there is any obstruction in the airways. A lower ratio may indicate a blockage.

Spirometry can provide valuable information for diagnosing and monitoring various lung diseases and respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), restrictive lung diseases, and more. It's a non-invasive and relatively quick test often performed in a doctor's office or a pulmonary function testing laboratory. The results of a spirometry test can help medical professionals assess lung function, track disease progression, and develop appropriate treatment plans.

Below, you will find an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the two most common measurement techniques to measure lung function, vital capacity and expiratory volume.

	Pneumotachograph	Turbine
Measurement Technology	Determines the flow velocity in the breathing tube when the air flows through the individual lamellae	Determines the volume via the number of revolutions of the turbine
Costs	Slightly higher purchase price	Low purchase price
Advantage	High initial accuracy	Highly accurate measurement with a strong respiratory flow
Disadvantage	Due to the humidity of the breathing air, the lamellae become dirty, which makes the measurement less accurate over time	The turbine will not rotate until a certain air flow is reached. If the patient does not cooperate sufficiently, the measurement will be inaccurate.

Stationary Spirometers

For general practitioners, paediatricians and pulmonologists who perform spirometry tests exclusively in their medical practice, a stationary spirometer is a suitable piece of equipment. Tabletop spirometers are often equipped with an integrated thermal printer via which the data from the pulmonary function test can be printed out immediately. Some devices can also be connected to the practice PC and are equipped with a GDT interface so that the measured values of the lung function test can be transferred to the practice software. In our shop, you will find the NDD Easy on-PC Spirometer which is a fully integrated, PC spirometer.

Enhancing Patient Protection with Filters

Nowadays, special bacterial-viral filters are available for many spirometers to prevent the spirometry equipment from becoming contaminated during lung function tests. The disposable filters are changed after each patient so that no transmission of infection can occur. In our shop, you will find a range of spirometry filters that either come complete with mouthpiece or necessitate the use of an additional disposable mouthpiece.

In our online shop, you may purchase NDD EasyOne Filters which are intended for use with NDD Spirettes or NDD FlowTubes. The filter serves as an effective contamination protection for patients and staff during spirometry and is designed for hygienic single use.

Portable Spirometers

Handheld spirometers, also referred to as portable spirometers, are intended for mobile use and are particularly popular in occupational medicine. However, they are also ideal for use in large group practices and for lung function testing during home visits. We offer the NDD EasyOne® Air Spirometer for performing pulmonary function tests to help you confidently diagnose and manage asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a particularly flexible option, as it can be used as a stand-alone device or in conjunction with a PC. The device for carrying out lung function tests also includes high-quality FlowTube breathing tubes to guarantee infection protection.

Stock Up on Spirometry Equipment

We offer a wide range of spirometers such as digital spirometers and handheld spirometers for reliable measurement results and every need. Whether it's an inexpensive entry-level model or a feature-rich professional model - we have the right device for every requirement.

In addition, we offer the appropriate accessories for your device – from mouthpieces and the disposable nasal clip to reusable turbines. These, along with many other general and specialised diagnostic tools, can be found alongside therapy and wellness products in the clearly organised Diagnostics category.

Peak flow meters for measuring peak flow are available in the dedicated category of our online shop.