Spirocomp 106 is a portable microcomputer instrument for examination of the external respiration function, using the slow expiration and the forced expiration manoeuvres. It has a calibrated air flow transducer of high accuracy and very low resistance. The transducer's electrical output is analyzed by the microcomputer. The flow-volume loop is calculated, along with several diagnostic parameters like: the vital capacity VC, the forced vital capacity FVC; the forced expiratory volumes for the first and third second FEV1 and FEV3; the ratios FEV1/VC, FEV1/FVC, and FEV3/FVC; the peak expiratory flow PEF; the mean flow for the interval 25%-75% of the volume FEF25-75; the flow values for 75% , 50% and 25% of the volume - FEF75, FEF50 and FEF25; the mean transit time ALPHA1 and its disperion ALPHA2; the total duration of the forced expiration EXP_TIME, etc.
The parameters measured are compared to a set of normal values, valid for adults only. The normal values are computed individually for each patient from patient data including age, sex and height, and are entered into the computer via the keypad, along with room temperature which is needed for correction of the air volume.
The results are printed on a termal dot-matrix printer as both absolute values measured, and as a percentage of the respective normal value. The flow-volume curve is plotted too.
The SpiroComp is comercially available through EMA Engineering Company.