Mobispiro: A novel spirometer

Abstract

Respiratory function monitoring and pulmonary diseases evaluation usually involve patient examination with spirometers, for the recording and monitoring of two principal parameters: the total air volume that the lungs can inhale and exhale, and the peek of the exhaled air flow. The purpose of implementing a portable spirometer device is to be used by patients who suffer from chronic pulmonary diseases, and need frequently to record and monitor their respiratory function. Mobispiro is a novel spirometer that enables recording and transmission of vital signs over GSM/GPRS networks and supports patient-centric models of healthcare provision. The core of the device includes all the essential hardware components, as well as software providing the necessary functionality and it is expected to fulfill all expert needs for monitoring patient's disease. Mobispiro measurements are transferred to the doctor through GSM network. In addition, the use of the GPRS service for data transmission supports the ability for the device to communicate with receiving points, e.g. PC, PDA or a cell phone. It is anticipated that the volume of data to be transferred is relatively low and thus, the above connectivity solutions are satisfactory for this kind of medical use. The device is programmed to send data to predefined access points. The solution is integrated with a web server application which gives the ability to access data simply by using an internet connection. The web server application is responsible for the service administration, the retrieval of measurements from the database and their presentation. Mobispiro is also provided as an OEM solution and complies with the international standard for medical data transmission and storage and the ATS recommendations for diagnostic spiromenters. © 2010 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.