Portable spirometer

#This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/086244 filed Dec. 20, 2018 which designated the U.S. and claims priority to EP Patent Application No. 17209599.4 filed Dec. 21, 2017, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

#The present invention relates to a portable spirometer, comprising a housing and a mouthpiece being releasably connected to said housing. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of measuring the flow of air being inhaled or exhaled by a user.

#A device for measuring the volume of air being expired by the lungs is commonly denoted as a spirometer. Normally, by measuring the air flowing in and out from the lungs, it is possible to detect abnormal ventilation patterns, e.g. obstructive or restrictive, indicating possible lung diseases.

#The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show some non-limiting embodiments and in which:

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portable spirometer, when arranged in a standby position, according to an embodiment,

#FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the portable spirometer shown in FIG. 1, here arranged in an active position,

#All the figures are highly schematic and not necessarily to scale, and they show only those parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.

#A spirometer 1, i.e. a device for monitoring the physiological pulmonary condition of a user, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The spirometer 1 is to be used by a user exhaling air into a mouthpiece 2 or inhaling air through the mouthpiece 2, creating a flow of exhaled air or inhaled air through the mouthpiece 2. One or more characteristics of at least part of said flow of exhaled air or inhaled air is/are to be measured by a sensor unit 10, which will be further described with reference to FIGS. 3-6. The sensor unit 10 is embedded in a housing 3 which forms a means for holding the spirometer 1 by one hand of the user, while the user exhales air or inhales air into the mouthpiece 2.

#The mouthpiece 2 is releasably connected to the housing 3 by means of a pivot joint 4. When the mouthpiece 2 is connected to the housing 3, the mouthpiece 2 may be pivoted between a standby position, shown in FIG. 2, and an active position as shown in FIG. 3. When released from the housing 3, the mouthpiece 2 may be cleaned, replaced etc. without the risk of damaging the sensor unit 10.