Peak flow meter
AssigneeTrudell Medical International
InventorMichael Nuttall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A peak flow meter is described with a body having a sample channel and at least one bypass channel. One of at least two flow range scales may be selected using a flow range selector to adjust the sensitivity of the peak flow meter. A flow range selection indicator provides visual reference as to which flow range scale has been selected. A peak flow calculator used in cooperation with zone indicators on the peak flow meter permits a user to customize the peak flow meter for that user's predicted personal best exhalation range.
Claims20
A peak flow meter comprising:
- a body for accommodating a flow of exhaled air therethrough;
- an indicator associated with the body and movable along a path relative to the body to a position along the body, the position related to a peak flow of air exhaled through the body;
- a first flow rate scale positioned on the body adjacent the path;
- a second flow rate scale positioned on the body adjacent the path;
- a flow range selector movably positionable on the body to a first position, wherein movement of the indicator in response to the flow of exhaled air conforms to the first flow rate scale, or in a second position, wherein movement of the indicator in response to the flow of exhaled air conforms to the second flow rate scale.
A peak flow meter system comprising:
- a peak flow meter having a hollow body for accommodating a flow of air exhaled therethrough, a peak flow indicator associated with said body responsive to the flow of air and movable relative to the body to a position along at least two scales on the body, the position related to a peak flow of air, the body having a range selector configured to allow a user to select a sensitivity of the peak flow meter, such that movement of the indicator conforms to a flow rate set forth on one of the at least two scales;
- and
- a zone calculator usable with the peak flow meter, the zone calculator having zone selection means for determining a position of zone indicators adjacent the at least two scales on the peak flow meter representative of a user's predicted personal best peak flow.
A peak flow meter comprising:
- an inlet for receiving a flow of exhaled air into a hollow body;
- an outlet for venting at least a portion of the flow of exhaled air;
- a piston movably positioned inside the hollow body for moving a peak flow indicator along a path in response to the flow of exhaled air;
- at least two scales positioned adjacent the path, each of the at least two scales demarcating a different flow range;
- and
- a flow range selector movably positionable on the body at a first position, wherein movement of the peak flow indicator in response to the flow of exhaled air conforms to a first of the at least two scales, or at a second position, wherein movement of the indicator in response to the flow of exhaled air conforms to a second of the at least two scales.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.