Pulmonary function test calibration system and method

A system for calibrating pulmonary function test equipment, comprising:

• (a) syringe means, including a syringe having:
• (1) a cylindrically shaped sidewall,
• (2) a proximal end with an centrally located orifice,
• (3) a distal end with an output port,
• (4) an interior cavity, and
• (5) a plunger with a shaft slidably mounted through the orifice, a piston-type head mounted on one end of the shaft, and a handle mounted on an opposing end of the shaft;
• (b) a functional residual capacity port;
• (c) a rigid functional residual capacity bag connected in flow communication with the functional residual capacity port;
• (d) control means having a plurality of stop mechanisms, including:
• (1) a first stop mechanism,
• (2) a second stop mechanism having first and second channels capable of connecting the interior cavity to the functional residual capacity port, and
• (3) a third stop mechanism, and
• (4) wherein each of said plurality of stop mechanisms includes:
• (A) a proximal end, extending exteriorly and transversely from the sidewall, and a distal end,
• (B) a mounting mechanism wherein each stop mechanism is spring-mounted and slidably displaceable transverse to the sidewall wherein a distal end of the respective stop mechanism extends into the interior cavity of the syringe, and
• (C) a latching mechanism structured to:
• (i) latch the respective stop mechanism in an activated station wherein the distal end of the respective stop mechanism extends into the interior cavity of the syringe, and
• (ii) release the respective stop mechanism to automatically return to a deactivated station wherein the distal end of the respective stop mechanism does not extend into the interior cavity of the syringe, and
• (D) wherein the plurality of stop mechanisms are axially spaced along the syringe such that a predetermined volume of the interior cavity is defined between that axial spacing of the respective stop mechanism and the distal end of the interior cavity;
• and
• (e) connection means having a first configuration and a second configuration wherein:
• (1) the first configuration includes a flexible conduit removably connecting the output port in flow communication with existing pulmonary function test equipment, the flexible conduit including:
• (A) a T-adapter,
• (B) a diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide bag connected in flow communication with the T-adapter, and
• (C) a restrictor structured to prevent gas from flowing from the pulmonary function test equipment through the T-adapter until the gas in the diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide bag has been depleted, and
• (2) the second configuration includes a flexible conduit removably connecting output port in flow communication with the existing pulmonary function test equipment.

A method for calibrating existing pulmonary function test equipment, including the steps of:

• (a) providing a system having:
• (1) a syringe having an output port and a plunger with a head that is displaceable within an interior cavity of the syringe,
• (2) a plurality of stop mechanisms, each having an activated station wherein a distal end of the respective stop mechanism interferes with displacement of the plunger head in the interior cavity of the syringe, and a deactivated station wherein the distal end of the respective stop mechanism does not interfere with displacement of the plunger head in the interior cavity of the syringe,
• (3) connection means having a flexible conduit connecting the output port in flow communication with the existing pulmonary function test equipment,
• (4) a functional residual capacity port,
• (5) a functional residual capacity bag connected in flow communication with the functional residual capacity port, and
• (6) one of the stop mechanisms connecting the interior cavity in flow communication with the functional residual capacity port when that one stop mechanism is disposed at the respective activated station thereof;
• and
• (b) connecting the output port to existing pulmonary function test equipment;
• (c) selectively placing the plurality of stop mechanisms in their respective activated and deactivated stations as appropriate;
• and
• (d) calibrating the existing pulmonary function test equipment by using the plunger to perform various tasks to simulate the breathing functions of a subject.