Patent ID: 11937914
Assignee: THORASYS THORACIC MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A device for measuring lung function parameters comprising:
a flow tube having a mouthpiece end and an outlet;
a shutter covering the outlet of the flow tube;
a hinge connecting the shutter to the flow tube such that said shutter opens outwardly in a manner that is configured to be propelled by and moved with an air flow leaving the flow tube;
wherein said hinge is mounted on the flow tube with its rotational axis making an angle with respect to gravity acceleration so that gravity causes the shutter to return to a closed position after said shutter opens outwardly with the airflow leaving the flow tube to allow for multiple shutter openings;
a controllable latch closing and releasing the shutter;
a flow sensor for measuring flow in the flow tube following release of the shutter, wherein the shutter with a mass and said angle of said hinge are arranged to provide low impedance following release of the shutter for the flow measurement in the flow tube in the period of about 200 ms following release of the shutter, such that the measuring flow in the flow tube is not affected by the shutter;
a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the flow tube prior to the release of the shutter;
a latch controller connected to the pressure sensor and the controllable latch; and
a check valve arranged in the flow tube or the shutter for allowing inhalation while the shutter is closed so that the device can be used throughout at least one inhalation and exhalation cycle.