Spirometry with a Fleisch pneumotachograph: upstream heat exchanger replaces heating requirement

Miller, Martin R., Ole F. Pedersen, and Torben Sigsgaard.Spirometry with a Fleisch pneumotachograph: upstream heat exchanger replaces heating requirement. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(4): 1053–1057, 1997.—The exact temperature of the head of an unheated Fleisch pneumotachograph (PT) during recording is not known, and variation in its temperature may lead to errors in measuring spirometric indexes. We measured PT head temperature during blows from five normal subjects, recorded by using a PT with and without an upstream heat exchanger to condition the air to the ambient temperature that was set in a climate chamber. Group mean (±SD) temperature of a thermocouple (TC) placed inside the PT head was 11.8 ± 1.9°C with 7°C ambient, 25.4 ± 1.3°C at 23°C, and was 37.2 ± 0.3°C at 37°C. The between-subject range of temperature for this TC was 7.5° at 7°C, 5.5° at 23°C, and 1.1° at 37°C. The mean within-subject within-blow variation of temperature for this TC was 10.0° and 3.3°C for ambient of 7° and 23°C, respectively. At the usual ambient temperature in a laboratory, these differences in temperature lead to a 3.6% between-subject bias in recording, and the within-subject differences lead to 2.6% underreading of peak expiratory flow and a 0.5% overreading later in the blow, which makesatps-to-btpscorrection erroneous or difficult to perform. With the use of an upstream heat exchanger, the group mean temperature was 8.7 ± 0.4°, 23.2 ± 0.2°, and 37.1 ± 0.2°C at the three ambient temperatures, respectively, and the within-subject within-blow variation was reduced to <1°C. A heat exchanger placed upstream of the PT satisfactorily conditioned expired air to the ambient temperature and removed the error.

Inertance of the respiratory system in ponies

The purpose of the present work was to measure the pulmonary inertance (IL) in ponies and to analyze its potential influence on the mechanics of breathing and on their aptitude to increase ventilation during exercise. Five healthy ponies 2.4–4 yr old [mean wt 255 +/- 15 (SE) kg] were used. On the one hand, inertance of the respiratory system (Irs) was computed from the value of the resonant frequency (fr) measured by the forced oscillation technique. On the other hand, respiratory airflow, tidal volume (VT), and transpulmonary pressure (PL) changes were recorded while the ponies were performing a light treadmill exercise, and IL was calculated as the ratio of the associated differences in inertial pressure (delta Pin) to volume acceleration (delta V). Respiratory airflow and VT were measured with a Fleisch pneumotachograph (no. 5) and PL with an intraesophageal balloon catheter. First, the protocol was carried out with the ponies breathing air and He-O2, second, while the ponies breathed through two additional tubes (100 cm long, 3 cm ID), then one, and finally none, fixed on the Fleisch pneumotachograph. Finally, the contribution of the extra- vs. the intrathoracic airways to IL was estimated by measuring the lateral midtracheal pressure recorded simultaneously with the aforementioned parameters. The values of Irs calculated with fr and of IL calculated on the basis of the delta Pin-delta V ratio were 29.8 +/- 0.4 and 19.8 +/- 1.0.10(-4) kPa.l-1.s-2, respectively. During He-O2 breathing IL decreased about three times; this result was similar to the predicted decrease based on gas density only.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Linearity and temperature control of the Fleisch pneumotachograph

We have investigated the optimal thermal conditions of a Fleisch no. 4 pneumotachograph (PT) necessary for recording maximal forced expiratory maneuvers (MFEM). Our PT assembly was tested with a computer-driven pump and found to be linear up to 14 l/s. Thermocouples (TC) were placed in a peripheral, mid, and a central capillary of the PT. Stable temperature control and consistent PT calibration were best obtained by proportional thermostatic control via the peripheral TC. When the PT was heated to 35 degrees C or above, expirations from either the pump (air at 33 degrees C saturated) or a subject cooled the PT, thus affecting its response. With the PT heated to 30 degrees C, repeated blows caused little change in PT temperature, with no evidence of condensation, thus indicating optimal thermal conditions for recording MFEM.

Effect of O2, N2, and CO2 composition on nonlinearity of Fleisch pneumotachograph characteristics

Although the Fleisch pneumotachograph has many advantages, its flow-conductance characteristics are nonlinear and sensitive to changes in gas composition. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of different O2, N2, and CO2 compositions on the nonlinearity of the Fleisch pneumotachograph flow-conductance characteristics, by use of a recently developed computerized calibration method. Hospital-grade O2 was mixed with room air to obtain seven gas mixtures (containing O2 percentages of 20.9, 28.3, 38.7, 52.8, 66.7, 78.7, and 99.6%). Within the accuracy of the applied method, the measured flow-conductance curves of the pneumotachograph had the same shape. Relative flow resistance of gas mixtures to room air was directly proportional to their O2 composition. Two O2-N2-CO2 mixtures were also tested. Their relative flow resistance compared with room air was proportional to the viscosity ratios. We concluded that the change in O2, N2, and CO2 composition does not affect the nonlinearity of the Fleisch pneumotachograph flow-conductance characteristics. However, the relative flow resistance compared with room air does change in a predictable way.

Measurement of gas viscosity with a Fleisch pneumotachograph

A simple rapid method of measuring gas viscosity using a standard Fleisch pneumotachograph and a 3-liter hand-driven syringe is described. Comparison of pneumotachographic and predicted viscosity of five pure gases (CO2, N2, He, O2, and Ar), two binary mixtures (He-O2 and N2-O2), and one quaternary mixture (He-air) gave an overall coefficient of correlation of 0.987 and an accuracy of better than 1.7%. Our data show the well-known marked curvilinear relationship between viscosity and the concentration of helium in air and oxygen mixtures. These studies indicate that a Fleisch pneumotachograph can be used as a simple accurate gas viscometer to characterize gas mixtures in terms of viscosity.