Abstract: A portable hand-held spirometer apparatus is described. A main casing has a pair of opposed arms extending to one side thereof. A flow head component unit has a channel through which air may be blown, with formations in the channel imparting a rotary movement to air blown through the channel. A free-spinning vaned member is mounted for rotation about an axis substantially coaxial with that of the channel. The flow head component unit has two open-ended recesses extending to either side of the vaned member and dimensioned to receive the opposed arms when the flow head component unit is fitted on to the main casing. This construction enables the successive use of detachable flow head components, each may be used once and then a batch of which may be sterilized before re-use.

Abstract: A peak flow meter consists in known fashion of a housing having in it a channel along which a pointer (6) is movable to a distance dependent on the lung function of a patient using the meter. Positioned adjacent the channel are two or more indicators (12) movable along an axis parallel with the channel. Each indicator is preferably shielded from manual contact, and e.g. is movable along its path only by use of a tool. In accordance with the invention, each indicator presents to view two visually-distinguishable areas defining a boundary (24) which can be set at a point along the path of the pointer to indicate limit positions relating to lung function, so as to indicate graphically to the user when he or she might need to take remedial action.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the respiratory resistance of a patient has a passageway for the flow of air produced by the patient's exhalation and a valve for temporarily halting and then restoring the flow. The rate of flow following the temporary halting depends solely upon the respiratory resistance. Respiratory resistance is derived from circuitry responsive to signals representing pressure and rate of flow. The rate of flow is preferably derived from a comparison of the pressure within the apparatus with the ambient pressure. Provision may be made for actuating the valve automatically when satisfactory conditions are established, for visual display of the resistance and for averaging the resistance results over a number of exhalations.

Abstract: The invention provides a pedometer device of electronic form which may be accommodated in a wrist watch housing, if desired within an electronic wrist watch together with the watch parts. A visual display is produced by an electronic processor responsive to a read only memory, settable to provide a unit distance reference, and counter fed from a motion sensitive modulator. The ROM and counter can be arranged such that no multiplier device is required. The modulator may be in the form of a mass-loaded wire of spring-quality metal projecting into a surrounding contact cylinder. This arrangement gives a construction compact enough for housing within the watch case.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the patient's ability to exhale has a piston slidable within a body part by air exhaled through a mouthpiece against a spring. A vent allows part of the air to discharge between the mouthpiece and the piston. By providing one or more discharge openings having removable seals, the amount of air discharged can be set to suit particular circumstances. Advantageously there is provided an indicator movable by, but not returnable with, the piston, to show the maximum position on a scale. The surface of the body part adjacent the scale may be so surfaced as to receive written matter.