Importance

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Abstract

An incentive spirometer is provided with a mechanism for inhibiting the incentive in response to high flow rate bursts of inhalation so as to promote proper long inhalation efforts by a patient. In one embodiment, the spirometer includes a transparent column located in the inhalation flow path and in which an object is disposed and caused to rise in the column in response to inhalation efforts by the patient. The incentive-inhibiting mechanism may comprise a valve in the rising object which opens in response to excessive flow rate to permit flow through the object and thereby preclude the object from rising. Alternatively, the incentive-inhibiting object may be disposed to admit air into the flow path downstream of the object in response to high flow rate inhalation bursts to thereby reduce the flow rate acting on the object. A variety of embodiments are disclosed. In another embodiment, an indication is provided each time the object is raised to a predetermined height in the column and maintained at the height for a predetermined time, signifying that a minimum volume of air has been inhaled.

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First Claim