Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a peak flow meter which facilitates a subject's compliance with the use thereof. In one embodiment, the peak flow meter provides an alarm for indicating that the subject is due for a peak expiratory flow rate evaluation when the subject has failed to use the peak flow meter after a predetermined period of time. In another embodiment, the peak flow meter is provided with circuitry which derives a data result corresponding to the peak expiratory flow rate of air blown into the peak flow meter for a number of blows. A first comparator determines the best data result within the number of blows and a memory stores each best data result. A second comparator compares each best data result to a specified value and provides an enabling signal to an alarm when a best data result is a predetermined amount lower than the specified value. To provide an incentive for the subject to blow as hard as possible into the peak flow meter, the a comparator may also compare each data result to the previous data result and provide an indication when the most recent data result is greater than the preceding data result.

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First Claim