Method and apparatus for determining the deposition of particles in the respiratory tract and/or for checking the function of the respiratory tract

US4370986A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Gesellschaft fur Strahlen- und Umweltforschung mbH (GSF)

Inventors

• Josef Gebhart · Dietzenbach, DE
• Gerhard Heigwer · Offenbach am Main, DE
• Joachim Heyder · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Willi Stahlhofen · Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 26, 1980
• Grant date: Feb 1, 1983
• Expiry date: Sep 26, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B5/0836
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the deposition of particles in the respiratory tract and/or for checking the operating function of the respiratory tract by means of pulses of gases or aerosols injected into a stream of air inhaled by a test patient and by obtaining a measuring signal in each of the inhaled and exhaled streams. The main stream of the inhaled and exhaled air is conducted directly through a band of light (3), and the region of the intersection of the band of light with at least part of the inhaled and exhaled streams is placed in the object plane of an optical image system for a light measuring device. Either the individual pulses generated by the individual particles in the inhaled and exhaled streams or the scattered radiation emanating from the gases and aerosols in these streams is measured to obtain the ratio of the exhaled to the inhaled numbers of particles and/or the concentration profile in the inhaled and exhaled streams.