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Methodology

The software called PowerLab was


used in the experiment to determine the
amount of oxygen intake of a volunteer and
measure changes in flow and volumes.
The required equipments for this
experiment were computer system, chart
software, spirometry extension, spirometer
pod, respiratory flow head (1000L/min) with
connection tubes, clean bore tubing,
disposable
filters,
disposable
vinyl
mouthpieces and nose clip.

Fig. 1 Spirometry experiment setup

Starting the software


Setup and Calibration of equipment
Spirometer Pod was connected to the
Pod Port for Input 1 on the Powerlab. The
spirometer pod is sensitive to temperature
and tends to drift during warm-up.
Therefore, it is recommended that the
Powerlab and spirometer pod be turned on
for at least 5-10 minutes before use.
Temperature drift was prevented by placing
the spirometer pod on a shelf or beside the
Powerlab (but away from the power
supply) to avoid heating.
Figure 1 shows the spirometry
experiment setup. Two plastic tubes from the
respiratory flow head were connected to the
short pipes on the back of the Spirometer
Pod. Lastly, a clean bore tubing, a filter and
mouthpiece were attached to the flow head.

Labchart was located and started. In


the experiments gallery dialog box,
Respiratory from the left-hand list was
selected. Then, Respiratory settings was
selected from the right-hand list and Open
button was clicked to apply those settings.
In case the Experiments Gallery
dialog box does not appear in front of the
Chart View, there is an option, Experiments
Gallery in the command from the File
menu. After a short time, the Chart View on
the computer screen was set up for the
experiment. Channels 1 and 2 were visible,
with Channel 2 turned off. Channel 1 was
named Flow and Channel 2 Volume.

Calibrating the Spirometer Pod


The flow head was left undisturbed
on the bench during the zeroing process.
Spirometer was chosen from the Flow
Channel Function pop-up menu. As the
Spirometer dialog box appeared, the Zero
button was clicked. After zeroing has
finished, the volunteer breathed out gently

through the flow head while other members


took note of the recorded signal in the data
display area. If ever the signal showed a
downward deflection, the OK button was
to be clicked to simply close the dialog box
and return the Chart View. If a signal
deflected upward, there is a need for
inversion and to do this, the Invert checkbox
was clicked once to toggle its state.

A. Becoming
equipment

familiar

with

the

The proper way of using the equipment


was to have the volunteer put the
mouthpiece in his/her mouth, with the flow
head being carefully held by both hands
(refer to figure 2). The two plastic tubes
must be pointing upwards. A nosepiece is to
be placed on the volunteers nose to ensure
that all air breathed passes through the
mouthpiece, filter and flow head.
The volunteer was instructed to
begin as he/she becomes accustomed to the
apparatus. Start button was clicked to begin
recording. The volunteer then performed a
full expiration and followed by normal
breathing. Volunteers tidal breathing for one
minute was recorded. At the end of one
minute, the volunteer performed another full
expiration. Data being recorded must be
observed in the Flow channel, and not in
the Volume channel. Stop button was clicked
to stop recording and the volunteer was
allowed to stop breathing through the flow
head as well as to remove the nose clip.

Fig. 2 Proper handling of the apparatus

Setting up the Spirometry Extension


Spirometry Extension processes the
raw voltage signal form the Spirometer Pod,
and applies a volume correction factor to
improve accuracy and displays calibrated
Flow (L/s) and Volume (L) traces. The trace
to be recorded provides reference points for
the Spirometry Extension.
The entire recording of tidal
breathing data including the two forced
expirations was selected by double clicking
the Time axis beneath the trace. Spirometry
Flow was then chosen from the Flow
(Channel 1) Channel Function pop-up menu
and subsequently, the Spirometry Flow
dialog box appears (see figure 3). Flow
(Channel 1) was selected in the Raw Flow
Head Calibration pop-up menu and MLT
1000L in the Flow Head Calibration (refer
to figure 3). After finishing the settings, the
OK button was clicked to close the dialog
box.

the dialog box. The Chart view then


appeared with the calculated volume data on
Channel 2.

Fig. 3 Spirometry Flow Dialog Box

Spirometry Volume was chosen


from the Volume (Channel 2) Channel
function pop-up menu and subsequently, the
Spirometry Volume dialog box appears (see
figure 4). Flow (Channel 1) was selected in
the Raw Flow Channel pop-up menu and the
MLT 1000L in Flow Head Calibration popup menu (refer to figure 4). After finished
with the settings, the OK button was clicked
to close the dialog box.

Fig. 4 Spirometry Volume Dialog Box

Flow (Channel 1) was selected in the


Spirometry Flow Channel pop-up menu and
the volume correction was ensured to be on.
Use button was clicked to allow the
extension to use the volume correction ratio
that it has calculated from the groups data.
Then, the OK button was clicked to close

Set Scale was chosen from the


Scale pop-up menu in the Amplitude axis for
the Flow channel. The top value was set to
15 L/s and the bottom value to -15 L/s, then
OK button was clicked. Set Scale was
chosen from the Scale pop-up menu in the
Amplitude axis for the Volume channel. Top
value was set to 5L and the bottom value -5
L, then OK button was clicked.
B. Lung volumes and capacities
The flow head was left undisturbed on
the bench during zeroing process.
Spirometer Pod was chosen from the Flow
channel function pop-up menu. Zero button
was clicked for the zeroing process and then
OK button was clicked to return to the Chart
view. The time was noted and then Start
button was clicked to begin recording. The
volunteer was asked to replace the nose clip
and to breathe normally through the flow
head. Normal tidal breathing was recorded
for at least 20 seconds. Normal tidal
breathing comment was added to the Chart
trace. To stop and restart the recording, the
Stop and Start button were clicked,
respectively. The comment IRV procedure
was prepared however, the Return key was
not pressed yet. It was only clicked after the
volunteer was asked to exhale as deeply as
possible at the end of a normal tidal
expiration and then followed by normal
breathing. After pressing Return, the
comment was added.

C. Pulmonary function tests


The flow head was re-zeroed using
first two steps of procedure B. Start
button was clicked to begin
recording. The comment Forced
Breathing
was
prepared.
A
volunteer was then instructed breathe
normally for 30 seconds. Afterwards,
he/she was instructed to inhale
maximally ad exhale as forcefully as
possible. The Enter key was pressed
to add the comment. Then after a few
seconds, the volunteers breathing
should return to normal. Recording
was ended by pressing Stop button.
The process was repeated two times
so that three separate forced breath
recordings can be obtained. An
example of what is expected is
shown in figure 5.

procedure B. Steps from procedure C


was repeated for the new volunteer. The
whole procedure D was repeated until
the forced expiration parameters (PIF,
PEF, FVC, and FEV1) has been
measured for all volunteers.

Analysis
A. Becoming
equipment

familiar

with

the

The scroll buttons were used to view


parts of the trace that have scrolled out
of sight. Time axis was dragged in to
select data from both channels then,
Zoom view was opened. Relation
between Flow and Volume was noted. As
the flow signal is positive (inspiration),
volume trace rises; whereas when flow is
negative (expiration), volume trace
decreases.

B. Lung volumes and capacities

Fig. 5 A spirometry recording


showing where to find PIF and PEF,
and how to determine FVC

D. Forced Expiration in different


volunteers
Disposable filter and mouthpiece
was replaced. The Spirometer Pod was
re-zeroed using the first two steps of

The first part of the data trace was


examined.
The number of times the
volunteer breathes over 15-20 seconds Wa
observed. The number of breaths (f) per
minute was then calculated. Calculated data
was recorded. After which, the Marker from
the box at the bottom left of the Chart View
was dragged to the Volume trace at the first
peak. The Waveform Cursor was then
moved to the lowest part after the first peak.
Three peaks were recorded for analysis.
The value for the total volume was
calculated by getting the average of the
volumes of the three peaks. Using the value
for VT and the number of breaths, f (/min),

observed over a one-minute period, the


Minute Volume was computed using this
equation:
Equation 1
Volume of air (L) per minute
V E =V T x f
The value calculated was then recorded.
The IRV procedure from the
comment in the data traced was searched.
Marker was placed in the peak of the
inspiratory of the previous tidal breath and
the Waveform cursor was moved along to
the peak of the volume trace from the full
deep breath (figure 6). The difference
displayed in the Range/Amplitude display is
the Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV). This
value was recorded. Inspiratory Capacity
(IC) was calculated using the following
equation:
Equation 2
IC=V T +IRV

The marker was returned to its box. The


comment containing ERV procedure was
searched. The marker was placed on the
trough of the expiratory volume of the
previous tidal breath and then the waveform
cursor was moved along to the trough of the
volume from the forceful exhalation. Figure
7 shows where to make the measurement.
The difference that was displayed in the
Range/Amplitude display is the Expiratory
Reserve Volume (ERV). The delta symbol
and the negative sign was disregarded.

Fig. 7 Record of full exhalation

Expiratory Capacity (EC) was


calculated using the following equation:
Equation 3
E C=V T + E RV
The table provided was used to
compute for the volunteers predicted Vital
Capacity (VC). Predicted values varied
according to the volunteers sex, height and
age. VC was measured using the following
equation:

Fig. 6 Record of full inhalation

Equation 4
V C=V T + IRV + ERV

C. Pulmonary function test


Residual volume (RV) is the volume
of the gas remaining in the lungs after a
maximal expiration. RV cannot be
determined by spirometric recording.
However, the following equation may be
used for determining its value:
Equation 5
RV =predicted VC x 0.25

The total lung capacity (TLC) is the


sum of the vital capacity and residual
volume. Predicted TLC may be computed
using the following equation:
Equation 6
TLC=RV +VC

In the last data block of the chart


recording, the waveform cursor was
moved to the maximal forced inspiration
on the Flow trace. The absolute value
that
was
displayed
in
the
Range/Amplitude display is the Peak
Inspiratory Flow (PIF). The value was
multiplied by 60 to convert L/s to L/min.
From the flow trace, the Peak Expiratory
Flow (PEF) was measured for the force
expiration. The measured valued was
converted from L/s to L/min.
To calculate the Forced Vital
Capacity (FVC), the marker was placed on
the peak of inhalation of the volume trace
and was moved to the maximal expiration
(figure 8). The result was read off from the
Range/Amplitude display.

Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)


is the volume of gas remaining in the lungs
at the end of a normal tidal expiration. It is
the sum of RV and ERV.
Equation 7
FRC=RV + ERV

An area of the Chart View containing


normal breathing was selected. Report
command was chosen from the spirometry
menu. The Spirometry report window
contains various parameters calculated by
the Spirometry Extension from the data
selection. Results for Ve, Vt, and f was
copied.

Fig. 8 Spirometry Data window

The marker was returned to its box at


the bottom left. Forced Expired Volume 1 in
1 second (FEV1) was measured by placing
the marker on the peak of the volume trace
and moving the pointer to a time 1.0s from
the peak. The volume value was noted. The
marker was returned to its box.
A selection from the last recorder
data block was made including a couple of
normal breathes, the forced breath, then a

few more normal breaths (figure 8).


Spirometry Data from the Spirometry menu
was chosen. As the Spirometry Data window
opens, the locations of PIF, PEF, FVC and
FEV1 were shown. (If parameters are not
shown, assistance is highly recommended).
Spirometry Report window was opened. The
values calculated for the parameters was
listed in the report. The values were noted.
The analysis was repeated until all
three forced breaths have been analyzed
both manually and with the Spirometry
Extension. Percentage ratio of FEV1, to FVC
using the following equation:
=

FEV 1/FVC
100

D. Forced Expiration in different


volunteers
Analysis procedures from part C on the
recordings from each volunteer was
repeated.
Stethography is a method to observe
respiratory
movements.
In
the
experiment, Powerlab was used by
attaching the respiratory belt transducer
to the bridge amp and by using the
exercise on Respiration in the
Experiments gallery. For the actual
procedure, the volunteer was asked to sit
comfortably facing away from the setup.
The stenograph was tied around his/her
chest at the level of 4th intercostal space.
Then, normal respiration was recorded.

The volunteer was asked to drink water


to be able to take note of the effect of
deglutition on the respiratory pattern.
Afterwards, normal breathing was
recorded.
Normal
tracing
was
implemented. Afterwards, the volunteer
was instructed to hold his/her breath for
as long as possible after a quiet
inspiration and expiration. This was
repeated after following deep inspiration
and expiration as well. The effects were
recorded separately. Normal respiration
was recorded again and then the
Powerlab setup was put to a halt. The
subject was asked to do rapid deepbreathing for 1.5 minutes. Immediately
after hyperventilation, Powerlab was
restarted and the effect of the exercise
was recorded.

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