Flow-volumetric single-patient inspiratory exerciser

In many clinical situations that involve impaired lung function, such as abdomen, heart or lung surgery, long-term permanence in bed, maintaining or possibly improving inspiratory performance is a well known issue. To this respect, the availability of a simple, low-cost single-patient exerciser with inspiratory improvement estimation capabilities is highly desirable. Such a device would allow regular unattended respiratory exercise both at the bedside and at home, extending also the applicability to other fields, such as geriatrics. An original device for the stimulation of deep inspiration, developed within a close collaboration between INFM and Medinet S.p.A., a company that operates on the mass-produced medical device market, will be presented and discussed. The inspiratory exerciser is entirely built by plastic injection-molding techniques, and is fully mechanical. It allows a simple and clear estimate of patient improvement, with respect both to inspiratory flow and to inspiratory volume. Presettable cursors and an engineered outer surface allow for device personalization, target setting and performance improvement recording. The overall ease of use and friendly appearance improve patient compliance. Production costs are fully compatible with mass production. Regular introduction on the medical market is scheduled within mid-2003. To this respect, the reciprocal know-how transfer between INFM and the industrial world can be considered as totally successful.