Lung Function

Assessment of lung function requires the evaluation of pulmonary function by spirometry. However, some patients (e.g. children, elderly, or diseased individuals) may have difficulty performing the related forced maximal respiratory maneuver correctly. Forced oscillation technique (FOT) is increasingly being used in clinical settings to evaluate lung function noninvasively by measuring the mechanical input impedance of the respiratory system. FOT measures lung impedance during tidal breathing, requiring minimal patient cooperation. Recently a new methodology (within breath analysis) has emerged to evaluate changes that occur in the impedance during the breathing activity. The within-breath calculation of impedance allows separating the contribution of inspiration and expiration to the measured parameters. The purpose of this study is to establish reference ranges for within breath FOT parameters and their short term variability.