The birth of clinical body plethysmography: it was a good week

John B West

The Journal of Clinical Investigation +

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October 19, 2004

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Body plethysmography, a key method for measuring lung function, was refined nearly 50 years ago. These foundational techniques for assessing lung volume and airway resistance remain clinically relevant today.

Area Of Science

Pulmonary Physiology
Medical Instrumentation

Background

Review of seminal 1970s publications by DuBois, Comroe Jr., et al. on body plethysmography.
Highlighting the enduring impact of these foundational papers in respiratory medicine.

Observation

Body plethysmography techniques developed nearly fifty years ago are still the standard in clinical settings.
Previous methods for measuring lung volume and airway resistance faced significant technical challenges.

Findings

Arthur B. DuBois and colleagues resolved critical technical issues with body plethysmography in an exceptionally short period.
The refined methods allowed for accurate measurement of lung volume and airway resistance.

Implications

These classic studies underscore the lasting importance of physiological measurement techniques in pulmonary diagnostics.
The research demonstrates that significant advancements in clinical practice can stem from addressing fundamental technical hurdles in established methods.
This work serves as a reminder that biomedical research encompasses more than just molecular approaches, with physiological instrumentation playing a vital role.

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