Asthma Device Calibrator (ADC)

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Respiratory Medicine
• Control Systems

Background:

• Spirometer testing is crucial for diagnosing respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.
• Current home-use spirometers lack calibration, leading to inaccurate results and frequent replacement.
• A reliable calibration method is needed to ensure accurate pulmonary function measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and prototype a controlled airflow machine simulating human exhalation for spirometer calibration.
• To improve the accuracy and reproducibility of spirometer testing.
• To reduce costs associated with frequent replacement of home-use spirometer devices.

Main Methods:

• Simulated human exhalation using a variable frequency drive to control motor speed connected to a centrifugal fan.
• Measured airflow rate using a digital pitot tube anemometer/manometer across a frequency range of 0-100 Hz.
• Implemented motor control via an Android application with manual and automatic features, incorporating an airflow sensor for automatic mode.

Main Results:

• Established a relationship between motor frequency and airflow rate.
• Developed a hardware controller for precise motor speed regulation.
• Successfully controlled airflow simulation through a user-friendly mobile application interface.

Conclusions:

• The prototyped controlled airflow machine offers a reliable method for spirometer calibration.
• This device can enhance the accuracy of respiratory diagnostics in clinical and home settings.
• The system provides a cost-effective solution by enabling calibration instead of device replacement.