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Microprocessor-based air plethysmograph for the examination of compressed tissue of limbs
Tomasz Fąs1, Mariusz Kaczmarek1
1Faculty of Mechatronics, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Purpose:
The aim of the article is to propose a simple microprocessor-based air plethysmograph that uses a measurement of changes in air pressure in a closed cuff to determine the changes in the volume of the compressed limb.
Methods:
The microprocessor-controlled measurement system applied pressure to the object (ultimately the limb) by pumping air into the cuff surrounding the object. Changes in pressure and air temperature in the cuff over time were recorded. The results supplemented with the calibration procedure made it possible to determine the changes in the volume of the object.
Results:
Measurement-independent calibration and temperature correction of pressure changes in the system proved to be necessary components of the measurement procedure for volume changes. When comparing the device test results with the actual changes observed with the limb model, there was a discrepancy between 0.2 and 0.7 percent of the total volume under the cuff.
Conclusions:
Studies have shown that the proposed air plethysmograph is useful for assessing the changes in the volume of the limb model within the range that are expected in the diagnosis of lymphedema. The solution is a cheaper and less complicated alternative than most of the available methods of measuring changes in the volume of edema tissue under controlled pressure.
