Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision03:37

Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision

Scientists typically make repeated measurements of a quantity to ensure the quality of their findings and to evaluate both the precision and the accuracy of their results. Measurements are said to be precise if they yield very similar results when repeated in the same manner. A measurement is considered accurate if it yields a result that is very close to the true or the accepted value. Precise values agree with each other; accurate values agree with a true value.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies01:27

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies

Assessing and diagnosing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) involves a detailed approach that includes a comprehensive review of medical history, physical examination, and a variety of diagnostic tests. This thorough evaluation is essential to ensure an accurate diagnosis and guide effective management strategies.
Medical History
Pulmonary Function Tests01:25

Pulmonary Function Tests

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
Pulmonary Function Tests are crucial diagnostic tools for assessing respiratory function, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. They comprehensively evaluate lung volumes, ventilatory function, breathing mechanics, diffusion, and gas exchange. These tests help diagnose pulmonary diseases and play a significant role in monitoring disease progression, evaluating disability, and assessing response to therapy.
PFTs involve using a spirometer, a...
Pipe Flowrate Measurement01:28

Pipe Flowrate Measurement

In pipe flow measurement, orifice, nozzle, and Venturi meters are commonly used to determine fluid flowrates by constricting the flow area, which increases fluid velocity and reduces pressure. This pressure difference, governed by Bernoulli's principle and adjusted for real-world conditions, is essential for calculating flowrate. Each meter type is suited to specific applications based on accuracy, efficiency, and compatibility with various flow conditions.
The orifice meter is a simple,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Swallowing-related quality of life in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Neurodegenerative disease management·2026
Same author

Patient Perception of Vocal Tremor Severity and its Relationship to Acoustic Voice Outcomes: An Exploratory Study.

Tremor and other hyperkinetic movements (New York, N.Y.)·2025
Same author

Using Synthetic Data in Communication Sciences and Disorders to Promote Computational Reproducibility and Transparency.

Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR·2025
Same author

Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Oral Frailty Index-8 for United States English-Speakers.

Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery·2025
Same author

Transitional Foods and Their Effects on Swallowing Safety and Efficiency: An Exploratory Study.

The Laryngoscope·2025
Same author

Estimating Lung Volume During Cough: A Comparison of Respiratory Calibration Tasks and Methodologies.

Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship
08:25

Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship

Published on: January 8, 2019

Measurement Variability of Peak Flow: A Laboratory Experiment Comparing Cough Testing Equipment.

James C Borders1, James A Curtis2

  • 1Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, Boston University, MA.

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR
|June 29, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Digital peak flow meters (PFMs) offer accurate cough peak flow measurements comparable to pneumotachographs. Analog PFMs and facemasks significantly reduce accuracy, highlighting the need for standardized equipment configurations in clinical practice.

More Related Videos

Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
06:11

Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults

Published on: February 9, 2022

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method
08:44

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method

Published on: February 2, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship
08:25

Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship

Published on: January 8, 2019

Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
06:11

Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults

Published on: February 9, 2022

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method
08:44

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method

Published on: February 2, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Respiratory physiology
  • Medical device engineering
  • Clinical diagnostics

Background:

  • Cough peak flow is a critical indicator of airway protection and cough function.
  • Accurate measurement is vital for diagnosing and managing hypotussic cough dysfunction.
  • Pneumotachographs are accurate but costly; handheld peak flow meters (PFMs) are practical alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically evaluate how equipment configuration affects peak airflow measurement accuracy.
  • To compare the performance of analog PFMs, digital PFMs, and pneumotachographs under various conditions.
  • To identify the impact of facemasks, filters, and nebulizing chambers on cough peak flow readings.

Main Methods:

  • A laboratory study used a motorized air pump to generate controlled airflow (80-420 L/min).
  • Peak airflow was measured using analog PFMs, digital PFMs, and a pneumotachograph across eight equipment configurations.
  • Generalized additive multilevel models analyzed the effects of configuration and resistance on airflow measurements.

Main Results:

  • Facemasks alone caused the largest error (up to 56%); filters and nebulizers had minimal impact.
  • Analog PFMs struggled with low airflow and underestimated readings by up to 50% compared to pneumotachographs.
  • Digital PFMs closely matched pneumotachograph readings, demonstrating high accuracy.

Conclusions:

  • Analog PFMs and facemask attachments significantly impair measurement accuracy.
  • Digital PFMs without attachments provide reliable peak airflow estimates, comparable to gold-standard pneumotachographs.
  • Standardizing equipment and recognizing potential errors with analog PFMs are crucial for clinicians and researchers.