OBJECTIVETo propose a new method for acquiring pulmonary function parameters based on measurement of volume changes of thoracic impedance.

METHODSWe studied the relationship between the volume changes of thoracic impedance and pulmonary function parameters during forced breathing based on bioimpedance measurement, and developed an instrument for measuring thoracic impedance. Using this instrument and a MRI spirolab III lung function test instrument, both based on flowmeter measurement, we measured such pulmonary function parameters including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second/FVC (FEV1/FVC), and peak expiratory flow in 10 healthy volunteers and compared the measurement results.

RESULTSThe differences in the parameters measured using the two instruments were all within two folds of the positive and negative standard deviations of the average values, demonstrating good consistency in the measurement between the two methods.

CONCLUSIONSThe measurement results of the bioimpedance-based instrument we developed show good consistency with those by the commercially available pulmonary function test instrument.

Adult ; Electric Impedance ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods ; Thorax ; physiology ; Vital Capacity ; Young Adult