Design and development of a low-cost spirometer with an embedded web server

Spirometers are used to measure lung capacity and response of lungs and chest during physical therapy. They reveal whether the patient's dyspnoea is due to cardiac or pulmonary dysfunction and are used to detect asthma. Unfortunately their application is limited due to high instrument cost and lack of specialist doctors. This paper details the development of a low-cost, portable spirometer built around an MEMS pressure sensor for detecting airflow and pressure. The instrument has an embedded web server and ethernet connection which enables a distantly located doctor to examine the patient online during an emergency or otherwise.

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