The device measures lung function

Doctors in Spain say they have developed a device which can measure lung function without the huffing and puffing associated with other tests.

Early trials of the device have shown that it is effective and easy to use.

Writing in the European Journal of Respiratory, they said patients could even carry out the test themselves to monitor their condition.

Deep breaths

At the moment, patients with suspected lung diseases, ranging from asthma to chronic lung disease, are required to undergo a lung function or spirometry test.

If the disease is confirmed, doctors carry out the test again at regular intervals to monitor their condition.

If we link up the portable device to the hospital by internet or phone, it will soon be possible to monitor patients remotely Dr Ramon Farr� University of Barcelona

It requires patients to breath in as deeply as they can and to exhale as deeply as they can repeatedly.

A spirometry device is then used to assess the power of their lungs and their ability to breathe.

But there are problems associated with this test.

It is far from easy for people in good health and is very uncomfortable for patients with lung problems.

It is also not totally reliable, since it requires patients to breathe in and out properly. For some patients, particularly children and the elderly, this is not always possible.

Dr Ramon Farr� and colleagues at the University of Barcelona believe they have developed a device which gets around both these problems.

Their device works by applying a small amount of air pressure into a patient's mouth while the patient continues to breathe normally.

This air pressure is administered at different strengths and at a much faster rate than the patient's normal breathing rhythm.

This produces small fluctuations in the patient's air flow, which can then be used to calculate resistance in the patient's airways.

A pilot trial involving nine patients has shown that this is as effective at diagnosing and monitoring lung diseases as traditional tests.

Easy to use

Patients were also able to use the device effectively at home without help from doctors.

Since the test does not require deep breaths, it is also suitable for children and the elderly, the doctors said.

They are now planning further tests. But they believe the device could one day be used by all patients in their own home.

While home testing kits already exist, they all require patients to take deep breaths repeatedly, which is not suitable for everyone.

Dr Farr� believes his test can be used by everyone. He has also suggested that doctors could monitor the progress of patients over the internet, if the devices are hooked up to computers.

"If we link up the portable device to the hospital by internet or phone, it will soon be possible to monitor patients remotely," he said.