The Spirowin Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) system is a computerized spirometry platform designed to assess respiratory function through the measurement of airflow and lung volumes. Spirometry is one of the most commonly used pulmonary function tests and provides objective information about how much air a person can inhale and exhale, as well as how quickly air can be expelled from the lungs.

The Spirowin system combines digital airflow measurement with computer-based data acquisition, graphical presentation, analysis, patient data storage, and reporting. It can be used for routine pulmonary function assessment as well as pre- and post-medication testing and bronchoprovocation examinations, depending on the installed configuration.

Digital Spirometry Technology

Spirowin uses a bi-directional digital turbine flow sensor to measure airflow during respiratory manoeuvres. The system is designed to capture both the volume of air moved through the device and the rate at which the air is inhaled or exhaled.

The documented system specifications include a flow range of up to ±16 L/sec BTPS and a volume range of up to 8 litres BTPS, with measurement accuracy specified at ±3%. These characteristics support the measurement of respiratory parameters required for routine spirometric assessment. The digital system records the acquired respiratory data and transfers it to dedicated computer software for graphical display and interpretation.

Forced Vital Capacity Testing

Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) testing measures the volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled following a full inspiration. It is an important component of spirometry and provides several parameters that can be used to evaluate airflow. Spirowin can measure parameters associated with FVC manoeuvres, including:

• FVC
• FEV1
• FEV1/FVC
• FEV6
• FEV1/FEV6
• FEF25%
• FEF50%
• FEF75%
• FEF25–75%
• Peak inspiratory and expiratory flow parameters
• Forced expiratory time

Flow-volume and volume-time graphs can be generated from the acquired data, providing both numerical measurements and visual representation of the patient's respiratory performance.

Slow Vital Capacity

The system also supports Slow Vital Capacity (SVC) testing. SVC evaluates the volume of air that can be exhaled slowly after maximum inspiration and can provide additional information when assessing respiratory function. Spirowin can record parameters associated with SVC testing, including vital capacity, expiratory reserve volume, inspiratory reserve volume, respiratory frequency, tidal volume, and related timing and flow measurements. Combining FVC and SVC measurements can provide clinicians with a broader set of respiratory parameters for pulmonary function assessment.

Maximum Voluntary Ventilation

Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) testing evaluates the maximum volume of air that a person can move through the lungs over a specified period at rapid and deep breathing. Spirowin includes MVV testing as part of its pulmonary function assessment capabilities. This provides an additional measurement of ventilatory capacity that can be considered alongside other spirometric parameters.

Pre- and Post-Medication Testing

Spirowin supports pre- and post-medication spirometry, allowing respiratory measurements obtained before and after medication to be compared. This type of examination can be useful when clinicians need to evaluate changes in airflow following administration of a prescribed bronchodilator or other respiratory medication. The system can retain measurements from different stages of testing so that the results can be reviewed together. Comparison of pre- and post-medication results may help clinicians assess changes in parameters such as FEV1, FVC, and airflow following the intervention.

Bronchoprovocation Testing

Depending on the configuration, Spirowin can also support bronchoprovocation challenge testing. This type of pulmonary function examination evaluates changes in airway response following a controlled challenge procedure. The system can record challenge-related parameters such as PC5FEV1, PC10FEV1, PC15FEV1, and PC20FEV1. These measurements can be used by clinicians as part of the interpretation of airway responsiveness.

Multiple Predicted-Value Equations

Spirometric results are commonly interpreted by comparing measured values with predicted values based on relevant patient characteristics. Spirowin provides selectable predicted-value equations, including ERS93, Knudson83, ITS White, ITS Black, Barcelona, LAM, and Indian equations, along with user-configurable predicted values. This flexibility allows the software to accommodate different reference standards depending on the clinical or institutional requirements.

Automated Test Selection and Interpretation

The system includes automatic and manual selection of the best test, helping organize repeated spirometry attempts during an examination. Spirowin also provides automatic interpretation features based on ATS criteria in the documented product configuration. Graphs can be automatically scaled to improve visibility of the recorded curves and measured parameters.

An estimated lung-age function is also available in the documented software, providing an additional derived value from the spirometric measurements. Automated analysis is intended to support the workflow; clinical interpretation remains dependent on the patient's history, examination, test quality, reference values, and clinician assessment.

Patient Database and Trend Analysis

Spirowin provides digital patient data management, allowing previous examinations to be retrieved from the database. The system can maintain test information and display trends across selected examinations. Up to five user-selected tests can be compared through graphical trend presentation in the documented Spirowin configuration.

Longitudinal comparison can be useful when pulmonary function is being evaluated at different points in time, allowing clinicians to review changes in measured respiratory parameters rather than relying only on a single examination.

Graphical Results and Reporting

Spirometric data can be presented in both numerical and graphical formats. Flow-volume and volume-time curves provide visual information about the patient's respiratory manoeuvre, while numerical parameters provide measurable values for clinical assessment.

The computerized reporting workflow allows examination results to be printed and stored digitally. The system also supports transfer and review of test data through its computer interface. This combination of graphical presentation, numerical measurements, patient records, and reporting helps create a structured workflow from pulmonary function testing through documentation.

Compact Computerized Design

Spirowin is designed as a compact computerized spirometry system. Published technical information lists a small hardware unit and a lightweight configuration, with USB-based connectivity and power supply. The documented hardware specifications include a compact instrument measuring approximately 200 × 90 × 65 mm and weighing approximately 0.4 kg for the referenced configuration. The system is designed to work with dedicated Windows-based software for data acquisition, analysis, storage, and reporting. Its compact design allows the spirometry unit to be integrated into a clinical pulmonary function testing setup without requiring a large standalone respiratory testing workstation.

Pulmonary Function Testing Applications

Spirowin can support a range of respiratory assessments, depending on the installed software and configuration. Applications include:

• Forced Vital Capacity testing
• Slow Vital Capacity testing
• Maximum Voluntary Ventilation
• Pre- and post-medication spirometry
• Bronchoprovocation challenge testing
• Flow-volume loop assessment
• Volume-time curve analysis
• Longitudinal pulmonary function comparison
• Routine respiratory function assessment
• Pulmonary evaluation as part of clinical investigations

Spirometry can contribute to the assessment of airflow limitation and other patterns of abnormal pulmonary function. Results should be interpreted together with clinical findings and appropriate reference standards.

Supporting Respiratory Assessment

The Spirowin PFT system provides a digital approach to pulmonary function testing by combining airflow measurement, respiratory volume assessment, graphical analysis, predicted-value comparison, database management, and reporting within one computerized platform.

Its support for FVC, SVC, MVV, pre- and post-medication testing, and selected bronchoprovocation measurements allows the system to accommodate different pulmonary function workflows. Digital data storage and trend analysis can additionally support comparison of examinations performed over time.

At Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy, pulmonary function testing with Spirowin can form part of a structured diagnostic assessment of respiratory function, providing clinicians with quantitative spirometric measurements and graphical information for clinical evaluation.