Overview
The invention of the modern spirometer is credited to John Hutchinson of England. In 1846, Hutchinson published an article on his study conducted on 2,130 individuals to measure vital capacity. He is credited with coining the term spirometer.
Image from Hardluck Asthma
In France, public health officials at the beginning of the century instigated preschool and school medical examinations. The school was often the place where working class children would have their first medical evaluation. Public health stations also evaluated the children. Childhood diseases quickly spread through grade schools as infected children came in contact with other children. Ascertaining who had been vaccinated and who had the common childhood diseases became important school public health policies. An important part of the physical exam in the 1920s and 30s was measurement of lung capacity as shown here.
Image from a collection shared by Aracely Bigelow
This 1924 drawing compares Hutchinson's spirogram values and terms with those of Panum and Bohr.
Image from Steve and Mary DeGenaro
The pulmonary function of a swimmer was evaluated poolside in this 1930s photo.
Image from Steve and Mary DeGenaro
In June of 1927, Roy Wesley Scott applied for a patent for "Apparatus for Measuring the Vital Capacity of the Lungs." The patent was granted on November 18, 1930.
Scott later collaborated with the McKesson Company to produce the McKesson-Scott Vital Capacity Apparatus .
Bronchial Challenge Testing was first described in 1945. Donald Tiffeneau described methacholine challenge testing as well as several other important new pulmonary function diagnostic tests in the 1940s.
The Collins Respirometer was used during the 1930s to 1960s. It is shown here at the bedside to monitor pulmonary parameters.
Image from Steve and Mary DeGenaro
Charles McKnight, the Director of the Inhalation Therapy Department at Lutheran Hospital, Moline is pictured in this 1959 photo with the hospital's pulmonary function equipment.
Charles McKnight
The components of the Collins Respirometer are labeled in this image from the 1960s.
The identification plate on the Warren Collins 9 Liter Respirometer is shown.
Image from William LeTourneau
The Tissot spirometer was first described circa 1904. A Collins Tissot Gasometer is shown in use during exercise testing circa 1965.
In February 1958, R.E. Shipley applied for a patent for a recording bellows spirometer. The patent was granted September 12, 1961. The device was one of the first units capable of monitoring and recording a timed vital capacity maneuver.
The McKesson Vitalor is featured in this ad from the October 1965 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal.
The Operating Manual for the McKesson Vitalor VC 25 is shown.
Image from Jeff Anderson
In this photo that appeared in the April 1963 issue of INHALATION THERAPY, Bill Morrison is shown performing a vital capacity maneuver on a patient using the Vitalor.
The McKesson Vitalor Spirometer and Collins Respirometer are shown.
Image from Steve and Mary DeGenaro
This ad for the SRL pulmonary function equipment appeared in the December 1970 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal.
Erich Jaeger filed a patent application on December 10, 1965 for a "Plethymograph". The patent was awarded on May 12, 1970.
A Wright Peak Flow Meter and carrying case by Airmed is shown.
Image from Gregory Rittenhouse
The psychrometer was used to measure ambient relative humidity in the pulmonary function testing lab. A wet bulb and a dry bulb thermometers were manually spun for a designated period. The temperature variation between the two thermometers was matched to a calibrated scale to determine the relative humidity.
Image from Kerry George
The psychrometer, removed from the case, shows the thermometers and handle of the device. One thermometer remains dry while the sock on the second is dampened. Holding the device by the handle, the thermometers are spun repeatedly in the air. A change between the dry bulb thermometer and the wet bulb thermometers occurs. The variation in temperatures is noted on a calibration scale that correlates to relative humidity.
Image from Kerry George
Technical knowledge and cheerleading skills were required to successfully coach a patient through a pulmonary function test.
This image of the Collins Maxi-Modular system was from the late 1970s.
Image from James Sullivan
In this photo from the early 1980s, Colleen Schabacker is shown adjusting Jaeger PFT equipment in a pulmonary function lab.
Image from Colleen Schabacker
The Donti Pulmonary Performance Analyzer by Cavitron is shown in this 1974 ad. The device was used to assess FVC and MVV maneuvers.
Using a water seal spirometer to perform spirometry on a pediatric outpatient. Notice the unique "noseclip".
Image from Marvin Lough
Testing pulmonary mechanics on a pediatric patient at Rainbow Babies and Children's Medical Center.
Image from Marvin Lough