Noninvasive Measurement of Respirator Effect at Rest and during Exercise

Ventilation and respiratory timing during rest and exercise were measured in normal volunteers by pneumotachograph and by respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) to determine if RIP is accurate and to determine if the usual methods of ventilation measurement during respirator research lead to artifacts. Data were collected with a mouthpiece, a sham mouthpiece, and no mouthpiece. A dead space and inspiratory resistance load similar to respirators were employed also. The study showed that no significant artifact is produced, particularly during exercise, by measurements using a mouthpiece. RIP is sufficiently accurate and precise for use in unobtrusively measuring ventilation during respirator studies when traditional methods cannot be used.