Breathing Test Exhaling Technique.

Upon exhalation an alarm will sound at 6 seconds and then again at 15 seconds.  The patient can inhale at at any time. The application is coaching the patient to meet ATS standards.


When performing a PFT, the app gives 4 steps:

1) Close your lips around the mouthpiece
2) Completely fill your lungs
3) Blast your air out forcefully into your device.  Completely empty your lungs.
4) Inhale and completely fill your lungs again


  • Per the ATS standards, the app has adults exhale for a minimum of 6 seconds (at which point a tone is played) and a maximum of 15 seconds (tone plays again). It will stay in the exhale phase for however long it takes the patient to completely empty their lungs and then it waits an additional 1-2 seconds to make sure the patient is at zero flow. There is also a tone played when it is time to inhale. 
  • Be aware that moving the device can spin the propellor so patients should be steady as they are finishing the exhale to allow the propellor to slow down and alert the spirometer that they are ready for the inhale. 
  • We are looking into ways to make this process more responsive.