The art of lung diagnostics.

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tremoflo

Airwave Oscillometry – Pulmonary function test with minimal patient effort

Obstructive pulmonary diseases including asthma and COPD are increasingly recognized to originate in the “small airways” (i.e., those airways with a diameter of less than 2 mm). Early obstructions in these peripheral airways are often not measurable by spirometry alone and therefore run the risk of going undetected. Oscillometry has been shown to be sensitive to changes in the small airways.

Airwave oscillometry*

The tremoflo^® Airwave Oscillometry System (AOS) is a portable medical device intended to monitor lung function and assess human respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD in adults and children.

The tremoflo® Airwave Oscillometry System (AOS) has revolutionized the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) by using a vibrating mesh to superimpose a gentle oscillatory pressure and flow wave onto the patient’s spontaneous breathing to measure respiratory impedance as lung resistance (R) and reactance (X). The resulting waveforms from the tremoflo® AOS provide measurements of the mechanical properties of the large central and smaller peripheral airways. This unique information is clinically valuable and complementary to Spirometry.

* Legal manufacturer: THORASYS Thoracic Medical Systems Inc.

Spirometry and oscillometry

Obstructive pulmonary diseases such as asthma and COPD are increasingly recognized to originate in the “small airways”. Early obstructions in these peripheral airways are often not measurable by spirometry alone and therefore run the risk of going undetected. Oscillometry has been shown to be sensitive to changes in the small airways.

Consequently, oscillometry provides unique and valuable information regarding peripheral lung function over and above spirometry, which translates into better patient outcomes.

Optimal: combination of both:
As the study by the Scottish Centre for Respiratory Research (published in 2022) shows, it is best to combine the advantages of spirometry and oscillometry measurements. This combination allows a complete characterization of airflow limitation in moderate to severe asthma.

... Did you know Both applications can be used flexible with the same
GANSHORN PFT filters

Fundamentals

tremoflo® measurements are fast & easy.
The patient just breathes quietly.
To assess respiratory function, the tremoflo® adds a gentle oscillatory wave to the patient’s regular, quiet breathing. A short measurement duration of only 20 seconds allows three manoeuvres within a couple of minutes, even in patients who have difficulty performing spirometry.

Outcomes

Summary of clinician interpretations per published studies ^1-5
A pair of curves calculated from the raw data reflects the mechanical properties of the respiratory system in characteristic patterns. Several key outcome parameters are then derived from these curves.

Characteristic patterns

Benefits at a glance

No active cooperation of patient required - advantages for adults and pediatrics
No specific manoeuvre needed - just tidal breathing
Reversability and provocation testing
Measurement of the small airways, captures the lung periphery
Quick and easy to perform
Easy daily calibration, in under 30 seconds
Compact, portable device

Advantages for children and elderly

Spirometry tests are often stressful and depend on patient cooperation and maximal effort. The elderly and young children in particular have difficulties in understanding and following the instructions.

As oscillometry is performed in tidal breathing, neither skilled coaching by the operator nor patient effort is required to obtain a successful test.

Software platform

The LFX software is the GANSHORN user-friendly interface, developed with the physiologist in mind. It provides all tools necessary to perform every task done in the laboratory, while remaining easy to operate. Built on state-of-the-art Windows tools like .Net, C# and SQL database, the software is the future of modern respiratory diagnostics. LFX has built-in quality control monitoring based on ATS/ERS guidelines, which are accessible during and after the measurements are performed.

¹ Hirsh et al., AAAAI 2011 ² Usmani et al., RESPIRATORY MEDICINE 2016 ³ Al-Alwan et al., AJRCCM 2014 ⁴ Galant et al., AAAAI 2017 ⁵ Johnson et al., THORAX 2007