tremoFlo
Airwave oszillometry
Resting breathing without patient cooperation
The tremoFlow 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 device produces measures of airway resistance, reactance and other lung function parameters to assist physicians in diagnosis, treatment selection and evaluation of treatment efficacy. The principle technology of the AOS is based on a compact implementation of the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT), a noninvasive technique that assesses lung function by superimposing a multi-frequency airway on top of the patient‘s spontaneous breathing.
Spirometry vs. 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 oft en not measurable
only by spirometry and therefore risk 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 airfl ow limitation in moderate to severe asthma.
Benefits at a glance
- No active cooperation of patient required – advantages for adults and pediatrics
- No specific manouvre 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. Especially elderly and little children 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.