Micro Medical MicroLab Operating Manual

MicroLab

Operating Manual

043-04

Revision 1.4 June 1998

Micro Medical Ltd.,

PO Box 6,
Rochester,

Kent ME1 2AZ

ENGLAND

Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation
MediBase and DiaryCard are trademarks of Micro Medical Ltd.

Specification of the MicroLab

Measurements:

Relaxed Vital Capacity (VC)
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

Forced Expired Volume in 1 second (FEV1)
FEV1 as a percentage of FVC (FEV1%)
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEF)
Peak Inspiratory Flow Rate (PIF)
Flow rate at 50% of expired volume remaining(F50)
Flow rate at 25% of expired volume remaining (F25)
Mid-Expiratory Flow Rate (MEF)
Flow Rate at 50% of inspired volume remaining (I50)
Ratio of I50 to F50 (R50)
Forced expiratory time (FET)
Indirect measurement of Minute Ventilation (MVV Ind)

All with baseline and post bronchodilator comparison.

Storage : 90 tests including Flow/Volume loops and

Volume/Time curves.

Printer Type: 320 dot per line thermal printer.
Predicted Values: Percent Predicted reported for all values

except I50, R50, PIF, MVV(Ind), and FET.

Adults: E.C.C.S. (Varies with version supplied.)
Children: Zapletal et al 1977 (FEV1, MEF) 1982 (FVC),

Cogswell et al 1977 (PEF) Solymar et al 1980
(F50,F25).

Display: Graphic LCD 128x64 dots.
Transducer:Micro Medical Bi-Directional Digital Volume.
Resolution: 10ml volume 0.03l/s flow
Accuracy: +/-3%. (To ATS recommendations

Standardisation of Spirometry
1994 update for flows and volumes)

Power supply: Input 100 to 250V, 50 to 60Hz.

Output 12V 1.5A (Class 1 equipment)

Battery Pack: Rechargeable NiCad 7.2V 600mA hours.
Dimensions: 134x274x51.5mm. Transducer 50x60x90mm.
Weight: 820g, 2.3kg with carry case and accessories.
Tests per subject:VC-unlimited (best reported), FVC-9.

Operating Temperature: 0 to +40O C
Operating Humidity: 30% to 90% RH
Storage Temperature: -20 to + 70O C
Storage Humidity: 10% to 90% RH

Relaxed Vital Capacity Test page 6
Forced Vital Capacity Test page 7
Report Menu page 9
Post Bronchodilator Test page 10
Report page 10
Save Test page 13
Print Test page 14
End Examination page 20
Printing Stored Records page 21
Recall Record page 23
User Customisation page 24
Uploading Results page 25
PC Utilities Software page 26
Spida PC Software page 26
MediBase PC Software page 26
Charging Procedure page 27
Battery Management page 27
Paper Loading page 28
Calibration Check page 29
Looking after the MicroLab II page 29
Servicing page 29
Cleaning the Transducer page 30
Specifications page 31

31

CONTENTS

Introduction page 2
Package Contents page 3
Operation page 4
Patient Details Entry page 5

Calibration Check

The MicroLab is calibrated to read in litres at body temperature,
barometric pressure saturated with water vapour (BTPS) for
FEV1 and FVC. The units of PEF, F50, F25, I50 and MEF will
be in litres per second BTPS.

The calibration should remain stable indefinitely, unless the
transducer is physically damaged, and the unit should not
require re-calibration.
However, as a check on the correct functioning of the unit we
do recommend that the calibration is checked periodically.
To check the calibration of the MicroLab a large syringe should
be used. This should have a 30mm outlet and be of at least
three litres in capacity and preferably six litres. A 3 Litre
Syringe is available from Micro Medical as Cat. No. SM2125.
The MicroLab should be set up to record a FVC manoeuvre,
connected to the syringe with the minimum of adapters. The
syringe volume should be injected into the transducer evenly,
without pausing.
If, after checking, the MicroLab appears to require re-calibration
then please refer to your supplier for service.

Looking after your MicroLab Spirometer

Please observe the following precautions:
* Avoid exposing the MicroLab to direct sunlight.
* Avoid operating the spirometer in dusty conditions or near

to heating appliances or radiators.

* Do not keep the spirometer in a damp place or expose it

to extremes of temperature.

* Do not direct the transducer holder towards a strong light

source whilst operating the spirometer.

* Check the AC charger for compatibility with local power

rating.

Servicing

A full service manual including circuit diagrams and parts list is
available on request.

which measures expired air directly at B.T.P.S (Body
Temperature and Pressure with Saturated water vapour) thus
avoiding the inaccuracies of temperature corrections. This
transducer is insensitive to the effects of condensation and
temperature and avoids the need for individual calibration prior
to performing a test.
The MicroLab has many advanced features including a graphic
display giving real time Flow/Volume or Volume/Time curves,
user customisation of instrument functions, predicted values,
and the ability to carry out pre and post bronchodilator testing.
The MicroLab can be used to make and record up to 90
complete spirometry tests, on any number of patients, including
the thirteen most common inspiratory and expiratory spirometry
measurements, Flow/Volume and Volume/Time curves.
The recorded tests can be printed using the integral printer or
uploaded to a computer running Micro Medical spirometry
software.
To upload to a computer the unit is connected with the serial
lead provided with both PC Utilities software and SPIDA
spirometry software. SPIDA is a fully Windows™ compatible
spirometry system that can interface to the spirometer in either
of two ways. Firstly, tests recorded with the spirometer can be
uploaded to SPIDA and appended to the integral database, for
subsequent storage and analysis. Secondly, live spirometry
may be performed with the instrument connected to a computer
running SPIDA. In this case MicroLab becomes a powerful
laboratory spirometer that can display any combination of real
time Flow/Volume loop, Volume/Time curve, and child incentive
animation together with powerful reporting and database
facilities.
The spirometry measurements, Flow/Volume loop, and flow
volume curve may be printed at the time of testing or at any
time subsequently from memory.

29

Introduction

The Micro Medical MicroLab Spirometer is a compact and
fully portable data recording spirometer with integral printer that
can be operated directly from the mains power or from the
integral rechargeable NiCad battery pack.
The spirometer uses the Micro Medical Digital Volume
Transducer, an extremely stable form of volume transducer,

2

Charging Procedure

Note: Ensure that the dc plug is inserted into the Microlab

before the mains supply is connected and that the mains is
switched off before removing the plug. The Charging light on
the keypad will be illuminated while the batteries are being
charged. The batteries will take about 16 hours to become fully
charged, however the instrument may be used continuously
with the mains adapter connected.

Note:- Use only the AC adapter supplied. Use of any other type

The battery is low.
Please connect
the charger

MICRO MEDICAL

Micro Lab
English

Version 3.XX

14:46:55 15/03/97
Main Menu

--------------------­ 1-Relaxed VC
2-Forced VC
3-Print Records
4-Review (Recall)
Memory Used 0%

may cause permanent damage to the Microlab or cause a fire
or electrical hazard.

Battery Management

MicroLab.
The recorded data is stored in a battery backed memory,
supplied by a Lithium power source with an expected life of at
least 10 years.
The microcomputer circuitry is supplied by a 7.2 volt, 220mA­hour, rechargeable nickel cadmium battery pack.
The voltage of the battery pack is monitored continuously and
the following warning message is displayed when the battery
starts to become discharged:

This warning is not given during spirometry testing as it would
interrupt the display of the Flow/Volume curve. When this
warning occurs, plug in the mains adapter and continue using
the instrument. If the mains adapter is not plugged in, then the
battery will continue to discharge until a voltage is reached
which could impair the integrity of the microprocessor.
At this point the unit will turn itself off.
The MicroLab also has an auto turn-off, battery saving function
whereby the unit will turn itself off if no keys are pressed for
about 4 minutes. This function is only active with the main
menu displayed.

Operation

factory and must therefore be used with the AC adapter until
the internal rechargeable batteries can be fully charged (See
Charging Procedure).
In the interests of clarity the following instructions assume that
all configurable options are enabled with the ethnic correction
set to ‘Fix’, printed loops set to ‘Both’, display default set to
Flow/Volume and that the units for height and PEF are set to

There are two sources of internal battery power in the

27

The MicroLab is fully discharged when shipped from the

cm and L/sec respectively (See User Customisation for detailed
description of all available options).
Connect the transducer to the MicroLab unit using the socket
located at the rear of the instrument and turn on.
An introductory screen giving the software version will be
displayed momentarily:

The first menu is then displayed and allows selection of test
type:

The first line of this display gives the current time and date
which may be set under the User Customisation menu.

4
Option 4 - Reminder on Exit This option can be used to
remove the screen which reminds the user to save test results
when using the ‘End Examination’ option from the report menu.

Option 5 - Clock Functions After selecting this option the
following screen will be displayed:

Clock Functions

--------------------­ 1 Display Clock
2 Set Clock
3 Set Format
4 Clear Records
5 Exit

Display Clock Using this option the current time (hh:mm:ss)

Press a key
to start...

8L

and date (dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy depending upon format
selected) will be displayed.
Set Clock Setting the clock will erase all stored data and any
required records must be uploaded to a PC or printed before
this function is used.
When all the required options have been selected they are
saved in the internal memory and the instrument is ready for
use.

Uploading Results

computer that is manufactured in accordance with EN60950
1992/1993- “Safety of Information Technology including
Electrical Business Equipment. The MicroLab may be
connected to your PC computer to either upload test results
into a text file, using the Micro Medical PC utilities software
(MM), or to store the results in a patient database using the
Micro Medical PC based software.
In either case the spirometer is connected to the serial port on
the PC, to the port on the side of the instrument using the serial
cable provided.

Age: Enter the age in years and press enter. The age

Height: Enter the height in centimetres and press enter.

Race: Use the ‘1’ key to select Caucasian or Non

Use ‘CANCEL’ to delete incorrect entries before pressing enter.

Note:- The Microlab should only be connected to a

25

range is 7 to 110 years depending on version.

The height range is 110 - 250 cm depending on
version.

Caucasian patient. Press enter to accept the

required race.

The ‘sex’, ‘age’, and ‘height’ entries are used to determine the
predicted values for the various measurements. The ‘race’
entry is used to evoke an ethnic correction factor which
reduces the adult predicted values of volumetric measurements
by 15% in the case of non-Caucasians. For non-Caucasian
children the reduction is 12%.
The MicroLab may also be configured to disable the ethnic
correction entry or accept a percentage ethnic correction
entered for each patient, see User Customisation.

Relaxed Vital Capacity Test

If this test was selected then the following will be displayed:

Insert the disposable (or clean reusable) mouthpiece into the
transducer holder.
Instruct the patient to breathe in until their lungs are completely
full, seal their lips around the mouthpiece, and blow out at a
comfortable rate until they cannot push out any more air. When
the patient has sealed their lips around the mouthpiece and is
ready to blow press a key to initiate the test.

6

Option 2 - System Configuration

The following selections will be offered if this option is selected:

Flow unit : LPM
Lung age : On
Enright : On
Pred line : On
Graph Type: Both
Display : FVL
Wait key : On
1-Change E-Accept

with a blinking cursor under the active option.

FEV1= 3.63
FVC= 5.43
PEF= 7.81

1-Again
2-Reject
3-Done

10L/S

8L

FEV1= 3.63
FVC= 5.43
PEF= 7.81

1-Again
2-Reject
3-Done

8L

6S

Pressing 1 will rotate the various options and pressing enter will
save that selection and move the cursor to the next option.
Press Del to return to the previous screen.

Flow Units This option is used to change the displayed units
of peak flow from litres per minute (LPM) to litres per second
(LPS).

Lung Age The lung age interpretation displayed on the test
results report may be disabled using this option.

Enright The Enright interpretation may be disabled using this
option.

Predicted Line The dashed predicted curve and dotted
baseline curve (displayed when performing a post­bronchodilator test) may be configured not to appear as default
using this option. However, they may be turned on in use by
pressing 7 and 8 respectively.

spirometer will not take any measurement until a key is pressed
allowing the patient to breathe through the transducer tidally
before measurement of a forced expiration if required. Do not
press a key to start the measurement until the patient is ready
to immediately perform the forced expiration.
The expiratory Flow/Volume curve is displayed as the patient
performs the forced expiration through the transducer. At the
end of the test values for FEV1, FVC and PEF are displayed, as
well as the expiratory Flow/Volume curve, to allow a decision to
be made to accept or reject this blow:

At this point pressing 7 on the keypad will toggle the predicted
curve on and off.
Pressing 9 will toggle between the Flow/Volume and Volume
time curves:

Graph Type There are four settings for this option which
controls the content of a full printed report:
Off - the report showing all the results but with no Flow/Volume
or Volume/Time curves produced.
FVL - the report will contain all the results and a Flow/Volume
loop to American Thoracic Society, ATS, recommendations.

Instruct the patient to breathe in until their lungs are completely
full, seal their lips around the mouthpiece and blow out as hard
and as fast as possible until they cannot push any more air out
and then breathe in fully immediately after the expiratory
manoeuvre, thus completing the Flow Volume loop. The

Pressing 6 will toggle the text on and off in order to give a

8

23

Once the required record is found press Enter to accept and
return to the report menu: