What is the purpose of using an inspirometer?

Inspirometers measure the volume of air that a person breathes in with a deep breath.

They are used in diagnostic measures to determine the degree of lung compromise or airway obstructions, as in Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

They are also given to surgical patients during the post operative recovery period as incentive to the patient to take slow deep breaths. Breathing deeply and expanding the lungs fully after surgery is necessary for clearing the lungs of secretions from anesthesia use and to prevent pneumonia. Post operative patients are often reluctant to breathe deeply and aerate their lung bases properly when they have painful surgical wounds that cause them to naturally use shallow breathing techniques.