Spirometer and other inputs
SharYa
Israel
Hi all,
Is it possible to attach a spirometer (measure the airflow) to the openBCI as a channel? Or is it working only with electrodes? And more generally, does the OpenBCI have a hardware/software solution to plugin different kinds of input? Or any recommended external platform?
@wjcroft @retiutut @SharYa
Comments
Hi, Sharya,
The OpenBCI boards are primarily for measuring biosignals using a differential amplifier (plus and minus poles): such signals as EEG, ECG, EMG, EOG, etc. These signals are in the range of say tens (or more) of millivolts (EMG and ECG) down to 1 microvolt (lowest EEG).
One might expect that a spirometer device in the modern era, might have a Bluetooth interface for interacting with phone apps. This would be the recommended way to go. You would find out from the manufacturer the details of the Bluetooth interface and how to collect that data stream in your own app. Your same app could also be collecting the OpenBCI data streams, via the Brainflow library.
https://brainflow.org/
https://brainflow.readthedocs.io/en/stable/Examples.html
You need to be careful in connecting external devices that are mains powered to any OpenBCI board. This is because of safety concerns. In the event of circuit failures, the external device could end up shorting hundreds of volts (or more) into the board pins. And thereby connecting such voltages to the electrodes on the head or heart.
https://www.google.com/search?q=spirometer+with+bluetooth
William
Thanks for the quick and thorough responses!
Much appreciated,
Sharon
https://facelake.com/products/facelake-fsp20-spirometer
$150 with Bluetooth
https://mdmaxx.com/products/mir-911105-spirobank-smart-spirometer
$189 with Bluetooth
Above spirometer links measure air flow. The other type below uses a belt,
https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/go-direct-respiration-belt/S39728
Incredible! Thank you
A better page on the belt, at the manufacturer,
https://www.vernier.com/product/go-direct-respiration-belt/
https://github.com/labstreaminglayer/app-vernier
Works for both USB and Bluetooth interfaces.
There is also this cheaper Arduino version of an airflow (not a stretch meter) spirometer, which could be connected to an external signal pin on the OpenBCI board as it was to the A0 pin on that Arduino device: https://maker.pro/arduino/tutorial/diy-arduino-nano-spirometer
I like @BillH 's idea to attach something to the additional input to the Cyton board.
Found this via Google: