Incentive Spirometer

An Incentive Spirometer is used to prevent or treat atelectasis and for maintaining and improving inspiratory volume and respiratory fitness.

Directions for use: Sit up straight and as comfortably as possible. Keep your head and neck centered and not bent forward or backward. Hold the incentive spirometer in an upright position. Place the target pointer to the level that you need to reach or your clinician has suggested. Exhale (breathe out) normally, and then do the following. 1. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth with your lips tightly sealed around it. Do not let your tongue block the mouthpiece. 2. Inhale (breathe in) slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece to raise the piston in the chamber. Try to make the indicator rise up to the level of the target pointer. This is the goal that you need to reach. 3. Note the highest level that the indicator has reached and try to achieve a higher goal with each attempt. 4. When you cannot inhale any longer, remove the mouthpiece and hold your breath for at least 3 seconds 5. Exhale normally 6. Repeat these steps 5 to 10 times every hour when awake.  After each session, try to cough out the sputum (mucus) from your lungs. This is done by inhaling deeply and pushing the air out of your lungs with a deep, strong cough. If you have an incision, support your incision by placing a pillow against it. Cleaning Instructions:  Remove the mouthpiece and wash it in warm water and shake it dry. Avoid soaking the spirometer itself because this may increase the bacterial growth and weaken the effectiveness of the internal filter in preventing inhalation of extraneous material.