So how do you measure your Lung Capacity

***schford*** · 8th May 2005, 11:08

After the few chats about getting neoprene CLs made I just wondered how one measures their lung capacity.

I know with mine it was trial and error but thats no biggy as Leon can just open up or sew down to change capacity.

With neoprene custom made lungs though I guess you want to get it right first time

I guess medical facilities would have some sort of machine to measure but what about is in the field - I confess to having some crazy ideas involving blowing up a big baloon whilst emptying lungs then placing said baloon in a container of water and measuring how much water it displaces - and et voila lol!

Yours in ignorance....

Stuart

***Decodiver*** · 8th May 2005, 11:22

Sounds like fun..............

I once got thrown out of the Sheraton Hotel in Djibouti when myself and four other Paras turned up for breakfast wearing blown up condoms on our heads, looked like a bunch of aliens.

We had been drinking for forty eight hours solid though............

Back on subject, I get my lung capacity done each year as part of my HSE Medical.

Stuart, if you want details of my Hyperbaric Physician in Harley Street, I am sure he will get you the right capacity for a fee.........

Cheers,

Dave.

ROB DAVIE · 8th May 2005, 11:31

Quote: (Originally Posted by Decodiver)

Sounds like fun..............

I once got thrown out of the Sheraton Hotel in Djibouti when myself and four other Paras turned up for breakfast wearing blown up condoms on our heads, looked like a bunch of aliens.

We had been drinking for forty eight hours solid though............

Cheers,

Dave.

Now that sounds like one HELL of a party, Dave! As they say: "Therein lies a tale.......!"

Rob

***Decodiver*** · 8th May 2005, 11:36

Quote: (Originally Posted by ROB DAVIE)

Now that sounds like one HELL of a party, Dave! As they say: "Therein lies a tale.......!"

Rob

Yeah it ended in a punch up with some Navy Military Police.....

But I kept my stripes (God knows how looking back?)

ROB DAVIE · 8th May 2005, 12:08

Quote: (Originally Posted by Decodiver)

Yeah it ended in a punch up with some Navy Military Police.....

But I kept my stripes (God knows how looking back?)

Good on ya' mate!

Rob

Divechick · 8th May 2005, 12:15

Quote: (Originally Posted by schford)

After the few chats about getting neoprene CLs made I just wondered how one measures their lung capacity.

I know with mine it was trial and error but thats no biggy as Leon can just open up or sew down to change capacity.

With neoprene custom made lungs though I guess you want to get it right first time

I guess medical facilities would have some sort of machine to measure but what about is in the field - I confess to having some crazy ideas involving blowing up a big baloon whilst emptying lungs then placing said baloon in a container of water and measuring how much water it displaces - and et voila lol!

Yours in ignorance....

Stuart

One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ...

1. Find a clear plastic bottle sufficiently large that it will exceed your likely lung capacity (for example, one of those v. large mineral water bottles) A normal adult is usually about 4 - 6 litres
2. Put in one litre of water, mark side of bottle to show 1 litre, add another litre of water and mark side of bottle to show 2 litres etc. so you have a means of measuring capacity. You could measure in smaller increments to get greater accuracy.
3. Fill bottle completely with water
4. Insert piece of tubing/hose into top of bottle
5. Invert bottle and hose in sink or bath full of water so that bottle remains full of water and hose now emerges from bottom of bottle
6. Take a deep breath and blow down tube into bottle exhaling as much air as possible
7. Exhaled air will displace water in bottle, and measurements down the side of the bottle will enable you to read how much water has been displaced. This gives you your vital capacity. (If you simply inhale and exhale normally, you will get your tidal air volume, if you inhale normally, exhale normally, and then exhale the remaining air forcibly into the tube, you will get your expiratory reserve volume).
8. Your total lung capacity is the sum of your vital capacity and the residual air volume, which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after a forced exhalation. Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres.

Sarah

***Decodiver*** · 8th May 2005, 12:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divechick)

One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ...

1. Find a clear plastic bottle sufficiently large that it will exceed your likely lung capacity (for example, one of those v. large mineral water bottles) A normal adult is usually about 4 - 6 litres
2. Put in one litre of water, mark side of bottle to show 1 litre, add another litre of water and mark side of bottle to show 2 litres etc. so you have a means of measuring capacity. You could measure in smaller increments to get greater accuracy.
3. Fill bottle completely with water
4. Insert piece of tubing/hose into top of bottle
5. Invert bottle and hose in sink or bath full of water so that bottle remains full of water and hose now emerges from bottom of bottle
6. Take a deep breath and blow down tube into bottle exhaling as much air as possible
7. Exhaled air will displace water in bottle, and measurements down the side of the bottle will enable you to read how much water has been displaced. This gives you your vital capacity. (If you simply inhale and exhale normally, you will get your tidal air volume, if you inhale normally, exhale normally, and then exhale the remaining air forcibly into the tube, you will get your expiratory reserve volume).
8. Your total lung capacity is the sum of your vital capacity and the residual air volume, which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after a forced exhalation. Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres.

Sarah

That's clever............

cedricverdier · 8th May 2005, 14:01

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divechick)

One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ...

1. Find a clear plastic bottle sufficiently large that it will exceed your likely lung capacity (for example, one of those v. large mineral water bottles) A normal adult is usually about 4 - 6 litres
2. Put in one litre of water, mark side of bottle to show 1 litre, add another litre of water and mark side of bottle to show 2 litres etc. so you have a means of measuring capacity. You could measure in smaller increments to get greater accuracy.
3. Fill bottle completely with water
4. Insert piece of tubing/hose into top of bottle
5. Invert bottle and hose in sink or bath full of water so that bottle remains full of water and hose now emerges from bottom of bottle
6. Take a deep breath and blow down tube into bottle exhaling as much air as possible
7. Exhaled air will displace water in bottle, and measurements down the side of the bottle will enable you to read how much water has been displaced. This gives you your vital capacity. (If you simply inhale and exhale normally, you will get your tidal air volume, if you inhale normally, exhale normally, and then exhale the remaining air forcibly into the tube, you will get your expiratory reserve volume).
8. Your total lung capacity is the sum of your vital capacity and the residual air volume, which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after a forced exhalation. Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres.

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Your idea is simply great and it works very well. I just did it for fun and compared to the volumes I get every year for my Medical Exam. Simply perfect.

Where did you find this idea? In France, the frogs simply use expensive apparatus for the same result...

Cheers

narked at 90 · 8th May 2005, 15:01

hi Sarah that pretty much how i did it but put a lot better than i ever could!

kind regards john routley

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divechick)

One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ...

1. Find a clear plastic bottle sufficiently large that it will exceed your likely lung capacity (for example, one of those v. large mineral water bottles) A normal adult is usually about 4 - 6 litres
2. Put in one litre of water, mark side of bottle to show 1 litre, add another litre of water and mark side of bottle to show 2 litres etc. so you have a means of measuring capacity. You could measure in smaller increments to get greater accuracy.
3. Fill bottle completely with water
4. Insert piece of tubing/hose into top of bottle
5. Invert bottle and hose in sink or bath full of water so that bottle remains full of water and hose now emerges from bottom of bottle
6. Take a deep breath and blow down tube into bottle exhaling as much air as possible
7. Exhaled air will displace water in bottle, and measurements down the side of the bottle will enable you to read how much water has been displaced. This gives you your vital capacity. (If you simply inhale and exhale normally, you will get your tidal air volume, if you inhale normally, exhale normally, and then exhale the remaining air forcibly into the tube, you will get your expiratory reserve volume).
8. Your total lung capacity is the sum of your vital capacity and the residual air volume, which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after a forced exhalation. Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres.

Sarah

***caveseeker7*** · 8th May 2005, 15:38

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divechick)

One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ...

... very clever.

Quote:

Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres.

But is Stuart normal?
To measure the residual air volume ...
1. Make sure he sits against the tub
2. Duck tape hose to mouth so it doesn't pop out
3. At the end of exhalation hit him with his backplate flat against the chest

That'll get any residual air out.

8th May 2005, 11:08	#1 (permalink)
*schford* Despotic Overlord Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,562	So how do you measure your Lung Capacity After the few chats about getting neoprene CLs made I just wondered how one measures their lung capacity. I know with mine it was trial and error but thats no biggy as Leon can just open up or sew down to change capacity. With neoprene custom made lungs though I guess you want to get it right first time I guess medical facilities would have some sort of machine to measure but what about is in the field - I confess to having some crazy ideas involving blowing up a big baloon whilst emptying lungs then placing said baloon in a container of water and measuring how much water it displaces - and et voila lol! Yours in ignorance.... Stuart
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8th May 2005, 11:22	#2 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,181	Sounds like fun.............. I once got thrown out of the Sheraton Hotel in Djibouti when myself and four other Paras turned up for breakfast wearing blown up condoms on our heads, looked like a bunch of aliens. We had been drinking for forty eight hours solid though............ Back on subject, I get my lung capacity done each year as part of my HSE Medical. Stuart, if you want details of my Hyperbaric Physician in Harley Street, I am sure he will get you the right capacity for a fee......... Cheers, Dave. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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8th May 2005, 11:31	#3 (permalink)
ROB DAVIE Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: HOUSTON, REPUBLIC OF TEJAS Posts: 1,120	Quote: (Originally Posted by Decodiver) Sounds like fun.............. I once got thrown out of the Sheraton Hotel in Djibouti when myself and four other Paras turned up for breakfast wearing blown up condoms on our heads, looked like a bunch of aliens. We had been drinking for forty eight hours solid though............ Cheers, Dave. Now that sounds like one HELL of a party, Dave! As they say: "Therein lies a tale.......!" Rob __________________ [SIZE=2]"CC Rebreathers will become a viable part of tech diving [U]WHEN PIGS FLY[/U]!!"--GI3[/SIZE]
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8th May 2005, 11:36	#4 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,181	Quote: (Originally Posted by ROB DAVIE) Now that sounds like one HELL of a party, Dave! As they say: "Therein lies a tale.......!" Rob Yeah it ended in a punch up with some Navy Military Police..... But I kept my stripes (God knows how looking back?) __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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8th May 2005, 12:08	#5 (permalink)
ROB DAVIE Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: HOUSTON, REPUBLIC OF TEJAS Posts: 1,120	Quote: (Originally Posted by Decodiver) Yeah it ended in a punch up with some Navy Military Police..... But I kept my stripes (God knows how looking back?) Good on ya' mate! Rob __________________ [SIZE=2]"CC Rebreathers will become a viable part of tech diving [U]WHEN PIGS FLY[/U]!!"--GI3[/SIZE]
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8th May 2005, 12:15	#6 (permalink)
Divechick Came down in the last shower of rain Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 53	Quote: (Originally Posted by schford) After the few chats about getting neoprene CLs made I just wondered how one measures their lung capacity. I know with mine it was trial and error but thats no biggy as Leon can just open up or sew down to change capacity. With neoprene custom made lungs though I guess you want to get it right first time I guess medical facilities would have some sort of machine to measure but what about is in the field - I confess to having some crazy ideas involving blowing up a big baloon whilst emptying lungs then placing said baloon in a container of water and measuring how much water it displaces - and et voila lol! Yours in ignorance.... Stuart One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ... 1. Find a clear plastic bottle sufficiently large that it will exceed your likely lung capacity (for example, one of those v. large mineral water bottles) A normal adult is usually about 4 - 6 litres 2. Put in one litre of water, mark side of bottle to show 1 litre, add another litre of water and mark side of bottle to show 2 litres etc. so you have a means of measuring capacity. You could measure in smaller increments to get greater accuracy. 3. Fill bottle completely with water 4. Insert piece of tubing/hose into top of bottle 5. Invert bottle and hose in sink or bath full of water so that bottle remains full of water and hose now emerges from bottom of bottle 6. Take a deep breath and blow down tube into bottle exhaling as much air as possible 7. Exhaled air will displace water in bottle, and measurements down the side of the bottle will enable you to read how much water has been displaced. This gives you your vital capacity. (If you simply inhale and exhale normally, you will get your tidal air volume, if you inhale normally, exhale normally, and then exhale the remaining air forcibly into the tube, you will get your expiratory reserve volume). 8. Your total lung capacity is the sum of your vital capacity and the residual air volume, which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after a forced exhalation. Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres. Sarah
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8th May 2005, 12:46	#7 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,181	Quote: (Originally Posted by Divechick) One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ... 1. Find a clear plastic bottle sufficiently large that it will exceed your likely lung capacity (for example, one of those v. large mineral water bottles) A normal adult is usually about 4 - 6 litres 2. Put in one litre of water, mark side of bottle to show 1 litre, add another litre of water and mark side of bottle to show 2 litres etc. so you have a means of measuring capacity. You could measure in smaller increments to get greater accuracy. 3. Fill bottle completely with water 4. Insert piece of tubing/hose into top of bottle 5. Invert bottle and hose in sink or bath full of water so that bottle remains full of water and hose now emerges from bottom of bottle 6. Take a deep breath and blow down tube into bottle exhaling as much air as possible 7. Exhaled air will displace water in bottle, and measurements down the side of the bottle will enable you to read how much water has been displaced. This gives you your vital capacity. (If you simply inhale and exhale normally, you will get your tidal air volume, if you inhale normally, exhale normally, and then exhale the remaining air forcibly into the tube, you will get your expiratory reserve volume). 8. Your total lung capacity is the sum of your vital capacity and the residual air volume, which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after a forced exhalation. Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres. Sarah That's clever............ __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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8th May 2005, 14:01	#8 (permalink)
cedricverdier S21 M.I.B. Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Worldwide! Posts: 497	Quote: (Originally Posted by Divechick) One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ... 1. Find a clear plastic bottle sufficiently large that it will exceed your likely lung capacity (for example, one of those v. large mineral water bottles) A normal adult is usually about 4 - 6 litres 2. Put in one litre of water, mark side of bottle to show 1 litre, add another litre of water and mark side of bottle to show 2 litres etc. so you have a means of measuring capacity. You could measure in smaller increments to get greater accuracy. 3. Fill bottle completely with water 4. Insert piece of tubing/hose into top of bottle 5. Invert bottle and hose in sink or bath full of water so that bottle remains full of water and hose now emerges from bottom of bottle 6. Take a deep breath and blow down tube into bottle exhaling as much air as possible 7. Exhaled air will displace water in bottle, and measurements down the side of the bottle will enable you to read how much water has been displaced. This gives you your vital capacity. (If you simply inhale and exhale normally, you will get your tidal air volume, if you inhale normally, exhale normally, and then exhale the remaining air forcibly into the tube, you will get your expiratory reserve volume). 8. Your total lung capacity is the sum of your vital capacity and the residual air volume, which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after a forced exhalation. Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres. Sarah Hi Sarah, Your idea is simply great and it works very well. I just did it for fun and compared to the volumes I get every year for my Medical Exam. Simply perfect. Where did you find this idea? In France, the frogs simply use expensive apparatus for the same result... Cheers __________________ Cedric Verdier PADI Course Director, ANDI-IANTD-PSAI-TDI-DSAT-DAN-NAUI-CMAS Instructor Trainer Trimix (CCR and OC) and Cave Diving Instructor Trainer www.CedricVerdier.com DIRrebreather member
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8th May 2005, 15:01	#9 (permalink)
narked at 90 John Routley Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: middlands uk Posts: 1,029	hi Sarah that pretty much how i did it but put a lot better than i ever could! kind regards john routley Quote: (Originally Posted by Divechick) One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ... 1. Find a clear plastic bottle sufficiently large that it will exceed your likely lung capacity (for example, one of those v. large mineral water bottles) A normal adult is usually about 4 - 6 litres 2. Put in one litre of water, mark side of bottle to show 1 litre, add another litre of water and mark side of bottle to show 2 litres etc. so you have a means of measuring capacity. You could measure in smaller increments to get greater accuracy. 3. Fill bottle completely with water 4. Insert piece of tubing/hose into top of bottle 5. Invert bottle and hose in sink or bath full of water so that bottle remains full of water and hose now emerges from bottom of bottle 6. Take a deep breath and blow down tube into bottle exhaling as much air as possible 7. Exhaled air will displace water in bottle, and measurements down the side of the bottle will enable you to read how much water has been displaced. This gives you your vital capacity. (If you simply inhale and exhale normally, you will get your tidal air volume, if you inhale normally, exhale normally, and then exhale the remaining air forcibly into the tube, you will get your expiratory reserve volume). 8. Your total lung capacity is the sum of your vital capacity and the residual air volume, which is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after a forced exhalation. Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres. Sarah
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8th May 2005, 15:38	#10 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,451	Quote: (Originally Posted by Divechick) One DIY way of roughly ascertaining lung capacity is ... ... very clever. Quote: Residual air volume on a normal adult will be approx 1.5 litres. But is Stuart normal? To measure the residual air volume ... 1. Make sure he sits against the tub 2. Duck tape hose to mouth so it doesn't pop out 3. At the end of exhalation hit him with his backplate flat against the chest That'll get any residual air out. __________________ Cheers Stefan "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"
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