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Respiratory Inductance Plethysmography Test

Last updated: February 8, 2026 Medically reviewed by: RxHarun Orthopedic Specialist Doctor Reading time: 5 min read

Respiratory inductance plethysmography; Penile pulse volume recording; Pulse volume recordings; Segmental pulse volume recordings

Plethysmography is used to measure changes in volume in different parts of the body. The test may be done to check for blood clots in the arms and legs. It is also done to measure how much air you can hold in your lungs. Penile pulse volume recording is a type of this test. It is done on the penis to check for causes of erectile dysfunction.

Respiratory inductance plethysmography is a method of evaluating pulmonary ventilation by measuring the movement of the chest and abdominal wall. Accurate measurement of pulmonary ventilation or breathing often requires the use of devices such as masks or mouthpieces coupled to the airway opening.

Most commonly, this test is performed to check blood flow in the arteries of the legs. This is done in people with conditions like hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis causes pain during exercise or poor healing of leg wounds.

Related tests include:

  • Vascular ultrasound
  • Ankle-brachial indices

FAQ

What does inductance plethysmography measure?

  • Respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) provides a non-invasive measurement of lung volume using recording bands around the thorax and abdomen.

What is abdominal inductance plethysmography?

ABDOMINAL INDUCTIVE PLETHYSMOGRAPHY (AIP)
  • The cross-sectional area of the thorax can be measured using a technique called inductance plethysmography.

What does inductance plethysmography measure?

  • Respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) provides a non-invasive measurement of lung volume using recording bands around the thorax and abdomen.

How does respiratory inductance plethysmography work?

  • Respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) is a method of evaluating pulmonary ventilation by measuring the movement of the chest and abdominal wall. Accurate measurement of pulmonary ventilation or breathing often requires the use of devices such as masks or mouthpieces coupled to the airway opening.

What is abdominal inductance plethysmography?

ABDOMINAL INDUCTIVE PLETHYSMOGRAPHY (AIP)
  • The cross-sectional area of the thorax can be measured using a technique called inductance plethysmography.

What is tidal volume?

  • Tidal volume is a measure of the amount of air a person inhales during a normal breath. Traditional preset tidal volumes higher than 10 ml/kg have been proved to be associated with an increased risk of pulmonary barotrauma and should be avoided. High tidal volumes also decrease venous return and reduce cardiac output.

What is pulmonary ventilation?

  • Pulmonary ventilation is commonly referred to as breathing. It is the process of air flowing into the lungs during inspiration (inhalation) and out of the lungs during expiration (exhalation). Air flows because of pressure differences between the atmosphere and the gases inside the lungs.

What is sinusoidal breathing?

  • The respiratory pattern is a sine wave losing the inspiratory hitch and lengthened expiratory pause. There is little or no inspiratory or expiratory pause, and the inspiratory and expiratory periods are equivalent.

Why Spirometry is done?

  • Spirometry is used to diagnose asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions that affect breathing. Spirometry may also be used periodically to monitor your lung condition and check whether a treatment for a chronic lung condition is helping you breathe better.

How do you measure abdominal distension?

  • Distension can be measured through the use of a tape measure. Distension over the course of a day can be measured more reliably by a device known as ambulatory abdominal inductance plethysmography (AIP). Such a device would most likely only be used during the course of a research study.

What does respiration of 16 mean?

  • Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, and other medical conditions. When checking respiration, it is important to also note whether a person has any difficulty breathing. Normal respiration rates for an adult person at rest range from 12 to 16 breaths per minute.

What is the formula of tidal volume?

General Formulas
  • Tidal volume = alveolar space + dead space.

What is the normal range for tidal volume?

  • Tidal volume (symbol VT or TV) is the volume of air moved into or out of the lungs during a normal breath. In a healthy, young human adult, tidal volume is approximately 500 ml per inspiration or 7 ml/kg of body mass.

What does a finger plethysmograph measure?

  • PWA derived from finger plethysmography allows continuous, non-invasive measurement of changes in finger blood flow during wakefulness and sleep.

How is plethysmography done?

  • Lung plethysmography can be performed in a specialist’s office or in a hospital. You will sit in a small, airtight room. Your doctor will use clips to close off your nostrils. Then they’ll ask you to breathe against a mouthpiece.

What are the types of plethysmography?

  • Types of Plethysmographs. There are three types of plethysmographs: pressure, volume, and pressure volume.

What is a normal pleth rate?

  • The median RR from the abdominal RIP band data was 42 (range 31 to 67) per minute; the median pleth derived respiratory rate was 43 (range 31 to 66), and the median difference (RIP minus pleth derived) was -0.7 (range -4 to +2) per minute. The median PR/RR ratio was 3.5 (range from 2.2 to 5.3).

What is a good pleth?

  • A good, normal pleth waveform has evenly spaced, equally wide waves of equal amplitude. If your pleth doesn’t look like this, check to make sure the sensor is clean and in good contact with the patient’s skin. Be aware that if the patient’s rhythm is irregular, the pleth waveform will be as well.

What is a plethysmograph on an oximeter?

  • Photoplethysmography measures changes in the volume of the finger. The larger the blood volume in the finger (vasodilation), the more light is being absorbed by the finger.

How much does a plethysmograph cost?

  • While a physician’s office would usually not have a plethysmograph due to the high cost (devices could run as much as $50,000) a pulmonary function testing lab typically uses both spirometry and plethysmography.

Who invented the plethysmograph?

  • 1878 – Italian Physiologist Angelo Mosso introduced the “Plethysmograph”, a machine which he used in his research on the emotions of persons undergoing an investigation or questioning. He measured the effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory responses of the subjects.

Which law is used in plethysmography?

  • Plethysmography uses Boyle’s law in order to measure the intrathoracic gas volume or functional residual capacity, and once this is determined, the residual volume and total lung capacity are extrapolated.

What is the difference between pulse oximetry and plethysmography?

  • Pulse oximeters often show the pulsatile change in absorbance in a graphical form – the plethysmograph. The plethysmograph waveform is similar in appearance to an arterial blood pressure waveform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area later with a custom field named _rx_references.

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Written by Dr. Harun Ar Rashid, MD - Arthritis, Bones, Joints Pain, Trauma, and Internal Medicine Specialist

Dr. Md. Harun Ar Rashid, MPH, MD, PhD, is a highly respected medical specialist celebrated for his exceptional clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to patient care. With advanced qualifications including MPH, MD, and PhD, he integrates cutting-edge research with a compassionate approach to medicine, ensuring that every patient receives personalized and effective treatment. His extensive training and hands-on experience enable him to diagnose complex conditions accurately and develop innovative treatment strategies tailored to individual needs. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harun Ar Rashid is dedicated to medical education and research, writing and inventory creative thinking, innovative idea, critical care managementing make in his community to outreach, often participating in initiatives that promote health awareness and advance medical knowledge. His career is a testament to the high standards represented by his credentials, and he continues to contribute significantly to his field, driving improvements in both patient outcomes and healthcare practices. Born and educated in Bangladesh, Dr. Rashid earned his BPT from the University of Dhaka before pursuing postgraduate training internationally. He completed his MD in Internal Medicine at King’s College London, where he developed a special interest in inflammatory arthritis and metabolic bone disease. He then undertook a PhD in Orthopedic Science at the University of Oxford, conducting pioneering research on cytokine signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Rashid returned to clinical work with a fellowship in interventional pain management at the Rx University School of Medicine, refining his skills in image-guided joint injections and minimally invasive pain-relief techniques.