How sound waves are helping more people to find answers

At the Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust, consultant chest physician Dr William Man and his team have taken a difficult lung test and made it as simple as breathing in and out. He’s discovered a ground-breaking new way of using sound waves to measure how well the lungs are working in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

Ian Jarrold
Published 23rd April 2025

Why is IPF research important?

IPF is a devastating condition where scar tissue, called fibrosis, builds up in the lungs. It’s a progressive disease, with many people having a prognosis of just two to three years of survival after diagnosis. But Dr Man’s test could transform these statistics.

Lung function tests are vital for people with IPF, to measure how well their lungs are working and keep track of their disease. But the current tests are difficult to do when your lungs are healthy, let alone when you have a condition like IPF. They require a lot of effort, with deep breaths and exhaling – causing breathlessness and coughing.

A new, simple two-minute test

Dr Man’s team found that sound waves could do a much better job. They pioneered the use of a new type of breathing test, called Impulse Oscillometry (iOS). 

The test uses sound waves to measure the elasticity of the lung. The test is quick to perform, takes little effort, and only requires a person to breathe in their usual way. It feels like a light tapping in the chest, as it measures the elasticity of the lung in just a few minutes. It’s simpler, easier and could be more effective.

“Our new test is quicker, easier and patients say they’re far less apprehensive.”

- Dr William Man

What does this mean for the future?

We’re still at an early stage of this work, but initial results using this new test signals huge progress. It could mean patients don’t have to feel worried about doing a test that makes them feel even more unwell. Keeping their condition monitored from now on could be quick and easy. 

There’s more research to be done. But we hope to find out whether changes in oscillometry measurements over time could help to predict things like hospital admissions and survival for patients with IPF. 

It could even lead to new medicines and treatments that could extend people’s lives and give them precious time back. For Dr Man’s team, this innovative test really could be life-changing for thousands of people with IPF.

Find out more about IPF.

This blog was originally published in May 2022.

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