An inexpensive portable device for measuring puffing behavior by cigarette smokers.

A device for counting discrete puffs by cigarette smokers is inexpensive, easily constructed, and fully portable. The device consists of a plastic cigarette holder which is connected to a miniature pressure sensor via 18 gauge polyvinyl tubing. The pressure sensor has two electrical terminals which provide access to a normally open circuit which is closed following a pressure drop produced by puffing on the cigarette holder. The pressure sensor is wired to a common pocket calculator in such a way that each puff is counted by the calculator. The device has been shown to be reliable, and the puff measure is sensitive to a variety of experimental manipulations. The device may serve in either the laboratory setting or may be carried by a smoker to monitor his behavior in his natural environment.