COMPUTER RHINOMANOMETER

Description

The proposed technology falls within the scope of Engineering applied to Medicine. Specifically, it refers to a new device, in particular a new ultrasound-based digitizer or scanner that would make it possible to replace the current rhinomanometer. This scanner, supported by specific software that would model the nostrils, allows a subsequent numerical calculation of the rhinometric curves.
The technology in question would allow estimating, in a non-intrusive way, rhinomanometric curves (flow-pressure) for both nasal passages at the same time, curves that we can consider real and that would be different from those obtained by current rhinomanometers, which only provide these curves passage by passage, obtaining the curve for an individual passage by physically obstructing the other passage with a probe, or by distorting the natural entry of air into the other nostril using a mask. Unlike current rhinomanometers, having the flow-pressure curves of both passages at the same time would allow the doctor to diagnose pathologies and alterations of the nasal passages in a much more precise way.

Advantages

The present invention has the following advantages:
• Non-intrusive method.
• Real rhinomanometric curves (both nostrils at the same time).
• Nuclear medicine devices (not radiation) are not used as in CT or MRI, since the new digitizer is based on ultrasound.