Nasopharyngealometric apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of determining the shape of the nasopharyngeal cavity in a subject using acoustic, broad-spectrum response measurements, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing acoustic signals through conduit means into the input ends of the respective nasal cavities of said subject;
detecting said acoustic signals and acoustic reflections thereof with respect to each one of said nasal cavities at a point in said conduit means;
generating electrical signals proportional to the amplitudes of both said acoustic signals and acoustic reflections thereof;
determining the length of the nasal septum separating said nasal cavities; and
computing the value of the area-distance function of said nasopharyngeal cavity from said electrical signals and said length of the nasal septum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to an acoustic pulse response system for determining the shape of the nasopharyngeal cavity in a subject by introducing an acoustic impulse through a wave tube into the respective nasal cavities of the subject. The acoustic signals and acoustic reflections thereof with respect to each one of said nasal cavities with both open and closed velums are detected by a microphone located in a wall of the tube, the microphone generating electrical signals proportional to both the impulse and acoustic reflections. The length of the nasal septum is determined, and the value of the area-distance function of the nasopharyngeal cavity is computed from the electrical signals and the length of the nasal septum.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of determining the shape of the nasopharyngeal cavity in a subject using acoustic, broad-spectrum response measurements, said method comprising the steps of:
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introducing acoustic signals through conduit means into the input ends of the respective nasal cavities of said subject; detecting said acoustic signals and acoustic reflections thereof with respect to each one of said nasal cavities at a point in said conduit means; generating electrical signals proportional to the amplitudes of both said acoustic signals and acoustic reflections thereof; determining the length of the nasal septum separating said nasal cavities; and computing the value of the area-distance function of said nasopharyngeal cavity from said electrical signals and said length of the nasal septum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for determining the shape of the nasopharyngeal cavity in a subject using acoustical energy propagated through a conduit acoustically coupled into said cavity through at least one nasal cavity, said apparatus comprising, in combination
means for introducing acoustical signals into said conduit for propagation therethrough; -
means for measuring the length of the nasal septum of said subject; and means for determining the area-distance functions of said cavities in accordance with the propagation of said acoustical signals and reflections thereof and said length of said nasal septum. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for determining the shape of the nasopharyngeal cavity in a subject using acoustical energy propagated through a conduit acoustically coupled into said cavity through at least one nasal cavity, said apparatus including means for generating said acoustical energy, and means for measuring the area-distance functions of said cavities in accordance with the propagation of said energy into said cavity and reflections thereof, wherein said conduit is an elongated tube having a substantially circular-cross section configuration internally and a substantially ellipsoidal cross-section configuration externally.
Specification