Measurements of respiratory sensory discrimination thresholds
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for testing sensation in a patient at a test site in the upper aero digestive tract, comprising:
- a flexible fiberoptic telescope with an input port at a first end and an output port at a second end, said input port being in communication with said output port;
said flexible fiberoptic telescope being adapted to be inserted at its second end into one of the patient'"'"'s nasal passage and oral passage, the second end terminating adjacent the test site;
a Y-connector with an inlet end and first and second outlet ends;
a delivery tube with an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of the delivery tube being attached to the input port of the flexible fiberoptic telescope and the inlet end of the delivery tube being attached to the first outlet end of the Y-connector;
a pressure transducer;
a sensor tube with an inlet end and an outlet end, the sensor tube inlet end being connected to the second outlet end of the Y-connector and the sensor tube outlet end being connected to the pressure transducer;
means for delivering a time and pressure controlled puff of air to the inlet end of the Y-connector; and
display means responsive to the pressure transducer for displaying a value of pressure detected by the transducer.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to objectively measure sensory discrimination thresholds at a test site in the upper aero digestive tract of a patient. A time and pressure controlled puff of air is delivered to the input of a Y-shaped tube; one output branch of the Y-shaped tube delivers the puff of air to the patient and the other output branch delivers the puff of air to a pressure transducer, for measurement and display of the pressure.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for testing sensation in a patient at a test site in the upper aero digestive tract, comprising:
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a flexible fiberoptic telescope with an input port at a first end and an output port at a second end, said input port being in communication with said output port; said flexible fiberoptic telescope being adapted to be inserted at its second end into one of the patient'"'"'s nasal passage and oral passage, the second end terminating adjacent the test site; a Y-connector with an inlet end and first and second outlet ends; a delivery tube with an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of the delivery tube being attached to the input port of the flexible fiberoptic telescope and the inlet end of the delivery tube being attached to the first outlet end of the Y-connector; a pressure transducer; a sensor tube with an inlet end and an outlet end, the sensor tube inlet end being connected to the second outlet end of the Y-connector and the sensor tube outlet end being connected to the pressure transducer; means for delivering a time and pressure controlled puff of air to the inlet end of the Y-connector; and display means responsive to the pressure transducer for displaying a value of pressure detected by the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site, comprising:
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generating a time and pressure controlled puff of air; delivering the controlled puff of air to the test site; and observing when an involuntary reflex occurs in the area of the test site. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site, comprising:
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generating six blocks of time and pressure controlled puffs of air, each block including ten puffs of air, each succeeding puff of air in a block differing by a pressure of about 0.2 mm Hg as compared to the preceding puff of air; delivering each block of time and pressure controlled puffs of air to the test site, with a rest period between blocks of about 30 seconds; and observing when an involuntary reflex occurs in the area of the test site. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification