Apparatus and method to objectively measure sensory discrimination thresholds in the upper aero digestive tract

• US 6,355,003 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Martin, John H., Aviv, Jonathan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US09/510,827
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 600/555, 600/556, 600/560, 600/587, 600/593, 604/23, 604/36
• US Class Current: 600/560
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/085 Measuring impedance of respiratory organs or lung elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4233 oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4827 assessing touch sensitivity, e.g. for evaluation of pain threshold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing sensation in a patient at a test site, comprising:

control means for setting a time duration value and a pressure value of a time and pressure controlled puff of air;

means for generating the time and pressure controlled puff of air in response to said set time duration value and said set pressure value; and

means, connected to said means for generating, for delivering the controlled puff of air to the test site.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for generating a time and pressure controlled puff of air further comprises:

a source of high pressure air;

a pressure regulator receiving the high pressure air;

a valve receiving regulated air from the pressure regulator; and

means for controllably driving the valve to open and closed positions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for controllably driving the valve to open and closed positions further comprises:

a trigger circuit producing trigger signals;

a valve driver producing drive signals responsive to the trigger signals input from the trigger circuit; and

an electrically controlled valve, the open or closed state of which is responsive to drive signals input from the valve driver.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the trigger circuit produces variable duration trigger signals.

5. An apparatus for testing sensation in a patient at a test site, comprising:

a Y-connector with an inlet end and first and second outlet ends;

a pressure transducer;

means for delivering a time and pressure controlled puff of air to the inlet end of the Y-connector;

a delivery tube with an inlet end and an outlet end, the delivery tube inlet end being connected to the first outlet end of the Y-connector and the delivery tube outlet end adapted to be located adjacent the test site;

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; and

display means responsive to the pressure transducer for displaying a value of pressure detected by the transducer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the delivery tube and the sensor tube are substantially the same length.

7. A method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site, comprising:

generating a time and pressure controlled puff of air; and

delivering the controlled puff of air to the test site.

8. The method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a plurality of time and pressure controlled puffs of air, each succeeding puff of air being of a higher pressure than the last; and

delivering the plurality of time and pressure controlled puffs of air to the test site in sequence.

9. The method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site of claim 8, wherein the step of generating a plurality of tie and pressure controlled puffs of air further comprises the step of generating, as a first puff, a puff of air with a subliminal pressure, and as a last puff, a puff of air with a supraliminal pressure.

10. The method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a plurality of time and pressure controlled puffs of air, each succeeding puff of air being of a lower pressure than the last; and

delivering the plurality of time and pressure controlled puffs of air to the test site in sequence.

11. The method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site of claim 10, wherein the step of generating a plurality of time and pressure controlled puffs of air further comprises the step of generating, as a first puff, a puff of air with a supraliminal pressure, and as a last puff, a puff of air with a subliminal pressure.

12. A method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site comprising:

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 7.5×

10² mm Hg as compared to the preceding puff of air; and

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.

13. The method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site of claim 12, wherein the step of delivering each block of time and pressure controlled puffs of air to the test site further comprises delivering each puff of air at a random time within a ten second window.

14. The method for testing sensation in a patient at a test site of claim 13, wherein the pressure of the first puff of air in about one-half of the blocks is subliminal and the last puff of air is supraliminal, and the pressure of the first puff of air in the other one-half of the blocks is supraliminal and the pressure of the last puff of air is subliminal.