Method and system for measuring airflow of nares
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- measuring at least a portion of an airflow of a first naris through a first sensing tube, the measuring creates a first measured airflow; and
measuring at least a portion of an airflow of a second naris through a second sensing tube fluidly independent of the first sensing tube, the measuring creates a second measured airflow;
wherein measuring at least a portion of the airflow of the first naris is accomplished without blocking the second naris; and
wherein measuring at least a portion of the airflow of the second naris is accomplished without blocking the first naris.
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Abstract
A method and system for measuring airflow through nares. One exemplary embodiment comprises: measuring an attribute of an airflow through a first naris; measuring an attribute of an airflow through a second naris; wherein measuring the attribute of the airflow through the first naris is accomplished without blocking the second naris; and wherein measuring the attribute of the airflow through the second naris is accomplished without blocking the first naris.
85 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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measuring at least a portion of an airflow of a first naris through a first sensing tube, the measuring creates a first measured airflow; and measuring at least a portion of an airflow of a second naris through a second sensing tube fluidly independent of the first sensing tube, the measuring creates a second measured airflow; wherein measuring at least a portion of the airflow of the first naris is accomplished without blocking the second naris; and wherein measuring at least a portion of the airflow of the second naris is accomplished without blocking the first naris. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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measuring a pressure associated with an airflow through a first naris, the measuring by way of a first sensing tube; and measuring a pressure associated with an airflow through a second naris, the measuring the pressure associated with airflow through the second naris by way of a second sensing tube, the first and second sensing tubes fluidly independent; wherein measuring the pressure associated with the airflow through the first naris is accomplished without blocking the second naris; and wherein measuring the pressure associated with the airflow through the second naris is accomplished without blocking the first naris. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A nasal function test device comprising:
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a first air mass flow sensor configured to fluidly couple to a first naris by way of a first sensing tube, the first air mass flow sensor detects airflow of the first naris that flows through the first sensing tube to create a first measured flow signal; a second air mass flow sensor configured to fluidly couple to a second naris by way of a second, fluidly independent sensing tube, the second air mass flow sensor detects airflow of the second naris that flows through the second sensing tube to create a second measured flow signal; and a processor electrically coupled to the first and second airflow sensors, and wherein the processor is programmed to substantially simultaneously read the first and second measured flow signals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A nasal function test device comprising:
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a first airflow sensor that detects at least a portion of an airflow through a first naris to create a first measured flow signal; a second airflow sensor that detects at least a portion of an airflow through a second naris to create a second measured flow signal; and a processor electrically coupled to the first and second airflow sensors, and wherein the processor is programmed to substantially simultaneously read the first and second measured flow signals; wherein the processor is further programmed to determine an area under a curve produced by changes in the first measured flow signal during at least one of inhalation or exhalation, the area being a first breathing score; wherein the processor is further programmed to determine an area under a curve produced by changes in the second measured flow signal during at least one of inhalation or exhalation, the area being a second breathing score; and wherein the processor determines a difference between the first and second breathing score.
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28. A system comprising:
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a differential pressure measurement device having first and second ports, wherein the first port is configured to be fluidly coupled to a first nostril of a patient, and wherein the second port is configured to be fluidly coupled to a second nostril of a patient; an indicator coupled to the differential pressure measurement device, and wherein the indicator displays an indication of a difference in air pressure associated with airflow in each of the first and second nostrils. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A system comprising:
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a differential pressure measurement device having first and second ports, wherein the first port is configured to be fluidly coupled to a first nostril of a patient, and wherein the second port is configured to be fluidly coupled to a second nostril of a patient; an indicator coupled to the differential pressure measurement device, and wherein the indicator displays an indication of a difference in air pressure associated with airflow in each of the first and second nostrils; a nasal cannula having a first and second sensing lines, the first and second sensing lines not in fluid communication; and wherein the first sensing line couples to the first port, and wherein the second sensing line couples to the second port.
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31. A method comprising:
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measuring a relative airflow as between the nostrils of a patient with the patient'"'"'s head held in a first position and at a first respiratory rate; measuring a relative airflow as between the nostrils of the patient with the patient'"'"'s head held in a second position and at a second respiratory rate; wherein the first and second position are one each selected from the group of;
head upright, head tilted left, head tilted left, head facing down or head facing up; andwherein the first and second respiratory rate are one each selected from the group of;
tidal breathing or maximum inspiration. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A nasal function test device comprising:
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a first pressure sensor configured to fluidly couple to a first naris by way of a first sensing tube, the first pressure sensor detects a pressure associated with an airflow through the first naris to create a first measured signal; a second pressure sensor configured to fluidly couple to a second naris by way of a second sensing tube, the second sensing tube fluidly independent of the first sensing tube, and the second pressure sensor detects a pressure associated with an airflow through the second naris to create a second measured signal; and a processor electrically coupled to the first and second pressure sensors, and wherein the processor is programmed to substantially simultaneously read the first and second measured signals. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method comprising:
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measuring at least a portion of an airflow of a first naris through a first sensing tube, the measuring creates a first measured airflow; and
substantially simultaneouslymeasuring at least a portion of an airflow of a second naris through a second, fluidly independent sensing tube, the measuring creates a second measured airflow. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. The method as defined in 44 wherein measuring further comprises measuring at least a portion of the airflow with the respective mass flow sensor fluidly coupled to the respective naris by a sensing tube of a bifurcated nasal cannula.
Specification