GM Instruments - Acoustic Rhinometer
Acoustic Rhinometers allow a very rapid non invasive examination of the nasal cavity using a sound pulse technique. Acoustic Rhinometry was developed originally during a joint collaborative project between the Universities of Aarhus (Denmark) and Boston (USA). GM Instruments was invited to commercialise the system, and has been actively working with interested parties to update and improve the measurement since then. A Rhinometer quantifies nasal structure and measures this in terms of absolute levels and the effect of interventions, thus allowing % change to be recorded.
An Acoustic Rhinometer produces a high intensity, very short duration sound pulse in the sound tube and this is applied to one side of the nose. Whenever this pulse meets a change in cross sectional area, a reflection is produced, which returns to the sound tube and is picked up by a microphone. The outgoing and returning signals are processed by a PC to provide a plot of cross sectional area, as a function of distance, into the nose. Numerical information such as the area at certain distances into the nose, and volumes between certain points in the nose, are calculated and presented, which highlight and quantify the points of obstruction.
Applications include:
- Surgical pre/post comparisons
- Nasal symmetry assessment
- Allergen challenge recording
- Sleep studies
- Quantifying changes due to Surgery, Decongestants or Medication
The A1 Clinical version provides a patient database, software calibration, colour selection facility for screen and printout, patient record screen editing, adjustable scale setting, calculation of the first two minimum areas, the distance at which minimas were found, the volume between any three distances, and user defined printout headings. A starter pack of consumables is also supplied.
The A1 Clinical/Research version provides all of the features mentioned above for the A1 Clinical model, but adds the following:
- System performance checking/adjustment tools, such as an artificial nose is included
- Data export facilities – calculated or raw data, for external processing
- Capability of adding additional sound tubes for paediatric or small animal research
- A batch test facility, which allows data runs to be repeated, and mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variance calculations to be displayed and printed. This “best clinical practice” facility helps ensure top grade measurement accuracy.
- Can be linked to our NR6 Clinical/Research Rhinomanometer, to allow a complete nasal functional measurement and linked patient record system
Five pairs of medium and large anatomically conformed nosepieces, and fifteen sets of 8mm conical nosepieces are supplied with each version. Software is supplied on a USB flash drive.
Key Benefits of the Acoustic Rhinometer:
- Supplied with Adult sound tube and options for Animal or Paediatric alternative sound tubes
- PC Based with either a Clinical or Clinical/Research version
- Pre/Post challenge or operative comparisons
- Interfaced through a USB PC connection
- Software available for up to and including Windows 10
- Supplied with anatomical and conical nose piece starter packs for airtight connection without distortion
- Animal or paediatric sound tubes are available as an alternative to the standard adult sound tube.
- Our NR6 Rhinomanometer is compatible with the Acoustic Rhinometer and can be linked to provide combined measurements through our NARIS software. This provides Rhinomanometric and Rhinometric measurements, with both results saved to a subject database or output to a common report.
- We can supply a laptop PC with the A1 software pre loaded
- We can supply a full colour A4 size Printer