Method and System to Determine Nasal Resistance to Airflow

Abstract

A method and related system to determine nasal resistance to airflow. Some of the exemplary embodiments may be a method comprising measuring an attribute of airflow through a first naris of a patient without blocking a second naris of the patient, measuring an attribute of airflow through the second naris of the patient without blocking the first naris, and determining a value indicative of nasal resistance to airflow based on the attributes measured.

1 . A method comprising: 
 measuring airflow through a first naris of a patient;    measuring a pressure within the patient's mouth substantially simultaneously with measuring airflow through the first naris; and    determining a value indicative of nasal resistance using the pressure and the airflow.    
   
   
       2 . The method as defined in  claim 1  further comprising determining the value indicative of nasal resistance of the first naris by dividing the pressure by the airflow.  
   
   
       3 . The method as defined in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 measuring airflow through the second naris substantially simultaneously with measuring airflow through the first naris;    wherein determining the value indicative of nasal resistance further comprises dividing the pressure by the combined airflow of the first naris and the second naris.    
   
   
       4 . The method as defined in  claim 1  further comprising measuring during an inhalation.  
   
   
       5 . The method as defined in  claim 4  further comprising measuring during the inhalation to vital capacity.  
   
   
       6 . The method as defined in  claim 5  further comprising measuring during the inhalation to vital capacity at substantially maximum effort on the part of the patient.  
   
   
       7 . A method comprising: 
 determining an oral airflow rate for a patient taking an oral only breath to substantially vital capacity;    determining an airflow rate through a first naris for the patient taking a nasal only breath to substantially vital capacity; and    calculating a value indicative of nasal resistance using the oral airflow rate and the airflow rate through the first naris.    
   
   
       8 . The method as defined in  claim 7  further comprising: 
 determining an airflow rate through a second naris substantially simultaneously with determining the airflow rate through the first naris;    wherein calculating the value indicative of nasal resistance further comprises calculating using the oral airflow rate and a combined airflow rate of the first naris and the second naris.    
   
   
       9 . The method as defined in  claim 8  further comprising calculating a value indicative of the nasal resistance by determining a percentage of the combined airflow rate in relation to the oral airflow rate.  
   
   
       10 . The method as defined in  claim 7  further comprising calculating a value indicative of the nasal resistance of the first naris by determining a percentage of the airflow rate through the first naris in relation to the oral airflow rate.