Nasopharyngealometric apparatus and method

摘要

This invention relates to an acoustic pulse response system for determining the shape of the nasopharyngeal cavity in a subject by introducing an acoustic impulse through a wave tube into the respective nasal cavities of the subject. The acoustic signals and acoustic reflections thereof with respect to each one of said nasal cavities with both open and closed velums are detected by a microphone located in a wall of the tube, the microphone generating electrical signals proportional to both the impulse and acoustic reflections. The length of the nasal septum is determined, and the value of the area-distance function of the nasopharyngeal cavity is computed from the electrical signals and the length of the nasal septum.