Patent ID: 11957448
Assignee: SPIROX, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A system for measuring a nasal valve collapse of a patient comprising:
a facial mask adapted to form a seal with a facial structure of the patient, the facial mask including an endoscope port and an opening to allow air flow;
an air flow sensor in fluid communication with the opening of the facial mask configured to measure an air flow across the opening;
an endoscope with a camera adapted to pass through the endoscope port in the facial mask and image a nasal valve; and
a data acquisition module configured to:
receive a plurality of images from the camera and a plurality of air flow measurements from the air flow sensor,
determine (i) a first image of the plurality of images of the nasal valve taken during inhalation and (ii) a second image of the plurality of images of the nasal valve taken during a period between exhalation and inhalation, wherein the second image is determined based on a zero flow measurement of the plurality of air flow measurements, wherein the first image is determined based on a non-zero flow measurement of the plurality of air flow measurements, and
determine, based on the first image and the second image, a size difference of the nasal valve during inhalation and during the period between exhalation and inhalation.