Web based nasal sound analysis: A new diagnosis technique

We are investigating the integration with nasal sound analysis and web technology, both for communication and for management of web-diagnosis. This new system is aimed to give information to the patients and to get pattern about the nasal airflow of the patients via internet by help of web based nasal sound analysis as postoperative course.

The patients are given a microphone with a demo software program called "Web-Add". By help of this software program the patients recorded are their own nasal sound easily and sent them via internet as a wav file where we will evaluate them. This patient test results data collected in the computer recorded electronically and was analyzed by the software programme. This analysis includes spectral analysis and frequency analysis of the nasal sound by using FFT technique.

This technique provides the nasal sound samples can be saved easily as digital datas and they can be transferred via internet.

I regard that it will be a new technique in the evaluation of nasal airflow of web based nasal sound analysis, and in postoperative nasal airflow analysis (septoplasty, conca reduction procedure, polipectomy etc.). In this way, postoperative nasal sound analysis provides postoperative course of nasal cavities for us

This enables us to give patients better service at a lower cost in remote locations. In postoperative evaluation of nasal cavity this method is suitable method for the old patient, disabled patients, and the patient who work intensively.At the same time this method enables the governments to reduce the cost of health services.

Reference:Web based analysis of nasal sound spectra.Seren E.Telemedicine Journal and e-Health Vol. 11 Number 5, 2005

The methods of nasal sound recording:

1. The patients recorded their expirium sound in the nasal cavity with the microphone and with the demo software program called "web-add" in the computer at home or in the office. These were sent as a wav file in e-mail. The patients sent the nasal sound in both cavities.

2. Performance of the sound card must be good. The peak level (PL) is calculated by the program which is ready in the "odiosoft-rhino" program for analysis performance of the sound card. PL is a maximum value of noise amplitude. We accepted the computer PL values of the sound card performance below 10 dB. The testing room had very low background noise.

3. The test was performed to the right side of the nose when thump finger of left hand closed left nostril of the nose. During the test, the prope at the right hand is held parallel to right nasal cavity. The nasal prope must be only 1 cm away from the nose; it must not be inserted into the nasal cavity. Before the test, deep breaths were made two or three times. Then, the patient held their breath and the test started during non-forced nasal expiration. This same procedure was applied to the other nasal cavity.