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.

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
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.

Available Options

  • 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
Clinical Clinical Research
Distance Range – Standard Sound Tube 12cm 12cm
Distance Range – Optional Small Animal Sound Tube 5cm 5cm
Distance Range – Optional Child Sound Tube 10cm 10cm
Area Range – Standard Sound Tube 0.1–20cm² 0.1–20cm²
Area Range – Optional Small Animal Sound Tube 0.001–0.3cm² 0.001–0.3cm²
Area Range – Optional Child Sound Tube 0.01–5cm² 0.01–5cm²
Volume Accuracy – Distance 0–5cm 2% 2%
Volume Accuracy – 5cm End 5% 5%
Information Reported – Standard Software 2x min areas, 3x volumes 2x min areas, 3x volumes
Information Reported – Multiple Report NO YES – Volumes & Areas
Information Reported – Data Export Facility NO YES
Product Dimensions: 27 x 6 x 28cm 27 x 6 x 28cm
Product Weight ~2Kg  ~2Kg
CE Mark Class IIa IIa
Complies with SC* Recommendations YES YES
‘Best Practise’ Batch Facility NO YES
Electrical Safety BS EN 60601 BS EN 60601

* SC – Standardisation Committee

Relevant research:

1) Hilberg 0, Jackson AC, Swift DL, Pedersen OF .
Acoustic rhinometry: evaluation of nasal cavity geometry by acoustic reflection.
J Appl Physiol. 1989 Jan; 66(1): 295-303

2) Grymer LF, Hilberg 0, Elbrond 0, Pedersen OF.
Acoustic rhinometry: evaluation of the nasal cavity with septal deviations, before and
after septoplasty.
Laryngoscope. 1989 Nov; 99(11): 1180-7

3) Hilberg 0, Grymer LF, Pedersen OF, Elbrond 0.
Turbinate hypertrophy. Evaluation of the nasal cavity by acoustic rhinometry
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990 Mar; 116(3): 283-9

4) Lenders H, Pirsig W.
How can hyperreactive rhinopathy be modified surgically? II: Acoustic rhinometry
and anterior turbinoplasty.
Laryngorhinootologie. 1990 Jun; 69(6): 291-7

5) Elbrond 0, Hilberg 0, Felding JU, Blegvad-Andersen 0.
Acoustic rhinometry , used as a method to demonstrate changes in the volume of the
nasopharynx after adenoidectomy.
Clin Otolaryngol. 1991 Feb; 16(1): 84-6

6) Illum P, Grymer L, Hilberg 0.
Nasal packing after septoplasty.
Clin Otolaryngol. 1992 Apr; 17(2): 158-62

7) Kase Y, ltimura K, Iinuma T .
An evaluation of nasal patency with acoustic rhinometry , preop. and postop.
compansons.
Nipon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 1993 Feb; 96(2): 197-202

8) Grymer LF, Illum P, Hilberg 0.
Septoplasty and compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy: a randomized study
evaluated by acoustic rhinometry .
J Laryngol Otol. 1993 May; 107(5): 413 7

9) Lildholdt T .
Surgical versus medical treatment of nasal polyps.
Rhinol Suppl. 1989; 8: 31-3

10) Elbrond 0, Felding JU, Gustavsen KM.
Acoustic rhinometry used as a method to monitor the effect of intramuscular injection of
steroid in the treatment of nasal polyps.
J Laryngol Otol. 1991 Mar; 105(3): 178-80

11) Fouke JM, Jackson AC.
Acoustic rhinometry: effects of decongestants and posture on nasal patency.
J Lab Clin Med. 1992 Apr; 119(4): 371-6

12) Weeke J, Christensen SE, Orskov H, Kaal A, Pedersen MM, Il1um P, Harris AG.
A randomized comparison of intranasal and injectable octreotide administration in
patients with acromegaly.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992 Jul; 75(1): 163-9

13) Yamagiwa M, Hilberg 0, Pedersen OF, Lundqvist GR.
Evaluation of the effect of locaIized skin cooling on nasal airway volume by acoustic
rhinometry.
Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990 Apr; 141(4 Pt 1): 1050-4

14) Fisher EW, Scadding GK, Lund VJ .
The role of acoustic rhinometry in studying the nasal cycle.
Rhinology. 1993 Jun; 31(2): 57-61

15) Kase Y, Tanaka T, Iinuma T .
The effect of unilateral nasal patency on the contralateral side.
Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 1993 Jul; 96(7): 1073-8

16) O’Flynn P .
Posture and nasal geometry .
Acta Otolaryngol Stockh. 1993 Jul; 113(4): 530-2

17) Lundqvist GR, Hilberg 0, Pedersen OF, Nielsen B.
Nasal reactions to changes in whole body temperature.
Acta Otolaryngol Stockh. 1993 Dec; 113(6): 783-788

18) Kase Y, Hilberg 0, Pedersen OF.
Posture and nasal patency: Evaluation by acoustic rhinometry .
Acta Otolaryngol Stockh. 1994 Jan; 114(1): 70 74

19) Rasp G .
Acoustic rhinometry: measuring the early and late phase of allergic immediate reaction in
allergic rhinitis.
Laryngorhinootologie. 1993 Mar; 72(3): 125-30

20) Lenders H, Pirsig W.
Diagnostic value of acoustic rhinometry: patients with allergic and vasomotor
rhinitis compared with normal controls.
Rhinology. 1990 Mar; 28(1): 5-16

21) Grymer LF, Hilberg 0, Pedersen OF, Rasmussen TR.
Acoustic rhinometry: values from adults with subjective normal nasal patency.
Rhinology. 1991 Mar; 29(1): 35-47

22) Rieche1mann H, Rheinheimer MC, Wolfensberger M.
Acoustic rhinometry in pre-school children.
Clin Otolaryngol. 1993; 18: 272-277

23) Lenders H, Pirsig W.
Acoustic rhinometry: a diagnostic tool for patients with chronic rhonchopathies.
Rhino1 Supp1. 1992; 14: 101-5

24) Lenders H, Schaefer J, Pirsig W.
Turbinate hypertrophy in habitual snorers and patients with obstructive sleep apnea:
findings of acoustic rhinometry .
Laryngoscope. 1991 Jun; 101(6 Pt 1): 614-8

25) Lundqvist GR, Yamagiwa M, Pedersen OF, Nielsen GD.
Inhalation of diethylamine-acute nasal effects and subjective response.
Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1992 Mar; 53(3): 181-5

26) Kase Y, Itimura K, Iinuma T .
Acoustic rhinometry as a method for evaluating paranasal sinuses experimental studies.
Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 1993 Feb; 96(4): 626-36

27) Mayhew TM, O’Flynn P .
Validation of acoustic rhinometry by using the Cavalieri principle to estimate nasal cavity
volume in cadavers.
Clin Otolaryngol. 1993 Jun; 18(3): 220-5

28) Hilberg 0, Jensen FT, Pedersen OF.
Nasal airway geometry; comparison between acoustic reflections and magnetic resonance
scannmg .J Appl Physiol. 1993; 75(6): 2811-2819

29) Edward W. Fisher, Adrian B. Boreham
Improving the reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry: a customised stand giving control
of height and angle.
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology June 1995, Vol. 109 pp 536-537

30) Tomkinson A, Eccles R.
Acoustic rhinometry: do we need a standardized operating procedure?
Clin Otolaryngol. 1996: 21 000-000

31) Pedersen OF, Yamagiwa M, Miyahara Y, Sakakura Y
Nasal cavity dimensions in guinea pigs measured by acoustic reflections.
American Journal of Rhinology 1994; 8:299-307

32) Pedersen OF, Berkowitz R, Yamagiwa M, Hilberg O
Nasal cavity dimensions in the newborn measured by acoustic reflections.
Laryngoscope, August 1994; Vol. 104 No.8

33) Tomkinson, A. and Eccles, R. (1996) Comparison of the relative abilities of acoustic
rhinometry , rhinomanometry , and the visual analogue scale in detecting changes in the
nasal cavity in a healthy adult population.
American Journal of Rhinology 10: 161-165.

34) G.K. Scadding, Y.C. Darby, C.E. Austin
Acoustic rhinometry compared with anterior rhinomanometry in the assessment of the
response to allergen challenge.
Clin. Otolaryngol. 1993: 19,000-000

35) Zavras, et al.
Acoustic rhinometry in the evaluation of children with nasal or oral respiration.
J. Clin. Pediatr. Dent 18:203-210, 1994

36) Hillberg 0, Pedersen O.F .
Acoustic rhinometry: recommendations for technical specifications and standard
operating procedures.
Rhinology Supplement 16,3-17, 2000

37) Ganslmayer M, Spertini F, Rahm F, Terrien M H, Mosimann B, Leimgruber A.
Evaluation of acoustic rhinometry in a nasal provocation test with allergen.
Allergy 1999, 54, 974-979

38) Porter M.J., Williamson I.G, Kerridge D. H, Maw A.R.
A comparison of the sensitivity of manometric rhinometry , acoustic rhinometry,
rhinomanometry and nasal peak flow to detect the decongestant effect of xylometazoline.
Clin. Otolaryngol. 1995, 20, 000-000

39) Andrew C. Jackson, Dan E. Olson
Comparison of direct and acoustical area measurements in physical
models of human central airways.
J. Appl.Physiol. 48(5): 896-902, 1980

40) Hamilton JW, McRae RD, Phillips DE, Jones AS
The accuracy of acoustic rhinometry using a pulse train signal.
Clin. Otolaryngol. 1995 Jun: 20(3): 279-82

41) Blackwell Munksgaard
Objective Measurement of Nasal Airway Dimensions using Acoustic Rhinometry:
Methodological and Clinical Aspects
Allergy 2002, Supplement 70, Volume 57,

42) Acoustic Rhinometry: Values from adults with subjective norm31 nasel patency.
Luisa F Grymer Ole Hilb,3rg Ole F Pedersen Torben R Rasmussen. Rhinology Vol. 29 35 47 1991.

43) Consensus report on Acoustic Rhinometry and Rhinomanometry.
P.A.R. Clement and F. Gordts
Standardisation Committee on Objective Assessment of the Nasal Airway, I.R.S. and
E.R.S. Rhinology, 43, 169-179, 2005

44) Erica J. Sims, Andrew M. Wilson, Paul S. White, Quentin Gardiner, Brian J. Lipworth.
Short term repeatability and correlates of laboratory measures of nasal function in
patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis* Rhinology, 40, 66-68, 2002

45) Wilson AM, Simms EJ, Orr LC, Coutie WJR, White PS, Gardiner Q, & Lipworth BJ.
Effects of Topical Corticosteroid and combined mediator blockade on domiciliary and
laboratory measurements of nasal function in seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 87, 344-349, (2001).

46) Wilson AM, Fowler SJ, Martin SW, White PS, Gardiner Q, & Lipworth BJ.
Evaluation of the importance of head and probe stabilisation in acoustic rhinometry.
Rhinology. 39, 93-97, (2001).

47) Hilberg 0, Jenson FT, Pedersen OF.
Nasal Airway Geometry: Comparison between acoustic reflections and magnetic
resonance scanning.
J Appl Physiol. 1993;75:2811-2819

48) Hilberg 0, Lyholm B, Michelsen A, Pedersen OF, Jacobsen O.
Acoustic reflections during rhinometry: spatial resolution and sound loss.
J Appl Physiol. 1998;84:1030-1039

49) Corey JP, Kemker BJ, Nelson R, Gungor A
Evaluation of the nasal cavity by acoustic rhinometry in normal and allergic
subjects
Otolaryngol. Head and Neck Surgery 1997;117:22-28

50) Takeno S, Kawamoto H, Hirata S, Fukushima N, Yazin K
Decongesting effect of Tramazoline on nasal airway patency and nasal symptoms
as evaluated by Acoustic Rhinometry.
Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho 1998;101:900-907

51) Akerlund A, Bende M, Murphey C.
Olfactory threshold and nasal mucosal changes in experimentally induced
common cold.
Acta Otolaryngol. 1995;115:88-92

52) Lotta E. Haavisto, M.D., and Jukka I. Sipila, M.D.
Acoustic rhinometry in children: Some practical aspects and influence of age and
body surface area on results.
Am J Rhinol 22, 416-419, 2008.

53) Lotta E. Haavisto, Tero J. Vahlberg, Jukka I. Sipila
A follow-up study with acoustic rhinometry in children using nasal insulin.
Rhinology, 48, 95-99, 2010

54) Lotta E. Haavisto, Tero J. Vahlberg, Jukka I. Sipila
Reference values for acoustic rhinometry in children at baseline and after
decongestion.
Rhinology 49: 243-247, 2011

55) Cenk Doruk, Oral Sokucu, A. Altug Bicakci, Ugur Yilmaz and Fikret Tas
Comparison of nasal volume changes during rapid maxillary expansion using
acoustic rhinometry and computed tomography.
European Orthodontic Society, 2006

56) Ilknur Haberal Can, Kursad Ceylen, Unal Bayiz, Ali Olmez and Erdal Samim
Acoutic rhinometry in the objective evaluation of childhood septoplasties
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Volume 69, Issue 4, Pages 445-448 April 2005

57) Viviane Camargo Marques and Wilma T Anselmo-Lima
Pre- and postoperative evaluation by acoustic rhinometry of children submitted to
adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Volume 68, Issue 3, Pages 311-316 March 2004

58) Lotta E Haavisto, M.D. and Jukka I Sipila, M.D.
Acoustic rhinometry in children: Some practical aspects and influence of age and
body surface area on results
Am J Rhinol 22, 416-419, 2008

59) Dokic D, Karlinski D, Isjanovska R, Trajkovska-Dokic E and Filipce I
Measuring nasal volumes with acoustic rhinometry
Prilozi 2010 Jul 31 (1) 339-47

60) Erickson et al. Journal of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (201) 45:2
DOI 10.1186/s40463-016-0115-9 Acoustic rhinometry and video endoscopic
scoring to evaluate postoperative outcomes in endonasal spreader graft surgery
with septoplasty and turbinoplasty for nasal valve collapse

61) Krager Intefr Med Int 2015;2:129-138 DOI10.1159/000440837 The Impact of
School Environment on Children’s Respiratory Health

62) Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology Vol. 5, No. 3: 156-160,
September 2012 Intersession Repeatability of Acoustic Rhinometry
Measurements in Healthy Volunteers Mohammed Dhafer Al Ahmari,
MS·Jadwiga Anna Wedzicha, MD·John Robert Hurst, PhD Academic Unit of
Respiratory Medicine, UCL Medical School, London, UK

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