Cleveland Family Study

12.1 Background

Unlike the Cephalometric X-ray, which provides the researcher with a 2 dimensional representation of airway space, the Rhinometer offers a view of the volume of area within the airway. This is accomplished by the utilization of sonic waves. The focus of interest is the minimum and mean cross sectional area. This correlates closely with airway size and space.

Much like a dolphin or a bat emits sonic waves to judge the distance between itself and an object, the Rhinometer creates sonic waves, which travel down the throat of a patient and measure the amount of space within it. These measurement values are translated into a graphic (see example below) representation, which identifies different areas of interest within the nasal (upper) airway.