A1 Acoustic Rhinometer The following presentation gives an overview of the main functions of the A1Acoustic Rhinometer, it’s accessories and normal operational

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic Rhinometer

The following The following presentation gives an presentation gives an overview of the main overview of the main functions of the functions of the A1Acoustic A1Acoustic Rhinometer, it’s Rhinometer, it’s accessories and accessories and normal operational normal operational procedures.procedures.

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic RhinometerPC InterfacePC Interface

The system comprises The system comprises the A1 Rhinometer the A1 Rhinometer linked to a compatible linked to a compatible PC through a USB PC through a USB interface, along with a interface, along with a sound tube and sound tube and nosepieces to link to nosepieces to link to the subject.the subject.

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic RhinometerSoftware/HardwareSoftware/Hardware

Software capable of Software capable of running with Windows running with Windows from XP up to Windows 8 from XP up to Windows 8 is provided.is provided.

The standard sound tube is The standard sound tube is used with adults and used with adults and children from about 5 children from about 5 years of age.years of age.

Smaller alternatives are Smaller alternatives are available for younger available for younger children and animal workchildren and animal work

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic RhinometerAccessoriesAccessories

Connection to subjects is Connection to subjects is by means of anatomical by means of anatomical nose adaptors which are nose adaptors which are available in medium and available in medium and large sizes. They are large sizes. They are supplied in pairs as they supplied in pairs as they are profiled to fit the are profiled to fit the shape of the nose. An shape of the nose. An improved seal can be improved seal can be obtained by using gel on obtained by using gel on the top face. the top face.

Round ended (conical) Round ended (conical) nosepieces are available as nosepieces are available as an alternative.an alternative.

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic RhinometerAccessories (Continued)Accessories (Continued)

Every A1 system is Every A1 system is supplied with a calibration supplied with a calibration plug (black unit), while plug (black unit), while the Clinical/Research the Clinical/Research versions of A1 are also versions of A1 are also supplied with an artificial supplied with an artificial nose model and straight nose model and straight tube to allow confirmation tube to allow confirmation of accuracy and fine of accuracy and fine tuning of the system for tuning of the system for best performance.best performance.

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic RhinometerSoftwareSoftware

The software opens on the The software opens on the patient details tab.patient details tab.

All of the fields shown All of the fields shown can be moved, deleted, can be moved, deleted, edited or altered to define edited or altered to define which character type and which character type and number of characters are number of characters are allowed.allowed.

One field can be set as the One field can be set as the file name for the subject file name for the subject eg ID Number.eg ID Number.

Under File and Under File and Settings it is possible Settings it is possible to select the colour to select the colour used for any element used for any element on the screen and also on the screen and also on the printouts.on the printouts.

It is also possible to It is also possible to define the line style, define the line style, thickness and Font thickness and Font used.used.



Under the Results tab Under the Results tab you can set you can set

The distance range The distance range over which volume is over which volume is calculatedcalculated

The distance range The distance range over which the system over which the system looks for minimum looks for minimum areas (turning points)areas (turning points)

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic RhinometerSoftware (continued)Software (continued)

You can also specify You can also specify up to 5 additional up to 5 additional distance sectors over distance sectors over which volume is which volume is calculated andcalculated and

Up to 5 fixed distances Up to 5 fixed distances into the nose at which into the nose at which points, the area present points, the area present will be reported.will be reported.


The scale used for the The scale used for the vertical axis can be vertical axis can be reduced or expanded and reduced or expanded and can be changed from can be changed from logarithmic to linear.logarithmic to linear.

The scale used for the The scale used for the distance axis can be distance axis can be reduced or expanded.reduced or expanded.

The scale used when The scale used when curves are shown in linear curves are shown in linear mode can also be changed. mode can also be changed.


Under the Acquisition Under the Acquisition tab the default side tab the default side and the number of and the number of curves comprising a curves comprising a test can be altered.test can be altered.

You can also change You can also change the time delay between the time delay between curve measurements. curve measurements. 600 mS is the lowest 600 mS is the lowest recommended delay.recommended delay.

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic RhinometerSoftware (Continued)Software (Continued)

The Clinical/Research The Clinical/Research versions of A1 are versions of A1 are supplied with an artificial supplied with an artificial nose to allow the nose to allow the performance of the system performance of the system to be checked. The true to be checked. The true profile is shown on screen profile is shown on screen and can be compared and can be compared against a measured value.against a measured value.

Provision has been made Provision has been made to allow other nose to allow other nose models, if generated for models, if generated for other populations, to be other populations, to be added by changing the added by changing the standard nose Datafile.standard nose Datafile.

A1 Acoustic RhinometerA1 Acoustic RhinometerOperationOperation

Switch on A1 and start the Switch on A1 and start the program. Fit the program. Fit the calibration plug to the end calibration plug to the end of the sound tube.of the sound tube.

If the patient has not been If the patient has not been tested before, select the tested before, select the Patient tab and enter Patient tab and enter Patient details. If they Patient details. If they have been tested before have been tested before click on OPEN and select click on OPEN and select their file.their file.

Click on the Acquire icon Click on the Acquire icon at the top of the screen.at the top of the screen.

Check that the calibration Check that the calibration plug is still in the sound plug is still in the sound tube, then click on tube, then click on CALIBRATE.CALIBRATE.

Look for a message saying Look for a message saying Calibration Complete Calibration Complete



Select side to tell the system Select side to tell the system whether you want to whether you want to measure the RIGHT or measure the RIGHT or LEFT side of the nose.LEFT side of the nose.

Look at the subject and Look at the subject and decide whether you need to decide whether you need to use medium or large use medium or large anatomical nosepieces or if anatomical nosepieces or if appropriate, what size of appropriate, what size of conical nosepiece.conical nosepiece.

If anatomical, select a blue If anatomical, select a blue nosepiece to measure the nosepiece to measure the left side and a red nosepiece left side and a red nosepiece for the right side.for the right side.


Fit the nosepiece to the sound tube, position it on Fit the nosepiece to the sound tube, position it on the side of the nose selected earlier with the the side of the nose selected earlier with the pointed section of the nosepiece towards the pointed section of the nosepiece towards the centre.centre.

Ask the subject to hold the sound tube gently in Ask the subject to hold the sound tube gently in position while you check to see if the nose is position while you check to see if the nose is distorted. Move the sound tube if required.distorted. Move the sound tube if required.

Ask the subject to breath gently in and out through Ask the subject to breath gently in and out through their nose to see if a leak is present.their nose to see if a leak is present.


When you are happy with When you are happy with positioning, ask the positioning, ask the subject to open their subject to open their mouth and mouth breathe.mouth and mouth breathe.

Tell them that when you Tell them that when you say, take a breath in and say, take a breath in and hold their breath.hold their breath.

Ask them to do that and Ask them to do that and then click on the red then click on the red button to take in data. A button to take in data. A footswitch is available as footswitch is available as an optional extra, to start an optional extra, to start the measurement.the measurement.


Over the next couple Over the next couple of seconds curves will of seconds curves will show on the screen, show on the screen, after which you can after which you can remove the sound tube remove the sound tube from the subject.from the subject.

Curves can be viewed, Curves can be viewed, and if required, and if required, deselected by using deselected by using the tick boxes on the the tick boxes on the right side of the screenright side of the screen


The volume between The volume between previously set distances into previously set distances into the nose is displayed below the nose is displayed below the curves, along with the the curves, along with the position and distance into position and distance into the nose of the first 2 the nose of the first 2 minimum areas found.minimum areas found.

The test is added to the The test is added to the patient test list to the left of patient test list to the left of the screen.the screen.

Remarks can now be added Remarks can now be added to the scroll box on the to the scroll box on the bottom right of screen.bottom right of screen.


Testing of the other side of Testing of the other side of the nose, or additional the nose, or additional testing on this side, can testing on this side, can now be performed.now be performed.

The new curves will be The new curves will be added to the test list for added to the test list for that subject.that subject.

Comparisons of various Comparisons of various kinds can now be made.kinds can now be made.


Comparisons can be made Comparisons can be made between any two left or between any two left or any two right side curves. any two right side curves. Also between any left and Also between any left and right side result.right side result.

The picture shows a The picture shows a left/right comparison in left/right comparison in linear view, but you can linear view, but you can also superimpose them or also superimpose them or show them separately in show them separately in horizontal or vertical split horizontal or vertical split view, or in report viewview, or in report view


This picture shows the same This picture shows the same curve in Report view.curve in Report view.

Below the curves see:-Below the curves see:- The volume between a The volume between a

number of preset distances number of preset distances into the nose and the first into the nose and the first two minimum areas, for two minimum areas, for LEFT side and RIGHT side.LEFT side and RIGHT side.

Percentage differences Percentage differences between the LEFT and between the LEFT and RIGHT values are RIGHT values are calculated and shown.calculated and shown.


Having created a Having created a combined combined LEFT/RIGHT test LEFT/RIGHT test result, you can result, you can compare this with compare this with another to give another to give ANALYSIS view.ANALYSIS view.

Additional values are Additional values are calculated and calculated and PRE/POST graphical PRE/POST graphical displays created.displays created.

A printout of any A printout of any result shown on the result shown on the screen can be made by screen can be made by clicking on the PRINT clicking on the PRINT button.button.

A more sophisticated A more sophisticated printout can be created printout can be created by selecting the by selecting the OUTPUT tab.OUTPUT tab.



Any of the files in the Any of the files in the patient test list can be patient test list can be selected for printout selected for printout by clicking in the by clicking in the appropriate tick box.appropriate tick box.

The system will add The system will add the patient details to the patient details to the top of the first the top of the first pagepage

The final operation in a test The final operation in a test sequence will be to save the sequence will be to save the new results to the subject’s new results to the subject’s record file.record file.

This is done by clicking on the This is done by clicking on the save button which generates a save button which generates a SAVE AS dialog box, which SAVE AS dialog box, which will show the name of the file will show the name of the file already opened, in the case of already opened, in the case of someone who has been tested someone who has been tested before, or the name from the before, or the name from the subject details tab designated to subject details tab designated to be the file name.be the file name.



Having saved/updated Having saved/updated the previous records, the previous records, click on NEW to start click on NEW to start testing a subject new testing a subject new to the system, or click to the system, or click on OPEN to add on OPEN to add records to someone records to someone who has already been who has already been tested, or on EXIT to tested, or on EXIT to close the program.close the program.

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A1 Acoustic Rhinometer The following presentation gives an overview of the main functions of the A1Acoustic Rhinometer, it’s accessories and normal operational