Kay Elemetrics is pleased to announce the addition of the ECCOVISION Acoustic Rhinometer to its product line. Designed by Hood Laboratories in Pembroke, Massachusetts, the product graphs and quantifies the patency of the nasal airway by means of acoustic reflection; both site and degree of airway obstruction can be determined by the simple, noninvasive diagnostic procedure. Kay is now the exclusive distributor of the system in North America.

Acoustic rhinometry is used primarily by otolaryngologists, allergists, and plastic surgeons who benefit from this innovative technique to accurately assess the geometry of the nasal cavity. By coupling a reflection tube to the nose and administering a series of clicks controlled by the program, the computer-based system is able to plot the timing and amplitudes of the reflected signal into an easy-to-interpret graph of the nasal airway. Applications of the technique include assessing airway patency, the site/degree of airway obstruction, airway responsiveness to therapeutic intervention (e.g., antihistamines), and indications for surgery and surgical outcome (e.g., polyps, septal deformities, and turbinate hypertrophy). The technique provides more information than traditional rhinomanometry which does not provide clinical data on site or degree of obstruction; furthermore, the procedure is very easy to administer and interpret. ECCOVISION has been cleared by the FDA. Product literature, a bibliography, application materials, and pricing information are available upon request.