Wireless Patient Monitoring System for Patients with Nasal Obstruction

Abstract

A new system for nasal sound analysis via Internet to cellular phone was investigated. Spectral analysis of the nasal sound with frequency domain and dB is an important factor in the investigation of nasal airflow pattern. This study included 10 patients and 10 healthy subjects. Patients underwent nasal septoplasty surgery for treatment of nasal septal deviation. This nasal sound analysis was performed on subjects at 1 month postsurgery. This study was performed using an investigator-developed software that sends real-time frequency and spectral analysis video of a patient's nasal sound to an otolaryngologist's cellular phone. Sound intensity was observed at over 25 dB with high range of frequency (2-4 kHz) and less than 10 dB with low (500-1,000 Hz) and medium (1-2 kHz) frequency from 10 patients with nasal obstruction symptoms (group A). In 10 healthy subjects without nasal obstruction symptoms (group B), sound intensity was observed at high frequencies below 5 dB; however, low and medium frequencies were above 15 dB. A statistically significant difference in sound intensity was observed between group A and group B. It was ascertained that use of the new technique will help patients to avoid an unnecessary return to the hospital and will also save money and time.