"Airway Acoustics... A New Era for... Airway Orthotics"

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Airway Acoustics utilizes Acoustic Reflection to evaluate and document the upper airway.  Learn how Oral Appliance therapy, also referred to as Airway Orthotic therapy due to the normalizing effect it has on the upper airway, benefits from the ability to evaluate airway normalization.

"Airway Acoustic Titration of an Airway Orthotic"

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Learn how to titrate an Oral Appliance (Airway Orthotic) through Airway Acoustics, using the Eccovision Pharyngometer. Witness Airway Normalization as documented by Acoustic Reflection along side verified reduction of Respiratory Events as documented by the Watch_Pat 100.

Learn More About the Watch_Pat100

Quick and Accurate Diagnostics for the Upper Respiratory Airway Utilizing Sound Waves  

The “Eccovision” Pharyngometer uses acoustic technology to assess the cross sectional area of the upper airway from the oral cavity through the hypopharynx. During a 4-minute non-invasive, diagnostic procedure, we assess a patient's potential sites of sleep related upper-airway obstruction.

More than 80% of habitual snorers have Respiratory Disturbance Indices of less than 15 apneas and/or hypopneas per hour. Although many of these patients have a clinically significant sleep disorder, most remain undiagnosed.  When one considers the annual cost to industry and health care undiagnosed daytime drowsiness is responsible for, screening for these individuals would benefit everyone involved. 

Once a patient has been screened as a potential “Breathing Related Sleep Disorder” patient, the appropriate recommendations and referral to a Sleep Specialist follows.  The Sleep Specialist will be provided with all of the Screening and Diagnostic results facilitating the process leading to a final diagnosis and treatment.  Mandibular advancement dental appliances represent one of the most promising new treatment options for these apnea patients. These devices re-establish patency in the upper airway by moving the lower jaw forward. In the event the Sleep Specialist recommends an Oral Appliance, the Eccovision Pharyngometer enables us to measure the effect that this appliance has on airway patency.  Facilitating appliance titration and verification of efficacy.

1.      The Sleep Cohort Study. N Engl J Med (1993;328:1230-5)

2.      Sleep 18(6) 1995,pp 501-513

This Diagnostic tool allows us to:

Predictive Value of Pharyngometry Derived Measurements for

Oral Appliance Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Chest; 10/1/2000; Daniel I Loube, MD, FCCP(*); Nigel J Ball, D Phil; Douglas F Schmidt, PhD and Paula J Nehring, LRCP. Sleep Disorders Center, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA.

Objective: To evaluate the value of Pharyngometry-derived airway measurements to predict oral appliance (OA) treatment response in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Methods: Twenty five OSAS patients received OA treatment with a semi-adjustable mandibular advancement device.  All patients received pre- and post-treatment polysomnography (PSG) to assess treatment response.  Acoustic Pharyngometry was performed while supine and awake with and without the OA and airway measurements were analyzed.  Treatment changes in airway volume and areas were evaluated and predictive values calculated for changes in the AHI.

Results: Oral appliance treatment decreased the mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from 39.5 + 12 to 12 + 10 events / hour, p=0.01.  With treatment response defined as > 50% decrease in AHI, 18/25 (63%) were responders and 7/25 (37%) were non-responders.  Airway volume increased from 11.1 to 14.2 cubic cm in the responders and did not change in the non-responders.  Increase in airway volume had sensitivity .94 and specificity .72, positive predictive value 95% and negative predictive value 60% to distinguish responders from non-responders.  Airway area measurements were less accurate than airway volume as a treatment predictor.

Conclusions: Airway volume determined by acoustic Pharyngometry may be a useful measure to predict OA treatment response and could minimize the need for post-treatment PSG.

Clinical Implications:  Increased OA response rates for OSA treatment improves the clinical utility of this alternative to CPAP therapy.

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Last modified: October 17, 2007