An Optical Method for Determining Changes in Mucosal Congestion in the Nose in Man

Abstract

As the methods available for studying physiological and drug-induced changes in mucosal congestion in the nose involve manipulations of the mucosa or alteration of the physiological conditions in the nose, a non-invasive measurement method with a high degree of accuracy has been evolved. According to this method, the subject to be examined is fixed to a measuring apparatus consisting of a microscope with low-power magnification, standing on a mechanical stage. The displacement of the mucosal surface within a small, well-defined area in the nose is studied in the microscope. The method has been tested on 6 volunteers, and statistical calculations show that the overall error is less than ±0.37 mm for a measurement value when the greatest observed variation in the swelling was 4 mm. The size of the mucosal area studied was smaller than 3.2 mmx0.4 mm and the area could be reidentified at different times. As the method has a high degree of accuracy it can be considered suitable for examination of physiologic and drug-induced mucosal changes.