Nose simulator with multisampling modes for airstream evaluation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11875704-B2
Application number	US-202016934357-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2020
Priority date	Jul 23, 2019
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

A nasal simulator includes a three-dimensional (3D) printed nasal cavity within based on diagnostic imagery of a human nasal cavity. The nasal simulator comprising a fan system positioned to mimic air flow through the human nasal cavity. A first probe access bore is formed through the 3D printed nasal cavity to a first location having a first internal contour. An anemometer insert having an outer diameter sized to be slidingly received in and to pneumatically seal the first probe access bore, the anemometer insert having a distal contour that aligns with the first internal contour of the 3D printed nasal cavity, the anemometer insert having a longitudinal bore that is sized to receive a probe of an anemometer to detect characteristics of the air flow through the 3D cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nasal simulator comprising:
a three-dimensional (3D) printed nasal cavity within based on diagnostic imagery of a human nasal cavity;
a fan system positioned to mimic air flow through the human nasal cavity;
a first probe access bore formed through the 3D printed nasal cavity to a first location having a first internal contour; and
an anemometer insert having an outer diameter sized to be slidingly received in and to pneumatically seal the first probe access bore, the anemometer insert having a distal contour that aligns with the first internal contour of the 3D printed nasal cavity, the anemometer insert having a longitudinal bore that is sized to receive a probe of an anemometer to detect characteristics of the air flow through the 3D cavity.

2. The nasal simulator of claim 1 , wherein the first probe access bore and the anemometer insert comprise a teeth and groove lock.

3. The nasal simulator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second probe access bore formed through the 3D printed nasal cavity to a second location; and
a resting insert having an outer diameter sized to be slidingly received in and to pneumatically seal the second probe access bore, and the resting insert having a distal contour that aligns with the second internal contour of the 3D printed nasal cavity.

4. The nasal simulator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second probe access bore formed through the 3D printed nasal cavity to a second location; and
a tissue insert having an outer diameter sized to be slidingly received in and to pneumatically seal the second probe access bore, and the tissue insert having a distal end cavity that receives a tissue insert to form a distal contour that aligns with the second internal contour of the 3D printed nasal cavity.

5. The nasal simulator of claim 4 , wherein the tissue insert comprises a gel medium and a nasal tissue sample.

Assignees

• US Govt as represented by Secretary of Air Force
• Us Air Force

Inventors

• Dixon Angela R
• Hussain Saber M

Classifications

• G09B23/306 Primary

  comprising real biological tissue · CPC title

• B01L9/52

  Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips · CPC title

• G01N33/5005

  involving human or animal cells (immunoassay G01N33/56966; immunoassays of protozoa G01N33/56905; protozoa in screening assays C12Q1/025) · CPC title

• G01P5/001

  Full-field flow measurement, e.g. determining flow velocity and direction in a whole region at the same time, flow visualisation · CPC title

• G01P5/02

  by measuring forces exerted by the fluid on solid bodies, e.g. anemometer · CPC title