Abstract
The mucociliary system is one of the most important airway defense mechanisms, and knowledge of the mucociliary wave frequency (MWF) is important in the understanding of this system. Employing a laser light scattering technique and a thin, flexible fiberoptic probe, we developed and tested a simple and practical device for real-time in vivo measurements of mucociliary activity in the human nose. The laser instrument is user-friendly and does not produce any discomfort to the patient. The mean ± SE of MWF of 36 measurements in 16 normal subjects was 7.7 ± 0.5 Hz. The mean MWF of 17 measurements in 7 patients with allergic rhinitis was 5.5 ± 0.2 Hz (p < .005), and the mean MWF of 56 measurements in 17 patients with septum deviation was 5.8 ± 0.2 Hz (p < .001). The instrument presented in this study might provide a new and convenient method of studying the mucociliary activity in the respiratory tract.
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