System and method for detecting characteristics of eustachian tube

1. A method for detecting characteristics of a Eustachian tube of a patient, comprising:

(a) directing energy from an energy emitter into an oro-nasal cavity at a first end of the Eustachian tube;

(b) detecting an absence of the energy in the oro-nasal cavity with a sensor at a second end of the Eustachian tube;

(c) directing pressurized air from a pressurized air source into the oro-nasal cavity of the patient after directing the energy into the oro-nasal cavity;

(d) directing the energy from the energy emitter into the oro-nasal cavity while the patient refrains from breathing after directing the energy into the oro-nasal cavity, wherein the energy is different from the pressurized air;

(e) detecting an absence or presence of the energy in the oro-nasal cavity with the sensor; and

(f) determining at least one characteristic of the Eustachian tube based on an extent to which the energy is detected by the sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises positioning the sensor within or adjacent to the oro-nasal cavity.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sensor further comprises an earpiece, wherein the method further comprises placing at least a portion of the earpiece within an ear canal of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing a facemask over the patient's mouth and nose, and wherein communicating pressurized air into the oro-nasal cavity further comprises communicating pressurized air into at least one of the nose or the mouth of the patient via the facemask.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein directing the energy into the oro-nasal cavity further comprises directing the energy into the oro-nasal cavity via the facemask.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining at least one characteristic of the Eustachian tube further comprises determining whether the Eustachian tube is open or closed, wherein when the sensor detects the energy, the Eustachian tube is open, wherein when the sensor does not detect the energy, the Eustachian tube is closed.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising recording and/or storing an overall pressure level in the oro-nasal cavity when sensor detects the energy.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

(a) comparing the overall pressure level to a predetermined pressure level; and

(b) determining whether the Eustachian tube is normal, abnormal, or patulous based on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein when the sensor does not detect the energy, the method further comprises increasing the overall pressure level into the oro-nasal cavity until the sensor senses the energy.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting a treatment based on the at least one characteristic of the Eustachian tube.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the treatment comprises inserting a balloon dilation catheter into the Eustachian tube and dilating at least a portion of the Eustachian tube with a dilator of the balloon dilation catheter.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the steps are performed when the patient is swallowing or performing the Valsalva maneuver.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a pressure level within the oro-nasal cavity associated with respiration.

14. A method for determining an opening pressure of a Eustachian tube, comprising:

(a) directing pressurized air at a first air pressure from a pressurized air source into an oro-nasal cavity of the patient while the patient refrains from breathing, while simultaneously directing energy from an energy emitter into one end of the Eustachian tube while the patient refrains from breathing, wherein the energy is different from the pressurized air;

(b) detecting an absence of the energy with a sensor at another end of the Eustachian tube;

(c) directing pressurized air at a second air pressure from the pressurized air source into the oro-nasal cavity of the patient while the patient refrains from breathing, while simultaneously directing the energy from the energy emitter into the one end of the Eustachian tube while the patient refrains from breathing;

(d) detecting an absence or presence of the energy with the sensor at another end of the Eustachian tube; and

(e) determining whether the Eustachian tube is open or closed based on the extent to which the energy is detected by the sensor.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least some of the steps are performed when the patient is performing the Valsalva maneuver.

16. A method for detecting characteristics of a Eustachian tube of a patient, comprising:

(a) placing a facemask over the patient's mouth and nose, wherein the facemask is configured to prevent the ingress or egress of sound so as to prevent the interference of outside sound;

(b) directing pressurized air at a first air pressure from a pressurized air source into an oro-nasal cavity of the patient via the facemask;

(c) directing energy, different from the pressurized air, into the oro-nasal cavity via the facemask;

(d) detecting an absence of the energy in the oro-nasal cavity with a sensor;

(e) directing pressurized air at a second air pressure greater than the first air pressure from the pressurized air source into the oro-nasal cavity of the patient via the facemask;

(f) directing the energy, different from the pressurized air, into the oro-nasal cavity via the facemask;

(g) detecting an absence of the energy in the oro-nasal cavity with the sensor;

(h) repeating steps (e), (f), and (g) until a maximum allowable air pressure is reached, wherein the maximum allowable pressure is selected to prevent injury to the patient; and

(i) selecting a treatment based on the absence of the energy in the oro-nasal cavity.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein steps (e) and (f) are performed simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein selecting the treatment further comprises automatically suggesting a treatment based on the testing being stopped due to the maximum air pressure being reached.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing the energy further comprises directing the energy into the oro-nasal cavity at the first end of the Eustachian tube, and detecting the absence or presence of the energy further comprises detecting the absence or presence of the energy in the oro-nasal cavity with the sensor at the second end of the Eustachian tube.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressured air has a first air pressure, wherein the method further comprises directing pressurized air at a second air pressure greater than the first air pressure from the pressurized air source into the oro-nasal cavity of the patient.