Development of new technological solutions in Otorhinolaryngology: from respiratory monitoring to prevention of otological disorders.

The integration of engineering and medicine is driving significant advancements in healthcare, with innovations enhancing diagnosis and treatment guided by a patient centered care view. In otorhinolaryngology, where complex anatomy and diverse disorders pose challenges, technological progress in minimally invasive techniques and precision tools have improved patient outcomes. The present Ph.D. dissertation aims to present the results of developing novel technological solutions in the otorhinolaryngology field, addressing key challenges in monitoring respiratory and sleep-related breathing disorders and the prevention of otological disorders. The solutions presented in this thesis were validated in real-life settings or under controlled conditions that mimic real-world scenarios. The first chapter of the thesis introduces the three otorhinolaryngological diseases considered during the Ph.D. work, such as respiratory disease, sleep-related breathing disorders, and noise-induced hearing loss. Chapter 2 presents the design and development of a smart face mask for unobtrusive respiratory monitoring. The smart face mask device integrates two temperature sensors and is able to detect the respiratory rate of the subjects. The face mask was validated in static and dynamic conditions to replicate possible real-world scenarios. The results demonstrated high accuracy in estimating respiratory rate in static and dynamic conditions, both during quiet breathing and tachypnoea. The third chapter focuses on a non-invasive system for detecting obstructive sleep apnea by analyzing snoring sounds. The study introduces an algorithm that identifies apnea events caused by airway obstruction based on snoring sound patterns. The algorithm was tested on healthy subjects and patients, showing promising results as a potential screening tool. Chapter 4 introduces a novel protective earplug to mitigate the impact of high-frequency sounds from medical instruments while minimally affecting speaking frequencies. Among the professionals affected by this disease, the device was tested on 20 dental professionals during an 8-hour workday. The results showed positive feedback on the ability to communicate with patients and colleagues and on the noise attenuation. The last chapter summarizes the study conducted during the Ph.D. by reporting the main findings and future applications in everyday clinical practice.