GM Instruments announced today that it partnered with Sensonics to develop devices for the quantitative assessment of nasal and oral function.

The companies tout the first-of-its-kind partnership as a bringing together of sensory and engineering expertise for evaluating and treating nasal and oral diseases.

Additionally, the companies expect the partnership to establish the influences of pharmacologic interventions for the function of the nose and mouth, according to a news release. The companies will promote, co-distribute and co-develop equipment they consider critical for nasal and oral measurement.

One application pursued through the partnership will include providing accurate functional measures to assess the effects of CPAP and other treatments for obstructive sleep apnea on nasal function. The company also plans to assess the efficacy and side-effects of intranasally administered drugs.

“With this strong collaboration and the addition of Sensonics International’s smell and taste test products to our product portfolio, we have the opportunity to extend our market by creating an end-to-end solution in testing for nasal function and olfactory/gustatory dysfunction across many specialties. We are changing the standard of care to improve patient outcomes and manage their health with better testing and assessments,” GM Instruments VP of sales, North America Dr. Karen Parker Davidson said in the release.

“Also, the addition of olfactory products positions GM Instruments, Ltd. and Sensonics International as market leaders in nasal drug and vaccine clinical trials by adding the rhinometric nasal airway resistance measurements to olfactory testing requirements stated in the current guidelines of the FDA,” Davidson said. “Nasal airway resistance can have an impact on the bioavailability and delivery of nasal pharmaceuticals and vaccines.”