Nasal devices including dilation and user communication and methods of using same
First Claim
1. A nasal device for communicating physiologically-related information to a user, said device comprising:
- a flexible strip of material having a first end region and a second end region and an intermediate region, said flexible strip adapted to be adhesively secured to nasal surfaces of a user, and a signal device which senses physiological information of the user while disposed upon the nasal surfaces and which communicates information to the user related to sensed physiological information via one or more of;
acoustic vibrations, tactile contacts and light emissions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and methods of providing dilation to external tissue and user communication via a nasal device are provided. One embodiment comprises a flexible strip of material adapted to be adhesively secured to nasal surfaces of a user, and a signal unit which receives physiological signals of the user while disposed upon the nasal surfaces and which communicates information to the user via one or more of: acoustic vibrations, tactile contact and light emission. One or more signal units may be provided. The signal units may detect physiological parameters of the user. The signal unit may wirelessly communicate information relating to use to an external receiver. The signal unit may receive commands via wireless communication to control a subsequent communication to the user via vibrations, contact, and/or light emission. Additional embodiments comprise a fluid-filled elongated vessel adapted to conform to nasal surfaces of the user in order to dilate nasal regions. The fluid-filled vessel may include pressurized air. Another embodiment comprises a reusable resilient member engaging an elongated member having a pair of pockets disposed at each end of the elongated
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A nasal device for communicating physiologically-related information to a user, said device comprising:
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a flexible strip of material having a first end region and a second end region and an intermediate region, said flexible strip adapted to be adhesively secured to nasal surfaces of a user, and a signal device which senses physiological information of the user while disposed upon the nasal surfaces and which communicates information to the user related to sensed physiological information via one or more of;
acoustic vibrations, tactile contacts and light emissions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A nasal device comprising:
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a flexible strip of material adapted to be placed on nasal surfaces of a user;
an adhesive layer coupled to the flexible strip of material for securing the flexible strip to the nasal surfaces;
a sensor means for sensing physiological information of the user at the nasal surfaces; and
a tactile vibration means for communicating tactile information to a user at the nasal surfaces, said tactile information being related to the physiological information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A nasal device comprising:
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a flexible strip of material adapted to be placed on nasal surfaces of a user;
an adhesive layer coupled to the flexible strip of material for securing the flexible strip to the nasal surfaces; and
a tactile vibration means for communicating tactile information to a user at the nasal surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of receiving information related to a user'"'"'s physiological condition, said method comprising the steps of:
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adhering a flexible strip of material at nasal surfaces of a user, said flexible strip of material being coupled to a sensor and a controllable tactile vibrator;
sensing a physiological parameter of the user at the nasal surface of the user; and
communicating tactile information to a user at the nasal surfaces via the tactile vibrator. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A nasal dilator device, comprising:
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an elongated body portion of a flexible material;
a layer of adhesive material disposed on a side of the body portion; and
means for producing a vibration which when coupled to a portion of tissue of a user is sensed by the user of the dilator device.
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27. A nasal dilator device, comprising:
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an elongated body portion of a flexible material;
a layer of adhesive material disposed on a side of the body portion; and
a vibrator coupled with the body portion which transmits a user-discernible force to a portion of tissue of a user.
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28. A dilator device having a reusable resilient member, comprising;
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an elongated member having a pair of pockets disposed at each end of the elongated member wherein each of said pair of pockets has an opening and each opening generally faces the other opening;
at least two areas of adhesive material disposed on a portion of each end of the elongated member; and
an elongated resilient element coupled to the elongated member and having a first end of the elongated resilient element disposed in a first of said pair of pockets and a second end of the elongated resilient element disposed in a second of said pair of pockets. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. An adjustable force dilator device, comprising:
an elongated strip of elastic material having an adhesive material disposed on at least one major surface of the elongated strip and wherein said elongated elastic strip has an intermediate portion adapted to be twisted about an longitudinal axis of the elongated strip so that the at least one major surface may be adhered to a first portion of tissue and manually twisted an integer number of full turns about the longitudinal axis and then the at least one major surface may be adhered to a second portion of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A nasal dilator device comprising:
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an elongated flexible body including a sealed chamber containing a fluid; and
an adhesive material disposed on the body for securing the body onto nasal surfaces of a user. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A nasal dilator device comprising a fluid-filled elongated vessel adapted to conform to nasal surfaces of the user and to be secured to the nasal surfaces via an adhesive element.
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37. An apparatus comprising:
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a nasal dilator having resilient properties and adapted to be adhesively bonded to nasal surfaces of a user; and
thread means integrated into the nasal dilator for selectively decreasing the adhesive bond between the nasal dilator and the nasal surfaces of the user and facilitating removal of the nasal dilator by the user.
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Specification