IRRIGATION ASSEMBLY

• US 20140121592A1
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Preva, LLC
• Original Assignee: Preva, LLC
• Inventors: Layer, James, Rubin, Keith, Solovay, Ken, Desimone, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0233 characterised by liquid supply means, e.g. from pressurised reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0245 Containers therefor, e.g. with heating means or with storage means for cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0283 with at least two inner passageways, a first one for irrigating and a second for evacuating suction-irrigation systems A61M1/77; aspiration tips with fluid supply means A61M1/85; for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92

Abstract

An assembly structured for concurrent irrigation and aspiration of a nasal cavity including a housing having a supply container disposed therein for the removable retention of irrigating fluid. A nasal applicator comprises first and second passages respectfully structured to deliver irrigating fluid to the nasal cavity and concurrently remove waste fluid therefrom. An activating assembly includes a plunger biased into a continuous pressure applying, dispensing relation to the irrigating fluid and a valve assembly is selectively disposable into an open position facilitating fluid communication between the supply container and the applicator for the delivery of the irrigating fluid therethrough into the nasal cavity. The activating assembly is further structured to create a negative pressure within the chamber which communicates with the second passage of the applicator to facilitate delivery of the waste fluid therefrom along a path of travel to an interior of the chamber.

Claims

1. An assembly structured for concurrent irrigation and drainage of a nasal cavity, said assembly comprising:

a housing including an interior chamber structured to removably contain irrigating fluid therein,

an applicator connected to said housing in fluid communication with said chamber and the irrigating fluid;

at least a portion of said applicator dimensioned and configured to be inserted in the nasal cavity,

an actuating assembly structured and disposed to force the irrigating fluid from said chamber through said applicator, when said applicator is in the nasal cavity, and

said applicator and said activating assembly cooperatively structured to concurrently deliver the irrigating fluid to and drain waste fluid from the nasal cavity when said applicator is disposed in the nasal cavity.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a valve assembly disposable on the housing between an open position and a closed position;

said open position defining a path of fluid flow of the irrigating fluid from said chamber to said applicator and the nasal cavity.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 1 said activating assembly is cooperatively structured and disposed with said valve assembly to the force the irrigating fluid from said chamber through said applicator, when said valve is in said open position.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said applicator is dimensioned to be inserted into the nasal cavity through each nostril independent of the other.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said chamber comprises at least a first chamber section and a second chamber section;

said activating assembly comprising a drive member movably disposed within said chamber in fluid sealing relation between said first and second chamber sections;

said drive member disposed within said chamber in pressure applying, dispensing relation to the irrigating fluid.

6. An assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said movement of said drive member into driving relation to the irrigating fluid comprises an expansion of said second chamber section and a concurrent negative pressure being formed therein;

a path of fluid flow of the waste fluid within said housing disposed between said applicator and said second chamber section.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a drain structure formed in said housing and disposable in an emptying orientation, said emptying orientation defining fluid communication between said chamber and an exterior said housing and an emptying of waste fluid from said chamber through said drain structure.

8. An assembly structured for concurrent irrigation and aspiration of a nasal cavity, said assembly comprising:

a housing including a supply container disposed therein, said supply container including an interior chamber structured to removably retain irrigating fluid,

an applicator connected to said housing in fluid communication with said chamber and the irrigating fluid therein;

at least a portion of said applicator disposable within the nasal cavity,

a valve assembly disposable on the housing between an open position and a closed position;

said open position defining a path of fluid flow from said chamber to said applicator and the nasal cavity,

an activating assembly cooperatively structured and disposed with said valve assembly to force the irrigating fluid from said chamber through said applicator, when said valve is in said open position, and

said applicator and said activating assembly cooperatively structured to deliver irrigation fluid to the nasal cavity concurrently with draining waste fluid from the nasal cavity.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said applicator comprises a first passage and a second passage;

said first passage at least partially defining a flow path of the irrigating fluid from said chamber into the nasal cavity.

10. An assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said second passage at least partially defines a flow path of the drained waste fluid from the nasal cavity into said housing.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said activating assembly comprises a drive member movably disposed within said chamber in pressure applying relation to said irrigating fluid.

12. An assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said chamber comprises at least a first chamber section and a second chamber section;

said drive member movably disposed within said chamber in fluid sealing relation between said first and second chamber sections.

13. An assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said movement of said drive member into driving relation to the irrigating fluid comprises an expansion of said second chamber section and a concurrent negative pressure being formed therein.

14. An assembly as recited in claim 13 further comprising a path of fluid flow of the waste fluid within said housing between said applicator and said second chamber section.

15. An assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said applicator comprises a first passage and a second passage;

said first passage defining a flow path of irrigating fluid from said chamber into said nasal cavity;

said path of fluid flow extending between and in fluid communication with said second passage and said second chamber section.

16. An assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said path of fluid flow is at least partially disposed between an interior surface of said housing and an exterior surface of said supply container.

17. An assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said path of fluid flow is at least partially disposed between an interior surface of said housing and an exterior surface of said supply container.

18. An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said activator assembly comprises a drive member and a biasing structure, said drive member disposed within said chamber in biased, pressure-applying and dispensing relation to the irrigating fluid.

19. An assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein said drive member comprises a plunger movably disposed within said chamber in substantially fluid sealing relation with interior surfaces of said supply container;

said biasing structure and said plunger disposed and structured to force the irrigating fluid from said chamber to an through said applicator when said valve is in said open position.

20. An assembly as recited in claim 19 further comprising a path of fluid flow of the waste fluid disposed between an in communicating relation with said applicator and said chamber.

21. An assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein said path of fluid flow is disposed in communicating relation with a negative pressure created within said chamber upon movement of said plunger within said chamber and forced flow of the irrigating fluid therefrom to and through said applicator.

22. An assembly structured for concurrent irrigation and aspiration of a nasal cavity, said assembly comprising:

a housing including a supply container disposed therein,

said supply container including an interior chamber structured to removably retain irrigating fluid therein,

an applicator connected to said housing in selective fluid communication with said chamber,

said applicator at least partially disposable within the nasal cavity and structured for concurrent passage of irrigating fluid into and waste fluid out of the nasal cavity,

an activating assembly including a plunger removably disposed within said chamber in pressure applying, dispending relation to the irrigating fluid,

said activating assembly further comprising a valve assembly connected to said housing and selectively disposable between a closed position and an open position;

said open position defining said fluid communication of said applicator with said chamber and the irrigating fluid therein, and

said applicator and said activating assembly cooperatively structured to concurrently deliver the irrigating fluid and drain the waste fluid from the nasal cavity.

23. An assembly as recited in claim 22 further comprising a biasing member disposed in biasing relation to said plunger and structured to continuously force said plunger into said pressure applying, dispensing relation to the irrigating fluid within said chamber.

24. An assembly as recited in claim 22 wherein said pressure applying, dispensing relation of said plunger with said irrigating fluid is operative to define a forced flow of the irrigating fluid from said chamber through said applicator into the nasal cavity.

25. An assembly as recited in claim 22 wherein said applicator comprises a first passage and a second passage;

said first passage defining a flow path of irrigating fluid from said chamber into the nasal cavity;

said second passage defining a flow path of drained waste fluid from the nasal cavity into said housing.

26. An assembly as recited in claim 25 further comprising a path of travel of the waste fluid extending between said second passage and an interior of said chamber.

27. An assembly as recited in claim 26 wherein said plunger and said container are cooperatively structured to generate a negative pressure within said chamber downstream of said plunger upon movement thereof within said chamber and a forced flow of the irrigating fluid from said chamber.

28. An assembly as recited in claim 27 wherein said chamber and said negative pressure are disposed in communicating relation with said path of travel;

said negative pressure sufficient to facilitate flow of the waste fluid along a path of travel and into said chamber.

29. An assembly as recited in claim 28 further comprising a vent assembly disposed in fluid communicating relation between said chamber and said path of travel.

30. An assembly as recited in claim 22 further comprising a plurality of dispensing nozzles formed in an outer end of said applicator and disposed in fluid receiving relation to the irrigating fluid passing through said applicator from said chamber.

31. An assembly as recited in claim 30 wherein each of said plurality of dispensing nozzles are disposed at a predetermined angular orientation relative to a central longitudinal access of said applicator.

32. An assembly as recited in claim 31 wherein said predetermined angular orientation of each of said plurality of dispensing nozzles is such as to facilitate a substantially vortex flow pattern of the irrigating fluid issuing therefrom.

33. An assembly as recited in claim 31 wherein said predetermined angular orientation of said dispensing nozzles is generally between 5 degrees and 45 degrees outwardly from the central longitudinal access of said applicator.

34. An assembly as recited in claim 33 wherein said predetermined angular orientation is generally about 15 degrees.