Nasal splint

• US 5,350,396 A
• Filed: 04/15/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hood Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Hood Laboratories
• Inventors: Eliachar, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US08/048,842
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 606/196, 606/199, 606/204.45, 606/232, 606/201, 606/204, 128/858, 128/201.18, 602/5, 602/6, 602/17
• US Class Current: 606/199
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/08 Devices for correcting deformities of the nose ; Devices for enlarging the nostril, e.g. for breathing improvement

Abstract

A nasal splint is described to separate the mucoperiosteum within a nasal cavity. The splint includes an elongate base sized and shaped to separate the inferior conchae. A flexible wing extends away from the base to separate the walls of the middle conchae when the splint is in place within the nasal cavity. A hollow tube is also provided on the base for defining an air passage.

Claims

1. A nasal splint for protecting the mucoperiosteum covering the middle turbinates and the inferior turbinates in a human nasal cavity, which comprises;

(a) a base portion, which comprises a planar sheet with a first outer surface, an opposite, second outer surface, a first end, an opposite, second end and a longitudinal axis extending on a straight line from the first to the second end;

said sheet surfaces being oval shaped with the length being co-extensive with the longitudinal axis;

said base portion being of a size adapted to be received in a human nasal cavity with the first surface oriented towards the perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone;

(b) a hollow tube portion connected to the second surface of the base portion on a line parallel to said straight line, said hollow tube having a first open end, a second open end and a tubular body joined to the second surface of the base portion so as to form a closed portion with respect to said second surface extending between the open ends, said tubular body being of a size to bridge the space between said base portion and the inferior turbinate when said splint is received in said nasal cavity;

said tubular body defining an open lumen within the tube which lumen has a longitudinal axis on a line between the first and second open ends, said longitudinal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base portion described above; and

(c) a wing portion connected to the base portion and extending outwardly to a wing edge, from said base portion on an angle transverse to said straight line a predetermined distance, said wing being of a size and said angle being such as to position said wing edge in the space between the middle turbinate and the middle meatus when said splint is received in said nasal cavity.

2. The splint of claim 1 further comprising means on the base portion for securing said base within said nasal cavity.

3. The splint of claim 2 wherein said means includes a meshed area on said base.

4. The splint of claim 2 wherein said means includes a hole in said base portion and a grommet reinforcing said hole in the base portion, inserted into said hole.

5. The splint of claim 1 wherein said angle is acute and the wing edge is distal to the base portion first end and proximal to the base portion second end.

6. The splint of claim 1 wherein the wing portion connection is through the hollow tube body.