Nasal stent

• US 5,601,594 A
• Filed: 09/14/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barry D. Best
• Original Assignee: Barry D. Best
• Inventors: Best, Barry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US08/528,018
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 606/196, 606/199, 128/325, 128/246, 128/239, 128/347
• US Class Current: 606/199
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/36 Surgical swabs, e.g. for absorbency or packing body cavities during surgery A61F13/38 takes precedence
• 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 stent for packing the nasal cavity following surgery, which includes a deformable cylinder with a breathing passageway therethrough, the cylinder having a diameter slightly larger than that of the nasal cavity of a user at an entranceway into the nasal cavities of the nose, wherein the cylinder has a smooth outer substantially non-absorbent surface that returns to its original shape following deformation.

Claims

1. A nasal stent for packing the nasal cavity following surgery, comprising:

a deformable cylinder having a breathing passageway therethrough capable of staying deformed sufficiently long to be inserted into the nasal cavity and having a memory which enables it to return and having a memory which enables it to return to its original shape, said cylinder being of a diameter slightly larger than that of the nasal cavity of a user at an entrance-way into said nasal cavity so that said stent will be held in place by the pressure of walls of said nasal cavity on said cylinder at the entrance-way,

wherein said cylinder has a smooth outer substantially non-absorbent surface.

2. A nasal stent according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder is a foamed plastic material.

3. A nasal stent according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder is a polysiloxane mixed with an expanding agent and cross-linking agents.

4. A nasal stent according to claim 3, wherein said material is mixed with additives which give it a slow recovery time of between 30 seconds and 2 minutes to recover 90% of its original diameter.

5. A nasal stent according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder is sufficiently rigid so that said passageway remains open even when said cylinder is tightly inserted into a nasal cavity.

6. A nasal stent according to claim 1, including an elongated flexible rod for insertion through said passageway to unclog same.

7. A nasal stent for packing the nasal cavity following surgery, comprising:

(a) a breathing tube; and

,

(b) a deformable cylinder enclosing said breathing tube, said cylinder capable of staying deformed sufficiently long to be inserted into the nasal cavity and having a memory which enables it to return and having a memory which enables it to return to its original shape;

said cylinder having said cylinder having a diameter slightly larger than that of the nasal cavity of a user at an entrance-way into said nasal cavity so that said stent will be held in place by the pressure of walls of said nasal cavity on said cylinder at an entrance-way thereto;

wherein said cylinder has a smooth outer substantially non-absorbent surface.

8. A nasal stent according to claim 7, wherein said material is a foamed plastic with a substantially non-porous, smooth outer surface.

9. A nasal stent according to claim 7, wherein said material is a polysiloxane mixed with expanding and cross-linking agents.

10. A nasal stent according to claim 9, wherein said material is mixed with additives which give it a slow recovery time of between 30 seconds and 2 minutes to recover 90% of its original diameter.

11. A nasal stent according to claim 7, wherein said tube is sufficiently rigid to remain open even when tightly inserted into a nasal cavity.

12. A nasal stent according to claim 7, including an elongated flexible rod for insertion through said breathing tube to unclog same.