Nasal air passageway opening device

• US 6,386,197 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brook D. Miller
• Original Assignee: Brook D. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Brooke Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MITAL B
• Application Number:
  US09/491,725
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/207.18, 128/848, 128/857, 128/858, 128/912, 128/DIG.26, 128/206.11, 606/199, 606/191, 606/196, 606/204.15, 606/204.45, 602/46, 602/47
• US Class Current: 128/206.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/08 Devices for correcting deformities of the nose ; Devices for enlarging the nostril, e.g. for breathing improvement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00

Abstract

A nasal passageway opening device including a body defining an airflow channel therethrough for insertion in the nasal passageway. The body may be conical, and may include a plurality of external protrusions to increase frictional resistance with the nasal passageway. The body may be solid, or hollow to incorporate a medicament therein, such as a mentholated gel. If the body is hollow, the interior surface may include a plurality of apertures for release of the medicament. The device is positioned within the nasal passage a sufficient distance so that it is hidden from view, thus illuminating the need for unsightly external nasal strips or topical applications of odiferous mentholated gels.

Claims

1. A nasal passageway opening device, comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the body from the first end to the second end, the body further having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an airflow channel extending through the body from the first end to the second end, the body being sized and shaped to fit within a nasal passageway of a wearer to ensure adequate airflow through the nasal passageway when the nasal passageway opening device is filled within the nasal passageway; and

a cavity formed within the body between the exterior surface and the interior surface, the cavity being disposed radially outwardly of the airflow channel and being separated from the airflow channel by the interior surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is conical.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cavity at least partially encircles the airflow channel.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the cavity extends from the first end to the second end.

5. The device of claim 4, further including a medicament positioned within the cavity, and a plurality of apertures formed in the interior surface, the plurality of apertures fluidly connecting the airflow channel to the cavity.

6. The device of claim 4, further including a plurality of protrusions on the exterior surface.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the protrusions have oval cross sections.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity encircles the airflow channel.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of apertures formed in the interior surface, the plurality of apertures fluidly connecting the airflow channel to the cavity.

10. The device of claim 9, further including a medicament positioned within the cavity.

11. The device of claim 10, further including a plurality of protrusions on the exterior surface.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the protrusions are oval-shaped.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity is conical.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the cavity is cylindrical.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is rigid.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the nasal passageway opening device is adapted to be fitted entirely within the nasal passageway.

17. A nasal passageway opening device, comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the body from the first end to the second end, the body further having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an airflow channel extending through the body from the first end to the second end, the body being sized and shaped to fit within a nasal passageway of a wearer, and the body further being adapted to ensure adequate airflow through the nasal passageway when the nasal passageway opening device is fitted within the nasal passageway; and

a cavity disposed between the interior surface and the exterior surface;

wherein the interior surface surrounds but does not obstruct the airflow channel, the exterior surface surrounds the interior surface and comprises a plurality of apertures, and the cavity is in fluid communication with the airflow channel.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein:

the device further comprises a plurality of bumps on the exterior surface of the body; and

a major axis of each of the plurality of bumps is oriented generally laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body to thereby increase frictional resistance of the nasal passageway opening device with an interior of the nasal passageway.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein a medicament is disposed within the cavity.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the body is conical.