Patient activated mouth moisturizer

• US 6,536,423 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick J. Conway
• Original Assignee: Patrick J. Conway
• Inventors: Conway, Patrick J
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOKABI, AZADEH
• Application Number:
  US09/863,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.15, 128/200.21, 128/200.23, 128/204.15, 128/200.16, 239/338
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/07 having air pumping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters

Abstract

A patient recovering from major surgery often suffers from cracked lips and parched palate. The patient usually frequently contacts the nursing staff and requests that they provide the patient with cool water and/or cracked ice. The amount of water and/or cracked ice which the patient can have has to be very limited in order to prevent debilitating vomiting by the patient. The patient'"'"'s discomfort and suffering is greatly reduced by the mouth moisturizer which via an atomizer supplies a controlled amount of water mist to the lips and palate of the patient. Also, the nurses have more time to devote to their other duties.

Claims

1. A person-operated mouth moisturizer system comprising:

(a) means for atomizing an aqueous liquid with a gas to form an aqueous liquid mist that is formed and supplied in a controlled, intermittent manner to lips and/or mouth of the person, a portion of said atomizing means being adapted to fit in the mouth of the person;

(b) means for providing the aqueous liquid and the gas to the atomizer means; and

(c) triggering device means for the person to control the frequency and amount of and to cause the delivery of aqueous liquid mist supplied, within time strictures of the controlled, intermittent manner of the means (a) for atomizing the aqueous liquid with the gas, to the lips and/or the mouth of the person.

2. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 1, wherein the means (a) for atomizing the aqueous liquid with the gas to form the mist that is supplied in a controlled, intermittent manner includes electronic means to achieve the controlled, intermittent manner of supplying the mist.

3. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 2, wherein the means (b) includes an electrical gas compressor and a tube for transportation of pressurized gas from the gas compressor to the atomizer means.

4. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 3, herein the means (b) further includes a tube for transportation of pressurized aqueous liquid from a source of pressurized aqueous liquid to the atomizer means.

5. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 3, herein the means (b) further includes an electrical pump for pressurizing the aqueous liquid, and a tube for transportation of the pressurized aqueous liquid from the pump to the atomizer means.

6. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 5, wherein the electronic means to achieve the controlled, intermittent manner of supplying the mist is means to control the frequency and duration of operation of the gas compressor and the aqueous liquid pump.

7. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 6, wherein the means to control the frequency and duration of the gas compressor and the aqueous liquid pump is an electrical timer.

8. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 7, wherein the means (c) for the person to control the frequency and amount of the aqueous liquid mist is electronic means.

9. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 8, wherein the electronic means (c) is a hand-held push button momentary switch.

10. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 2, wherein the means (c) for the person to control the frequency and amount of the aqueous liquid mist is electronic means.

11. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 10, wherein the electronic means (c) is a hand-held push button momentary switch.

12. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 2, wherein the aqueous liquid is water.

13. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 12, wherein the aqueous liquid is distilled or sterilized water.

14. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 2, wherein the gas is air.

15. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 9, that also includes a container of aqueous liquid in a unit that is adapted to be mounted on the frame of the patient'"'"'s bed, and a tube for transporting the aqueous liquid from the container to the aqueous liquid pump.

16. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 2, wherein the atomizer means (a) comprises an elongated atomizer unit that has a fin that is situated perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, mist providing end of said elongated atomizer unit is capable of being positioned in the patient'"'"'s mouth.

17. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 2, wherein the atomizer means (a) comprises a base that has a curved groove that fits over the lower gum or at least some of the lower teeth of the patient, and an elongated atomizer unit is mounted on said base so that mist providing portion of said elongated aerator unit is capable of being positioned in the patient'"'"'s mouth.

18. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 2, wherein the atomizer means (a) comprises an atomizer unit having an elongated central portion and two diametrically opposed arm portions, the atomizer unit being capable of providing mist out of at least one aperture in each of the two arms of and/or at least one aperture in the end of the elongated central portion that extends into the patient'"'"'s mouth.

19. The mouth moisturizer of claim 18, wherein there is an extension on the end of each arm, and elastic band means attached to the unattached end of the arm extensions capable of holding the atomizer unit in the mouth of the patient.

20. A person-operated mouth moisturizer system comprising:

(a) means for atomizing an aqueous liquid with a gas to form an aqueous liquid mist which is supplied in a controlled manner to lips and/or the mouth of a person, a portion of said atomizing means being adapted to fit in the mouth of the person, said atomizer means comprising an atomizer unit having an elongated central portion and two diametrically opposed arm portions, the atomizer unit being capable of providing mist out of at least one aperture in each of the two arms of and/or at least one aperture in the end of the elongated central portion that extends into the patient'"'"'s mouth; and

(b) means for providing the aqueous liquid and the gas to the atomizer means.

21. The mouth moisturizer of claim 20, wherein there is an extension on the end of each arm, and elastic band means attached to the unattached end of the arm extensions capable of holding the atomizer unit in the mouth of the patient.

22. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 20, wherein the aqueous liquid is water.

23. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 22, wherein the aqueous liquid is distilled or sterilized water.

24. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 20, wherein the gas is air.

25. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 20, wherein the means (b) includes a gas compressor and a tube for transportation of pressurized gas from the gas compressor to the atomizer means.

26. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 25, wherein the means (b) further includes a tube for transportation of pressurized aqueous liquid from a source of pressurized aqueous liquid to the atomizer means.

27. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 25, wherein the means (b) further includes a pump for pressurizing the aqueous liquid, and a tube for transportation of the pressurized aqueous liquid from the pump to the atomizer means.

28. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 27, wherein means (b) includes means to control the frequency of and duration of operation of the gas compressor and the aqueous liquid pump.

29. The mouth moisturizer system of claim 28, that also includes a container of aqueous liquid in a unit that is adapted to be mounted on the frame of the patient'"'"'s bed, and a tube for transporting the aqueous liquid from the container to the aqueous liquid pump.

31. The process of claim 29, wherein the person is recovering from major surgery, the aqueous liquid is water and the gas is air.

33. The process of claim 29, wherein the mist is directed at the lips and/or into mouth of the person.

30. A process of moisturizing lips and/or mouth of a person using a mouth moisturizer system operated by the person, comprising:

(i) forming a mist in a controlled, intermittent manner by aerating an aqueous liquid with a gas; and

(ii) supplying the mist in an electronically-controlled, intermittent manner to the lips and/or mouth of the person with the person electronically controlling the frequency and amount, within time strictures of the electronically-controlled, intermittent manner of supplying the mist, of the mist to the lips and/or the mouth of the person.

32. The process of claim 30, wherein the water is distilled or sterilized water.