Nasal catheter

• US 6,607,546 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roger E. Murken
• Original Assignee: Roger E. Murken
• Inventors: Murken, Roger E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muromoto, Jr., Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US09/653,933
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 606/199, 606/196, 606/198, 128/207.18, 128/DIG.26, 604/94.01, 604/174
• US Class Current: 606/196
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12004 for haemostasis, for prevention of bleeding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence

Abstract

The nasal catheter system will provide an improvement over existing devices that do not fill the recesses of the nose, do cause significant pain and still do not stop nosebleeds very effectively. The objectives are achieved through the design of a version of the device that has two inflatable bags, which in the preferred embodiment are not elastic balloons. The anterior bag is much larger in volume than the anterior nasal cavity. The design of the bag is generally cylindrical but has deep ridges projecting outward producing a “pleated” design with ribs running along and parallel to the axis of the catheter. Alternate designs include a circumferential ring or capillary tube fingers projecting outward. Any surface projection that serves to create additional surface area or any projection that winds and flows into the meatus recesses of the nasal cavity with greater ease will accomplish some aspect of the desired objective.

Claims

1. A nasal catheter system comprising:

a) a catheter having a first anterior fluid channel, a first anterior output opening, a first anterior input port, and a first external section; and

b) a first anterior bag fixedly attached to the catheter, the first anterior bag having a first anterior chamber, a first outer surface, a first front end, a first middle portion and a first rear end, and a plurality of first anterior elongated ridges attached to the first outer surface and spanning over about the first middle portion, the plurality of first anterior elongated ridges having a plurality of first anterior ridge cavities, wherein the first anterior ridge cavities are in communication with the first anterior chamber;

whereby the nasal catheter system may be inserted into a first anterior nasal cavity and when the catheter is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the first anterior fluid channel and into the first anterior bag, thereby expanding the first anterior bag and producing pressure upon the first anterior nasal cavity.

2. The nasal catheter system of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises of:

a) a posterior fluid channel having a posterior section, a first posterior input port and a posterior output opening; and

b) a posterior bag attached to the catheter, the posterior bag having a posterior chamber, whereby the nasal catheter system may be inserted into the first anterior nasal cavity and a posterior nasal cavity so that when the posterior fluid channel is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the posterior fluid channel and into the posterior bag, thereby expanding the posterior bag and producing pressure upon the posterior nasal cavity.

3. The nasal catheter system of claim 2, wherein the catheter further comprises:

b) a second anterior fluid channel having a second anterior output opening, a second anterior input port, and a second external section; and

c) a second anterior bag attached to the second anterior fluid channel, the second anterior bag having a second anterior chamber, a second outer surface, a second front end, a second middle portion and a second rear end, and a plurality of second anterior elongated ridges attached to the second outer surface and spanning over about the second middle portion, the plurality of second anterior elongated ridges having a plurality of second anterior ridge cavities, wherein the second anterior ridge cavities are in communication with the second anterior chamber;

whereby the nasal catheter system may be additionally inserted into a second anterior nasal cavity and when the catheter is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the second anterior fluid channel and into the second anterior bag, thereby expanding the second anterior bag and producing pressure upon the second anterior nasal cavity.

4. The nasal catheter system of claim 3 wherein the catheter further comprises of an elongated section removably attached to the first external section or the second external section of the catheter;

wherein the elongated section may be inserted through the second anterior nasal cavity, the posterior nasal cavity and into the throat whereby a secondary member can be inserted through the first anterior nasal cavity, the posterior nasal cavity and into the throat, wherein the secondary member can be attached to the elongated section of the catheter, so that the secondary member is pulled back through the first anterior nasal cavity, pulling the catheter, the posterior bag, the first anterior bag and the second anterior bag into the posterior nasal cavity, first anterior nasal cavity and second anterior nasal cavity.

5. The nasal catheter system of claim 4, wherein the posterior fluid channel has a second posterior input port.

6. The nasal catheter system of claim 5, wherein the first anterior bag, second anterior bag and posterior bag are made of silicone.

7. The nasal catheter system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of first anterior elongated ridges span from about the first front end to about the first rear end including the first middle portion and the plurality of second anterior elongated ridge span from about the second front end to about the second rear end including the second middle portion.

8. A nasal catheter system comprising:

a) a catheter having a first anterior fluid channel, a first anterior output opening, an first anterior input port, and a first external section; and

b) a first anterior bag fixedly attached to the catheter, the first anterior bag having a first anterior chamber, a first long axis, a first outer surface, a first front end, a first middle portion and a first rear end; and

a plurality of first anterior circumferencial ridges attached to the first outer surface and axially positioned in circumferencial rings about the first long axis and spanning over about the first middle portion, the plurality of first anterior circumferencial ridges having a plurality of first anterior circumferencial ridge cavities, wherein the first anterior circumferencial ridge cavities are in communication with the first anterior chamber;

whereby the nasal catheter system may be inserted into a first anterior nasal cavity and when the catheter is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the first anterior fluid channel and into the first anterior bag, thereby expanding the first anterior bag and producing pressure upon the first anterior nasal cavity.

9. The nasal catheter system of claim 8, wherein the catheter further comprises of:

a) a posterior fluid channel having a posterior section, a first posterior input port and a posterior output opening; and

b) a posterior bag attached to the catheter, the posterior bag having a posterior chamber, whereby the nasal catheter system may be inserted into a first anterior nasal cavity and posterior nasal cavity and when the posterior fluid channel is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the posterior fluid channel and into the posterior bag, thereby expanding the posterior bag and producing pressure upon the posterior nasal cavity.

10. The nasal catheter system of claim 9, wherein the catheter further comprises:

a) a second anterior fluid channel having a second anterior output opening, a second anterior input port, and a second external section; and

b) a second anterior bag attached to the second anterior fluid channel, the second anterior bag having a second anterior chamber, a second long axis, a second outer surface, a second front end, a second middle portion and a second rear end; and

a plurality of second anterior circumferencial ridges attached to the second outer surface and axially positioned in circumferencial rings about the second long axis and spanning over about the second middle portion, the plurality of second anterior circumferencial ridges having a plurality of second anterior circumferencial ridge cavities, wherein the second anterior circumferencial ridge cavities are in communication with the second anterior chamber;

whereby the nasal catheter system may be inserted into a second anterior nasal cavity and when the catheter is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the second anterior fluid channel and into the second anterior bag, thereby expanding the second anterior bag and producing pressure upon the second anterior nasal cavity.

11. The nasal catheter system of claim 10 wherein the catheter further comprises of:

a) an elongated section;

wherein the elongated section may be inserted through the second anterior nasal cavity, the posterior nasal cavity and into the throat whereby a secondary member can be inserted through the first anterior nasal cavity, the posterior nasal cavity and into the throat, wherein the secondary member can be attached to the elongated section of the catheter, so that the secondary member is pulled back through the first anterior nasal cavity, pulling the catheter, the posterior bag, the first anterior bag and the second anterior bag into the posterior nasal cavity, first anterior nasal cavity and second anterior nasal cavity.

12. The nasal catheter system of claim 11, wherein the posterior fluid channel has a second posterior input port.

13. The nasal catheter system of claim 12, wherein the first anterior bag, second anterior bag and posterior bag are made of silicone.

14. The nasal catheter system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of first anterior circumferencial ridges span from about the first front end to about the first rear end including the first middle portion and the plurality of second anterior circumferencial ridges span from about the second front end to about the second rear end including the second middle portion.

15. A nasal catheter system comprising:

a) a catheter having a first anterior fluid channel, a first anterior output opening, a first anterior input port, and a first external section; and

b) a first anterior bag fixedly attached to the first catheter, the first anterior bag having a first anterior chamber, a first outer surface, a first front end, a first middle portion and a first rear end;

and a plurality of first anterior capillary tubes having a first open end and a first closed end and attached to the first outer surface, taking the form of finger-like projections extending generally perpendicular from the first outer surface and spanning over about the first middle portion, the plurality of first anterior capillary tubes having a plurality of first anterior capillary tube cavities, wherein the first open end of the first anterior capillary tube cavities are in communication with the first anterior chamber;

whereby the nasal catheter system may be inserted into a first anterior nasal cavity and when the first catheter is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the first anterior fluid channel and into the first anterior bag, thereby expanding the first anterior bag and producing pressure upon the first anterior nasal cavity.

16. The nasal catheter system of claim 15, wherein the catheter further comprises of:

d) a posterior fluid channel having a posterior section, a first posterior input port and a posterior output opening; and

b) a posterior bag attached to the catheter, the posterior bag having a posterior chamber, whereby the nasal catheter system may be inserted into a nasal cavity and posterior nasal cavity and when the posterior fluid channel is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the posterior fluid channel and into the posterior bag, thereby expanding the posterior bag and producing pressure upon the posterior nasal cavity.

17. The nasal catheter system of claim 16, wherein the catheter further comprises:

a) a second anterior fluid channel having a second anterior output opening, a second anterior input port, and a second external section; and

b) a second anterior bag attached to the second anterior fluid channel, the second anterior bag having a second anterior chamber, a second outer surface, a second front end, a second middle portion and a second rear end, and a plurality of second anterior capillary tubes having an second open end and a second closed end and attached to the second outer surface, taking the form of finger-like projections extending generally perpendicular from the second outer surface and spanning over about the second middle portion, the plurality of second anterior capillary tubes having a plurality of second anterior capillary tube cavities, wherein the second open end of the second anterior capillary tube cavities are in communication with the second anterior chamber;

whereby the nasal catheter system may be inserted into a second anterior nasal cavity and when the catheter is filled with a fluid, the fluid flows through the second anterior fluid channel and into the second anterior bag, thereby expanding the second anterior bag and producing pressure upon the second anterior nasal cavity.

18. The nasal catheter system of claim 17 wherein the catheter further comprises of:

a) an elongated section;

wherein the elongated section may be inserted through the second anterior nasal cavity, the posterior nasal cavity and into the throat whereby a secondary member can be inserted through the first anterior nasal cavity, the posterior nasal cavity and into the throat, wherein the secondary member can be attached to the elongated section of the catheter, so that the secondary member is pulled back through the first anterior nasal cavity, pulling the catheter, the posterior bag, the first anterior bag and the second anterior bag into the posterior nasal cavity, first anterior nasal cavity and second anterior nasal cavity.

19. The nasal catheter system of claim 18, wherein the posterior fluid channel has a second posterior input port.

20. The nasal catheter system of claim 19, wherein the first anterior bag, second anterior bag and posterior bag are made of silicone.

21. The nasal catheter system of claim 20 wherein the plurality of first anterior capillary tubes span from about the first front end to about the first rear end including the first middle portion and the plurality of second anterior capillary tubes span from about the second front end to about the second rear end including the second middle portion.