Apparatus and method for tissue rinse

• US 6,688,497 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ketan C. Mehta
• Original Assignee: Ketan C. Mehta
• Inventors: Mehta, Ketan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US10/367,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 222/207, 222/211-213, 222/215, 222/420-422, 141/22-24, 141/379-381
• US Class Current: 222/211
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/04 for the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears
• 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 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0262 manually, e.g. by squeezing a bulb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/323 the container comprising internally a dip tube through which the contents pass

Abstract

An apparatus and method for preparing a pH balanced saline solution and using the saline solution for rinsing tissue. The apparatus includes a container having flexible sidewalls and an opening for a removable cap. The cap has a rounded convex upper portion curving away from an opening at the cap'"'"'s uppermost surface and has a conduit in the cap'"'"'s interior, which conduit extends into the container when the apparatus is fully assembled or is connected to a tube that extends in the container. A saline solution is prepared by adding sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate to distilled or boiled water. The sidewalls of the container are compressed to urge the saline solution through the conduit, or tube and conduit, and through the opening in the cap. The solution can be used to rinse tissue, such as a mucus membrane, eye tissue, skin or tissue inside an oral cavity.

Claims

1. A method for rinsing eye tissue, the method comprising:

preparing an iodine-free saline solution having a concentration in the range of approximately 0.9% to 1% by dissolving a measured amount of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, the amount being approximately 39 parts sodium chloride and approximately 1 to 2 parts sodium bicarbonate, into a measured amount of water in a container, wherein the container has flexible sidewalls;

connecting a cap having;

a cylindrical lower portion,

a rounded convex upper portion curving away fron an axially aligned opening from which a liquid is dispensed located in the uppermost surface of the upper portion and curving downwardly to join the cylindrical lower portion,

an open lower end, and

a tubular conduit connected to the uppermost interior surface of the upper portion and having a hollow center axially aligned with the opening located in the upper portion and wherein the conduit extends into the container; and

compressing the sidewalls of the container to urge the saline solution out of the container and causing the saline solution to come in contact with the eye tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the saline solution has a pH in the range of approximately 7.3 to 7.7.

3. A method for rinsing tissue located inside an oral cavity, the method comprising:

preparing an iodine-free saline solution having a concentration in the range of approxixnately 0.9% to 1% by dissolving a measured amount of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, the amount being approximately 39 parts sodium chloride and approximately 1 to 2 parts sodium bicarbonate, into a measured amount of water in a container, wherein the container has flexible sidewalls;

connecting a cap having;

a cylindrical lower portion,

a rounded convex upper portion curving any from an axially aligned opening from winch a liquid is dispensed located in the uppennost surface of the upper portion and curving downwardly to join the cylindrical lower portion,

an open lower end, and

a tubular conduit connected to the uppermost interior surface of the upper portion and having a hollow center axially aligned with the opening located in the upper portion and wherein the conduit extends into the container; and

compressing the sidewalls of the container to urge the saline solution out of the container and causing the saline solution to come in contact wit the tissue located inside an oral cavity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the saline solution has a pH in the range of approximately 7.3 to 7.7.

5. A method for rinsing eye tissue, the method comprising:

preparing an iodine-free saline solution having a concentration in the range of approximately 0.9% to 1% by mixing a measured amount of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, the amount being approximately 39 parts sodium chloride and approximately 1 to 2 parts sodium bicarbonate, with a measured amount of distilled water and dissolving the sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate in the water; and

dispensing the saline solution to rinse the eye tissue.

6. The method of ciaim 5, wherein the saline solution has a pH in the range of approximately 7.3 to 7.7.

7. A method for rinsing tissue located inside an oral cavity, the method comprising:

preparing an iodine-free saline solution having a concentration in the range of approximately 0.9% to 1% by mixing a measured amount of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, the amount being approximately 39 parts sodium chloride and approximately 1 to 2 parts sodium bicarbonate, with a measured amount of distilled water and dissolving the sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate in the water; and

dispensing the saline solution to rinse the tissue located inside an oral cavity.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the saline solution has a pH in the range of approximately 7.3 to 7.7.