Nasal support device and method

• US 8,795,314 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Winease LLC
• Original Assignee: Winease LLC
• Inventors: Blach, Edward L., Chiapetta, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US14/012,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20130345742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 606/199, 606/201, 606/204.45, 128/200.24, 128/201.18
• US Class Current: 606/199
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/04 Devices for anaesthetising animals by gases or vapours; Inhaling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• 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 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

The present disclosure provides a device and method for facilitating air flow in the nasal passages of a mammal. The nasal support device (NSD) disclosed herein is useful for facilitating air flow during rest, physical exertion, respiratory ailment, etc. The NSD overlies the nose and provides support for maintaining the nasal passages open.

Claims

1. A nasal support device sized and configured for supporting tissues overlying first and second nasal passages, the support device comprising:

a nasal support structure having a midline, the nasal support structure being symmetric about the midline;

the nasal support structure defining first and second lateral boundaries positioned on opposite sides of the midline, each of the first and second lateral boundaries having a first rounded section, a second rounded section and a third rounded section;

the nasal support structure defining a first transverse dimension that extends between the first rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, a second transverse dimension that extends between the second rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, and a third transverse dimension that extends between the third rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, the second transverse dimension being positioned at an intermediate location between the first and third transverse dimensions;

the first transverse dimension being larger than the second transverse dimension, and the second transverse dimension being larger than the third transverse dimension;

the nasal support structure including a lift structure configured to reduce the draw of the supporting tissues inward toward the nasal passages during respiration, the lift structure including at least a first lift member having a length that extends across the midline, the first lift member having first and second lateral extents extending away from the midline; and

the nasal support structure including an adhesive surface having portions that extend beyond the lateral extents of the first lift member, the adhesive surface being configured for attaching the nasal support device to a nose, and the nasal support device being configured such that the first, second and third transverse dimensions overlie the nose when the nasal support device is attached to the nose, wherein the nasal support structure includes a fourth transverse dimension measured between the first and second lateral boundaries at a location between the first and second transverse dimensions and a fifth transverse dimension measured between the first and second lateral boundaries at a location between the second and third transverse dimensions, the fourth transverse dimension being smaller than the first and second transverse dimensions and the fifth transverse dimension being smaller than the second and third transverse dimensions.

2. The nasal support device of claim 1, wherein the midline extends in a caudal to rostral orientation.

3. The nasal support device of claim 2, wherein the nasal support device has a rostral end opposite a caudal end and the first and third transverse dimensions are located adjacent opposite ends of the nasal support device.

4. The nasal support device of claim 3, wherein the first dimension is located adjacent the caudal end of the nasal support device and the second dimension is located adjacent the rostral end of the nasal support device.

5. The nasal support device of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third rounded sections have convex curvatures.

6. The nasal support device of claim 5, wherein the first and second lateral boundaries define concave curvatures at the fourth and fifth transverse dimensions.

7. A nasal support device sized and configured for supporting tissues overlying first and second nasal passages, the support device comprising:

a nasal support structure having a midline, the nasal support structure being symmetric about the midline;

the nasal support structure defining first and second lateral boundaries positioned on opposite sides of the midline, each of the first and second lateral boundaries having a first rounded section, a second rounded section and a third rounded section;

the nasal support structure defining a first transverse dimension that extends between the first rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, a second transverse dimension that extends between the second rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, and a third transverse dimension that extends between the third rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, the second transverse dimension being positioned at an intermediate location between the first and third transverse dimensions;

the first transverse dimension being larger than the second transverse dimension, and the second transverse dimension being larger than the third transverse dimension;

the nasal support structure including a lift structure configured to reduce the draw of the supporting tissues inward toward the nasal passages during respiration, the lift structure including at least a first lift member having a length that extends across the midline, the first lift member having first and second lateral extents extending away from the midline; and

the nasal support structure including an adhesive surface having portions that extend beyond the lateral extents of the first lift member, the adhesive surface being configured for attaching the nasal support device to a nose, and the nasal support device being configured such that the first, second and third transverse dimensions overlie the nose when the nasal support device is attached to the nose, wherein the first, second and third rounded sections are defined by rounded projections, and wherein the nasal support is laterally narrowed between the first and second transverse dimensions and is also narrowed between the second and third transverse dimensions.

8. The nasal support device of claim 7, wherein a narrowest part transverse dimension is located between the second and third transverse dimensions.