Powered irrigator for sinus cavity rinse with detachable reservoir

• US 8,808,245 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, Kurt M., Sokol, Gary L., Hair, Kenneth A., Luettgen, Harold A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desanto, Matthew F
• Application Number:
  US13/545,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/30, 604/35, 604 36- 43, 604/77, 604/79, 604/131, 604/151, 601/162, 222/383.1, 433/80, 433/89
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0245 Containers therefor, e.g. with heating means or with storage means for cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means

Abstract

A powered irrigator for use in rinsing nasal cavities including a main body having a handle and fluid reservoir detachably coupled to one another, an outlet nozzle extending from a top end of the handle, a pump mechanism operably coupled to a power source, and a switch operably coupled to the power source for turning the pump mechanism on and off, and when the switch turns on the pump mechanism, fluid flows from the fluid reservoir into a first fluid coupling between the reservoir and the pump mechanism and into a second fluid coupling between the pump mechanism to the outlet nozzle. The reservoir includes a generally centrically body defining a cavity and at least two tabs connected to the cylindrical body and extending inwards therefrom. The at least two tabs operably connect the reservoir to the handle portion to releasably secure the reservoir to the handle portion.

Claims

1. A sinus irrigator comprising:

a handle portion including

a rim including at least two slots defined within a portion of the rim;

an outlet nozzle extending from a top end of the handle;

a pump mechanism operably coupled to a power source and received within the handle portion; and

a reservoir operably connected to the handle portion, the reservoir including

a generally cylindrical body defining a cavity; and

at least two tabs operably connected to the cylindrical body and extending inwards from the cylindrical body towards the cavity;

wherein

the at least two tabs operably connect the reservoir to the handle portion to releasably secure the reservoir to the handle portion;

rotating the reservoir in a first direction relative to the rim engages the at least two tabs with the at least two slots; and

rotating the reservoir in a second direction relative to the rim disengages the at least two tabs from the at least two slots.

2. The sinus irrigator of claim 1, further comprising a fluid supply tube extending from the handle portion to the reservoir, wherein the fluid supply tube fluidly connects the reservoir with the outlet nozzle.

3. The sinus irrigator of claim 2, wherein the fluid supply tube extends through the rim to span between the handle portion and the reservoir.

4. The sinus irrigator of claim 1, further comprising a fluid supply tube operably connected to the handle portion and configured to fluidly connect the reservoir to the outlet nozzle.

5. The sinus irrigator of claim 4, wherein the handle portion further comprises a tubular fitting operably connected between the outlet nozzle and the fluid supply tube and configured to fluidly connect the outlet nozzle to the fluid supply tube.

6. The sinus irrigator of claim 1, wherein the at least two tabs extend inwards towards the cavity from an upper edge of the cylindrical body.

7. The sinus irrigator of claim 1, wherein when the handle portion is operably connected to the reservoir, an outer wall of the handle portion substantially adjacent the connection location is substantially flush with an outer wall of the reservoir portion substantially adjacent the connection location.

8. A powered sinus irrigator comprising:

a handle portion;

an outlet nozzle operably connected to the handle portion;

a pump received within the handle portion; and

a reservoir operably connected to the handle portion, the reservoir including

a generally cylindrical body defining a cavity; and

at least two tabs operably connected to the cylindrical body and extending inwards from the cylindrical body towards the cavity;

an intermediate member positioned between the handle portion and the reservoir, the intermediate member includes at least two slots for receiving the at least two tabs;

wherein

the pump pumps fluid from the reservoir to the outlet nozzle;

the at least two tabs are slidably received within a respective one of the at least two slots to operably connect the reservoir to the handle portion to releasably secure the reservoir to the handle portion;

rotating the reservoir in a first direction relative to the handle portion engages the at least two tabs with the at least two slots; and

rotating the reservoir in a second direction relative to the handle portion disengages the at least two tabs from the at least two slots.

9. The powered sinus irrigator of claim 8, further comprising a fluid supply tube extending from the handle portion to the reservoir, wherein the fluid supply tube fluidly connects the reservoir with the outlet nozzle.

10. The sinus irrigator of claim 9, wherein the fluid supply tube extends through the intermediate member to fluidly connect to the reservoir.

11. The powered sinus irrigator of claim 8, further comprising a fluid supply tube operably connected to the handle portion and configured to fluidly connect the reservoir to the outlet nozzle.

12. The powered sinus irrigator of claim 11, wherein the handle portion further comprises a tubular fitting operably connected between the outlet nozzle and the fluid supply tube and configured to fluidly connect the outlet nozzle to the fluid supply tube.

13. The powered sinus irrigator of claim 8, wherein the intermediate member extends from a bottom end of the handle portion.