Systems and methods for nasal lavage
Inventors
Hoke, Martin R. • Schilling, Robert D. • Austin, Gary R. • Carlson, Jess Paul
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7981077-B2
Publication Date
2011-07-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A nasal lavage device includes a source of saline solution, an effluent receptacle, and a nasal interface for engaging the nostrils of a user of the device. A fluid passageway is disposed to communicate the source of saline solution with the effluent receptacle through the nasal cavity of the user. The nasal interface and fluid passageways are included within a removable cartridge for communicating the saline relative to the nostrils in a first direction. A second cartridge can be inserted to communicate the flow in a second direction. The interface includes nasal pillows that form a seal against the user's nostrils.
Core Innovation
The invention is a nasal lavage device that includes a hand-held controller, a gravity-fed source of saline solution received on the controller, and an effluent receptacle received on the controller. The source is above a nasal interface, and the receptacle is positioned below the nasal interface, providing gravity-fed flow of the saline solution through the nasal interface, through a nasal cavity of an associated user, and into the effluent receptacle via a fluid passageway.
A selectively separable cartridge is used, where the cartridge comprises the nasal interface and at least a portion of the fluid passageway. The nasal interface, the fluid passageway, and the cartridge are all included in the controller, and removal of the cartridge from the controller disconnects the nasal interface from the source so the nasal interface is selectively connected for lavage.
The device further supports delivery directionality using cartridge-based flow pathways, including flow through the nasal interface in a first direction and an opposite direction using a second cartridge or a reversed nasal interface arrangement. The nasal interface is configured to engage nostrils of the associated user, and may include elastomeric nasal pillows and a turntable interface enabling selective reversal of fluid flow relative to the nostrils. The controller also includes a pump in at least one configuration to urge saline solution through the fluid passageway and into the nasal cavity.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00011. Each independent claim centers on a handheld nasal lavage device that combines gravity-fed saline delivery with a selectively separable cartridge that disconnects the nasal interface from the saline source when removed, while also positioning the saline source above the nasal interface and the effluent receptacle below it.
Hand-held controller with gravity-fed saline and positioned effluent receptacle
A hand-held controller with a gravity-fed source of saline solution received on the controller, and an effluent receptacle received on the controller, wherein the source is above the nasal interface and provides gravity-fed flow through the nasal interface, and the receptacle is positioned below the interface.
Nasal interface with nasal cavity fluid passageway
A fluid passageway disposed to communicate the source of saline solution with the effluent receptacle from the nasal interface through a nasal cavity of the associated user.
Selectively separable cartridge that disconnects the nasal interface from the source
A cartridge selectively separable from the controller, wherein the cartridge comprises the nasal interface and at least a portion of the fluid passageway, wherein the nasal interface, the fluid passageway and the cartridge are all included in the controller, and wherein removal of the cartridge from the controller disconnects the nasal interface from the source.
Hand-held controller having a pump with gravity-fed saline
A hand-held controller having a pump, a gravity-fed source of saline solution received on the controller, and an effluent receptacle received on the controller, wherein the source is above the nasal interface and provides gravity-fed flow of the saline solution through the nasal interface, and the receptacle is positioned below the interface.
Pump-urged saline communication through the nasal cavity
The fluid passageway is disposed to communicate the source of saline solution with the effluent receptacle through a nasal cavity of the associated user.
Cartridge includes nasal interface and portion of fluid passageway with disconnection
A cartridge selectively separable from the controller wherein the cartridge comprises the nasal interface and at least a portion of the fluid passageway, wherein the nasal interface, the fluid passageway and the cartridge are all included in the controller for communicating the saline with the nostrils and wherein removal of the cartridge from the controller disconnects the nasal interface from the source.
Across independent claim clm-00001 and clm-00011, the inventive subject matter combines a handheld controller with gravity-fed saline delivered from a source above a nasal interface into a nasal cavity, with an effluent receptacle positioned below the interface. Both independent claims require a selectively separable cartridge that includes the nasal interface and a portion of the fluid passageway and disconnects the nasal interface from the saline source when removed.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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