Economical Nasal Dilator and Method of Manufacture

Abstract

A nasal dilator comprises a laminate of vertically stacked layers each comprising at least one member or component. The layers form a unitary, or single body, truss. The truss features horizontal regions adapted to engage outer wall tissues of first and second nasal passages and to traverse the bridge of a nose therebetween. The dilator acts to stabilize and / or expand the nasal outer wall tissues and prevent said tissues from drawing inward during breathing. Dilator members, including components thereof, are configured to dimensional criteria suitable to engage and provide effective dilation to nasal passages, that create lateral and longitudinal registration of dilator members or components during manufacture, and that facilitate manufacture with minimal material waste. Methods of manufacture further include progressive steps that fabricate and assemble components into finished devices, including user assembly thereof. Embodiments further include a user-adjustable truss length, a truss which features a resilient member with divergent extensions and / or enlarged terminal ends, and a plurality of resilient members joined together at their end portions.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a Continuation of, and claims priority benefit to, U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 12 / 024,763 filed Feb. 1, 2008, incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 024,763 claims priority benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 888,543 filed Feb. 6, 2007, also incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to apparatus and methods of dilating external tissue. As disclosed and taught in the preferred embodiments, the tissue dilator devices and methods of fabrication of tissue dilators are particularly suitable for use as external nasal dilators for supporting, stabilizing, and dilating nasal tissues adjacent and overlying nasal airway passages, including the nasal valve and / or the vestibule areas thereof.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A portion of the human population has some malformation of the nasal pas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an external nasal dilator made of a laminate of layers that form a single body truss. The dilator acts to stabilize and expand nasal outer wall tissues and prevent them from drawing inward during breathing. The dilator is comfortable and easy to use, and it may be assembled and removed by the user with minimal stress to the tissue. The invention overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of prior dilator devices, being less expensive to manufacture, utilizing a greater percentage of material in the manufacturing process, being simple and easy to use, and being more affordable to the user.

Problems solved by technology

A portion of the human population has some malformation of the nasal passages which interferes with breathing, including deviated septa and swelling due to allergic reactions.

Blockage of the nasal passages as a result of malformation, symptoms of the common cold or seasonal allergies are particularly uncomfortable at night, and can lead to sleep disturbances, irregularities and general discomfort.

Said material, such as a spunlaced polyester nonwoven fabric, typically has properties which permit limited, primarily plastic and somewhat elastic deformation within the thickness thereof.

Firstly, tissues associated with first and second nasal passages have limited skin surface areas to which dilation may be applied.

Secondly, nasal dilators are, of necessity, releasably secured to said skin surfaces by use of pressure sensitive adhesives.

Thirdly, the functional element of external spring-based nasal dilator devices is a semi-rigid resilient member flexed across and extending on each side of the bridge of the nose adjacent the nasal passages.

Fourthly, said spring biasing force creates peel and tensile forces which work to delaminate the end regions of the dilator device from the skin surfaces so engaged.

Less than 15 grams of spring return may not provide suitable stabilization or dilation of the nasal passage tissue, while a restoring force of greater than 35 grams would likely be uncomfortable, and would, in addition, require adherence or engagement means that would be uncomfortable, if not damaging, to the tissue.

However, these devices can be costly to manufacture, either by wasting material in the course of manufacture and packaging, or by greater fabrication (i.e., converting) costs associated with techniques by which to reduce material waste.

Furthermore, these devices are not adapted for assembly of their constituent components by the user.

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