EP0959827A1

EP0959827A1 - Device for facilitating breathing

Info

Publication number: EP0959827A1
Application number: EP96906134A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Owe Edmark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-03
Filing date: 1996-03-01
Publication date: 1999-12-01
Also published as: SE508737C2; SE9500785D0; AU4960596A; SE9500785L; WO1996029034A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device intended to be inserted into the nose for facilitating breathing through the nose, which device comprises a separate body (1) intended to be inserted into one nostril, having a generally cylindrical outer surface (2) and through which a continuous breathing channel is extended which opens into an inner (1a) and an outer end (1b) respectively of the body, whereby the body (1), adjacent the outer end thereof, is provided with a gripping member (4) and furthermore is provided with a number of apertures (5) distributed over the body and communicating with the breathing channel.

Description

DEVICE FOR FACILITATING BREATHING.

The present invention relates to a device for facilitating breathing through the nose, of the kind indicated in the preamble of the enclosed patent claim 1.

Today it is a well-known fact that persons suffering from diffe¬ rent forms of difficulties preventing or at least obstructing breathing through the nose, experience complications such as dryness of the mouth, sleep disturbances and so forth. On the one hand this concerns for instance persons suffering from some kind of allergy or facial paralysis, and on the other hand also concerns persons snoaring.

Nowadays it has been clearly established that the sleep dis¬ turbances often being the result of obstructed or blocked breathing through the nose, may lead to physical inconvenience as well as, in time, also mental disorder, and that people snoaring, in addition to disturbing those around them, in more serious cases may suffer from longer breathing discontinuities which may be very injurious to the health.

Lately, a large number of solutions have been developed for remedying the above discussed problems, but in spite thereof no aid has yet been presented which in addition to having an appropriate function also does not present any inconvenience or problem to the user, i.e. it can be used during a longer period of time and/or regularly without causing irritation. In this context irritation is intended to refer to quite physical compli- cations in the nose as well as psychological problems when the aid is to be used in other situations than during sleep.

The previously developed aid of this kind which appears to have come to use on a larger scale is the device described in European patent No. 0 333 749. This aid consists of two thin plates or tabs interconnected by means of a resilient connecting member. When being inserted into the nose the device is gripped with the fingers and the connecting member is bent such that the tabs are brought towards each other. After insertion of the tabs into the respective nostril the device is released and the connecting member will bias the tabs outwardly against the nasal sidewalls for dilating the nostrils. Although this device serves its intended purpose well it appears that many users experience discomfort and irritation in the nose, especially due to the pressure which through the bias of the connecting member is applied to a relatively restricted area in the nose. It is obvious that such discomforts refrain many persons from the regular use which is desirable, for instance for persons snoaring.

Furthermore GB-A-1 244 146 and GB-A-2 126 101 disclose devices of this kind, for facilitating breathing, which consist of members formed as frames or cages and intended to be inserted into the nose, whereby these members are formed by several inter¬ connected rings and helical coils respectively and consist of rigid plastic or metal. It is obvious that breathing aids designed in this manner will cause irritation in the nose, partly due to the rigidity of the material and partly through the design consisting of several thin rings and helical coils respectively, and accordingly these devices do not appear to have come to use on any larger scale.

Common to all of the above mentioned, prior art devices of this kind is also that they require a simultaneous insertion in both nostrils, in other words they may not be used for facilitating breathing through only one nostril, which may be sufficient for instance for persons suffering from partial facial paralysis. Thus, in view of the fact that all of the prior art devices comprise two permanently interconnected members for insertion into the respective nostril the connection therebetween will also always be visible, which is regarded as a discomfort especially by persons, for instance asthma-sufferers, being required to wear the device also during daytime. The object of the present invention is therefore to develop a breathing aid of this kind which in an optimum manner combines an appropriate function with an elimination or at least reduction to a minimum of the discomforts, physical and/or psychological, which may have been experienced when using such aids.

According to the invention the above stated object is achieved by means of a device comprising the characterizing features indicated in claim 1.

Preferred further developments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the invention are described below, in connection with the enclosed drawings, on which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the outer end of a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the inner end of the first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2, as seen from the outer end thereof,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the inven¬ tion,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 1 but illustrating the second embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 4, illustra¬ ting a third embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 1-3 illustrate a basic design of the breathing aid accor¬ ding to the invention, which comprises a separate body 1 intended to be inserted into a nostril. Through this separate design the user is given the option to use one such device in only one nostril or in each nostril, all in accordance with his or her specific needs. Apart from this flexibility in use, which has not been able to obtain with prior art devices of this kind, the further advantage is also obtained that the device once it is in position will be practically invisible to others around the user, which may be of great emotional importance to the user.

The body 1 has an outer surface 2 of a general cylindrical shape, in this embodiment uninterrupted, and, referring to the direction of insertion into the nose, inner la and outer lb ends. It is especially clear from Fig. 3 that in the illustrated embodiment the body 1 has a circular outer outline in cross-section, but alternative cross-sectional shapes, such as an oval or elliptical shape, are also possible, and are covered by the invention. Through the body 1, in its longitudinal direction, is extended a continuous breathing channel 3 opening in the inner la and outer lb ends respectively of the body and preferably but not necessarily having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of the outer outline of the body 1.

Adjacent the outer end lb of the body 1 a gripping member 4 is provided. When inserting and removing the device the gripping member 4 is intended to be gripped for instance with the thumb and the first finger of one hand. In the illustrated embodiment the gripping member 4 is formed by an extension of the body 1 past the outer end lb thereof, whereby the extension is extended over a restricted portion of the circumference of the body and should not exceed half the circumference thereof. Although the gripping member, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed by a straight extension of the body over a portion of the circumference thereof, it should be mentioned that in a preferable, alternative embodiment this gripping member may be inclined at a slight angle outwardly, for instance 5-30°, in relation to the periphery of the body. Furthermore the length of the gripping member 4, in the longitu¬ dinal direction of the body 1, and the width thereof, in the circumferential direction of the body, shall be dimensioned such that the fingers will securely grip the same also when the device is inserted into the nose and shall be removed. Considering this fact the dimensions should however be kept as small as possible so that the gripping member is to as little inconvenience as possible, both quite physically and in an esthetical regard. For achieving a secure gripping possibility also by small dimensions of the gripping member 4 this may in a specifically preferred way be provided with a bead or rib 4b (illustrated in Fig. 4) on the inner surface thereof.

In Figs. 1 and 3 a dash-dotted line indicates an alternative embodiment of the gripping member 4, by which this comprises a first short portion which like in the basic variant is extended in the circumferential direction of the body, and a second portion 4a which is inclined outwardly at an angle in relation thereto and which is directed substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the body. Thereby the angled, second portion 4a offers a grip for the fingers when removing the device from the nose, and at the same time the gripping member is extended to a minimum outside the nose. With the angled, second portion 4a resting against the wing of the nose when the body is in its inserted position, a stop is also obtained for the body in its correctly inserted position. Such a stop may facilitate a correct insertion. Although, in practice, there is no risk that the device so to say wanders upwardly in the nose certain persons may feel that such a risk exists, and in such a case a stop portion 4a of this kind may also have the effect of eliminating such feelings of discomfort.

It is indicated in the figures that at least the edges 6, 7 at the inner la and outer lb ends respectively of the body 1 and preferably also the side edges 8 of the gripping member 4 are rounded or chamfered in order not to injure or irritate nasal tissue. In Figs. 4 and 5 an alternative embodiment is illustrated which corresponds to the first described basic embodiment, except that the outer surface 2 of the body 1 is not continuous but provided with a number of apertures 5 distributed around the circumference thereof and communicating with the breathing channel 3. The number of apertures may vary but in most cases it has proved sufficient to provide two, alternatively four apertures in each body. Such an embodiment may be preferred for persons having sensititive mucous membrance or for persons using the device during a large portion of the day. In this embodiment the edges of the apertures 5 should be chamfered or rounded at the outer surface 2.

As further indicated in Fig. 4 the body 1 may also, at its inner end la, and more specifically in an area extending 1-2 mm inward¬ ly from this inner end la, be produced having a portion lc with reduced wall thickness, and the purpose thereof is to make the body more yielding in this area. The portion lc is formed by reducing the material at its inner surface, around the inner circumference.

The device according to the invention for facilitating breathing may be provided in different sizes - having different length and diameter - in order to fit different anatomies. For example it may be mentioned that in a standard embodiment for an adult person the body 1, exclusive of the gripping member 4, may have a length of approximately 13 mm and an outer diameter of approxi¬ mately 10 mm. Fig. 6 illustrates a possible alternative embodi¬ ment providing a certain flexibility as regards the cross- sectional dimension and thereby providing a possibility for reducing the number of sizes that will have to be provided. In this embodiment the body 1 is provided with a longitudinal slit 9 which is either formed so deep that it opens into the breathing channel 3 or more shallow so that a thin flexible wall remains between the slit and the breathing channel. The body 1 is manufactured from a material, preferably a plastic, which is sufficiently rigid to ensure that the body substantially maintains its cross-sectional shape when inserted into the nose, but is sufficiently soft so as not to injure tissue in the nose. The material shall furthermore be non-toxic, boilable and also dense as determined by x-rays.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it does also cover modifications and variations thereof which are obvious to a man skilled in the art. Thus, the scope of the invention shall only be restricted by the enclosed patent claims.

Claims

1. Device intended to be inserted into the nose for facili¬ tating breathing through the nose, comprising a separate body (1) for insertion into one nostril, said body having a generally cylinder-shaped outer surface (2) and a continuous breathing channel (3) extending therethrough and opening into an inner (la) and an outer end (lb) respectively of the body, characterized in that adjacent the outer end (lb) thereof the body (1) is provided with a gripping member (4) and in that the body (1) is provided with a number of apertures (5) distributed over the body and communicating with the breathing channel (3).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping member (4) is formed by an extension of the outer end

(lb) of the body (1) over a restricted portion of the circum¬ ference of the body.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at its inner surface the gripping member (4) is provided with a bead or rib (4b).

4. Device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the gripping member (4; 4a) is angled slightly outwardly from the body (1), preferably at an angle of between 5 and 30°, or is alternatively extended substantially at a right angle from the body (1).

5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, charac- terized in that at its inner end (la) the body (1) is provided with a portion (lc) having a reduced wall thickness, in the shape of a reduction of the material at its inner surface.

6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, charac- terized in that in cross-section the body (1) has a circular ring-shape or alternatively an oval or elliptical shape.

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that at the inner end (la) thereof and at the outer end (lb) thereof the body (1) is provided with a chamfered or rounded terminal edge (6 and 7 respectively) and in that preferably also the gripping member (4) is provided with a chamfered or rounded side edge (8).

8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that the body (1) is manufactured from a material, preferably a plastic material, which is sufficiently rigid for the body to substantially maintain its cross-sectional shape when inserted into the nose, but is sufficiently soft so as not to injure tissue in the nose, which is non-toxic and boilable and also dense as determined by x-rays.

9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that the body (1) is provided with a longitudinal slit (9) extending along the full length of the body.