Positive / negative pressure nasal irrigator

Abstract

This invention provides a positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator that significantly improves irrigation efficiency by creating an effective pressure difference through the cooperation of positive and negative pressure, allowing the irrigation solution to flow in through one nostril and smoothly out through the other nostril or oral cavity. [Solution] This invention is a nasal irrigator that uses both positive and negative pressure, and is equipped with a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump supplies pressurized air to the irrigation fluid tank via the pressurized port, creating positive pressure in the tank and sending the irrigation fluid through the first fluid passage to the discharge port 5. The irrigation fluid is introduced into the nasal cavity as a water stream or as fine droplets by a spray head. Meanwhile, the vacuum pump sucks and discharges air from the waste fluid tank via the suction port and the second air passage 14, and the irrigation fluid circulates in the nasal cavity before being collected in the waste fluid tank by negative pressure suction and gravity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of nasal washers, and particularly to a nasal washer that combines positive pressure and negative pressure.

Background Art

[0002] A nasal washer is a device for washing the nasal cavity. Usually, a certain pressure (suction, gravity, or mechanical pressure) is used to introduce the cleaning liquid into the nostrils, circulate it through the nasal vestibule (the part exposed outside the head), the paranasal sinuses, and the nasal passages to the nasopharyngeal side, and then discharge it from the other nostril or from the oral side. In the configuration of a conventional nasal washer, for example, the one disclosed in Chinese Publication No. CN106265042B, it is mainly composed of a pump and a battery, and a method is adopted in which a positive pressure is formed in the nasal cavity by the pump to make the cleaning liquid flow. However, in actual use, the nasal cavity is often not sufficiently ventilated or blocked. In a configuration where only positive pressure is used to make the cleaning liquid flow, there is a possibility that the cleaning liquid may not be smoothly discharged from the other nostril. Furthermore, when excessive positive pressure acts, there is also a possibility that the cleaning liquid may flow into unintended parts, which not only makes smooth cleaning difficult but also causes a strong sense of discomfort to the user.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a nasal washer that combines positive pressure and negative pressure. The configuration is such that pressurized air is supplied to the cleaning liquid tank by a vacuum pump to apply positive pressure, a negative pressure is formed on the waste liquid tank side, and after the cleaning liquid is circulated in the nasal cavity, it is recovered as waste liquid. Thereby, by combining liquid feeding by positive pressure, suction by negative pressure, and flowing down by its own weight, the fluidity of the cleaning liquid in the nasal cavity is improved, rapid and smooth cleaning is realized, retention and blockage of the cleaning liquid are prevented, and the comfort during use is improved.

[0004] The technical means of the present invention are as follows. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator comprising a cleaning head 1, cleaning fluid outlets 5 and waste fluid return ports 6 provided on the body of the cleaning head 1 corresponding to the left and right nostrils, and a liquid tank positioned below the cleaning head 1, wherein the liquid tank includes a cleaning fluid tank 2 and a waste fluid tank 3, the cleaning fluid tank 2 communicating with the cleaning fluid outlets 5, and the waste fluid tank 3 communicating with the waste fluid return ports 6, and further comprising a vacuum pump 7, the pressurizing port 76 of the vacuum pump 7 communicating with the cleaning fluid tank 2, and the suction port 71 of the vacuum pump 7 communicating with the waste fluid tank 3. Furthermore, a positive pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the vacuum pump 7. The pressurized port 76 on the positive pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the cleaning liquid tank 2 via the first air passage pipe 8, and a first liquid passage pipe 9 is provided inside the cleaning liquid tank 2, with one or more liquid inlets 10 formed at its lower end. A positive pressure relief pipe is connected to the positive pressure relief port 74 on the positive pressure adjustment pipe. Furthermore, the cleaning head 1 has a discharge chamber 11 corresponding to the cleaning liquid discharge port 5, and the upper end of the first liquid passage pipe 9 extends into the discharge chamber. Furthermore, a negative pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the vacuum pump 7. The suction port 71 on the negative pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the waste liquid tank 3 via a second air passage pipe 14, and the upper outlet end of the second air passage pipe 14 is located at the top of the waste liquid tank. A negative pressure relief pipe is connected to the negative pressure relief port 72 on the negative pressure adjustment pipe. Furthermore, the positive pressure relief pipe and the negative pressure relief pipe are in communication with the atmosphere. Furthermore, the second air passage pipe 14 is positioned along the vicinity of the inner wall of the waste liquid tank 3. Furthermore, a spray head 12 is provided at the tip of the first liquid passage pipe 9. Furthermore, this nasal irrigator includes a main body 4. The main body 4 includes a main body case, and a vacuum pump 7, a battery, and a circuit board 8 are arranged inside the case. The circuit board 8 is electrically connected to the battery and the vacuum pump 7. Furthermore, a control unit is provided on the circuit board 8, and an operation push button 15 is provided on the control unit.

[0005] The above configuration produces the following effects. In this invention, a vacuum pump supplies pressurized air to the cleaning fluid tank, creating positive pressure within the tank, and the cleaning fluid is sent to the cleaning fluid outlet via the first fluid passage pipe. The cleaning fluid is introduced into the nasal cavity as a water stream or as fine droplets by a spray unit. The cleaning fluid that has circulated within the nasal cavity is collected into the waste fluid tank from the waste fluid return port by negative pressure suction and gravity. This improves the fluidity of the cleaning fluid within the nasal cavity, enabling rapid cleaning, preventing stagnation and blockage of the cleaning fluid, ensuring smooth cleaning, and improving comfort. Furthermore, by maintaining a negative pressure state in the wastewater tank, the risk of cleaning fluid flowing into other parts due to excessive positive pressure can be reduced, thereby suppressing irritation during cleaning and improving safety and comfort. Furthermore, in this invention, the air passage system and the liquid passage system are configured to be independent of each other, and since the cleaning liquid does not pass through the vacuum pump body, contamination of the cleaning liquid can be prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] To further clarify the technical configuration of the embodiment of this invention, the drawings are briefly described below. [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the main body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a first cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a second cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a third cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vacuum pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a liquid tank according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The technical means in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings of the embodiments. The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0008] Example 1 The positive and negative pressure nasal irrigators shown in Figures 1 to 5 and Figures 7 to 8 include the following: The system comprises a cleaning head 1, a cleaning liquid discharge port 5 and a waste liquid return port 6 provided on the cleaning head 1, a liquid tank located below the cleaning head 1, and a vacuum pump 7. The liquid tank comprises a cleaning liquid tank 2 and a waste liquid tank 3. The cleaning liquid tank 2 is connected to a cleaning liquid outlet 5, and the waste liquid tank 3 is connected to a waste liquid return port 6. The vacuum pump 7 supplies pressurized air to the cleaning liquid tank 2 via the pressurizing port 76, creating positive pressure in the tank and sending the cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid outlet. Meanwhile, the vacuum pump 7 sucks and discharges air from the waste liquid tank 3 via the suction port 71, and collects the waste liquid into the waste liquid tank by negative pressure suction and gravity. As shown in Figure 2, the nasal irrigator further comprises a main body 4. The main body 4 includes a main body case, and a vacuum pump 7, a battery, and a circuit board 8 are arranged inside the case. The circuit board 8 is electrically connected to the battery and the vacuum pump 7 and is provided with a control unit. The control unit is provided with an operating push button 15. Furthermore, an inner case 16 for fixing the vacuum pump is provided inside the main body case, and a bottom case 17 is provided at the bottom of the main body case, and the bottom case is detachably attached by a locking structure or integrally molded. Furthermore, the washing liquid tank and waste liquid tank may be arranged either vertically or horizontally. The shape of the main body will be designed appropriately according to these arrangements. In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the cleaning fluid tank and the waste fluid tank are arranged in the left-right direction. Specifically, as shown in Figure 8, the fluid tank includes a fluid tank case, which is located below the cleaning head, and the inside of the fluid tank case is divided into a cleaning fluid tank (positive pressure side) 2 and a waste fluid tank (negative pressure side) 3 by a partition plate. The cleaning fluid tank and the waste fluid tank may be separate components or integrally molded components. The fluid tank is located above the main body and is detachably attached to the main body case by a locking structure, or is integrally molded. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 to 5 and Figure 7, a positive pressure adjustment pipe and a negative pressure adjustment pipe are connected to the vacuum pump 7. The positive pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the cleaning liquid tank 2 via a first air passage pipe 8, and a first liquid passage pipe 9 is provided inside the cleaning liquid tank 2, with one or more liquid inlets 10 formed at its lower end. A positive pressure relief pipe is connected to a positive pressure relief port 74 on the positive pressure adjustment pipe. A discharge chamber 11 corresponding to the cleaning liquid discharge port 5 is formed in the cleaning head 1, and the upper end of the first liquid passage pipe 9 extends into the discharge chamber, thereby preventing the cleaning liquid from affecting the first air passage pipe 8. On the other hand, the suction port 71 on the negative pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the waste liquid tank 3 via the second air passage pipe 14, and the upper outlet end of the second air passage pipe 14 is located at the top of the waste liquid tank. A negative pressure relief pipe is connected to the negative pressure relief port 72 on the negative pressure adjustment pipe. Furthermore, the positive pressure relief pipe and the negative pressure relief pipe are configured to communicate with the atmosphere and release excess pressure. The positive pressure relief pipe and the negative pressure relief pipe are each connected to a relief port, and the relief port is not limited to the vacuum pump and its piping, but can be provided on the cleaning head, cleaning liquid tank, or waste liquid tank. The positive pressure relief pipe and the negative pressure relief pipe are each provided with a control valve, allowing for pressure relief operation. Furthermore, the opening of the positive pressure adjustment pipe is a positive pressure adjustment port, and the opening of the negative pressure adjustment pipe is a negative pressure adjustment port 73. The pressure of both the positive pressure adjustment port and the negative pressure adjustment port can be adjusted steplessly. As a result, both positive pressure liquid transfer and negative pressure suction functions can be achieved with only one vacuum pump, and a better cleaning effect can be obtained by adjusting the positive pressure cleaning pressure and negative pressure suction pressure according to the user's requirements. The second air passage pipe 14 is positioned along the vicinity of the inner wall of the waste liquid tank 3. The cleaning head 1 is fitted with a dustproof cap, and the cleaning head is integrally molded from silicone material to ensure structural strength and improve comfort during skin contact. Furthermore, in another embodiment, waterproofing can be improved by providing a sealing structure, such as a press-fit type seal or a sealing ring, at the connection points of the air passage and liquid passage, as well as at each joint inside the main body.

[0009] Example 2 As shown in Figure 6, this embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that a spray head 12 is provided at the tip of the first liquid passage pipe 9. The cleaning head according to this embodiment is a two-port spray cleaning suction head equipped with the spray head 12, and the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid outlet 5 is ejected in a mist form. On the other hand, in Embodiment 1 shown in Figure 5, the spray head 12 is not provided at the tip of the first liquid passage pipe 9, and a two-port water flow cleaning suction head is configured, with the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid outlet 5 being supplied as a water flow. As shown in Figure 6, the cleaning head 1 is provided with a recovery chamber 13 corresponding to the wastewater return port 6. The upper end of the second air passage pipe 14 extends above the lower end opening of the recovery chamber 13. This configuration prevents wastewater from flowing directly into the air passage pipe, and the wastewater is preferentially collected by settling downwards in the wastewater tank. As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the arrow in Figure 3 indicates the airflow path on the positive pressure side, and the arrow in Figure 4 indicates the airflow path on the negative pressure side. Also, the left arrows in Figures 5 and 6 indicate the flow direction of the cleaning fluid, and the right arrows indicate the flow direction of the waste liquid. As is clear from these, the airway system and the liquidway system are independent of each other, and the liquid is transported only through the liquidway pipe without passing through the vacuum pump body. Therefore, neither the cleaning fluid nor the waste liquid passes through blocked areas or hard-to-clean parts, resulting in excellent hygiene. More preferably, the first airway pipe and the first liquidway pipe are detachably connected to the vacuum pump and the cleaning fluid tank, and similarly, the second airway pipe and the second liquidway pipe are detachably connected to the vacuum pump and the waste liquid tank. This allows each pipeline to be easily disassembled and cleaned, further improving hygiene during use. In this invention, a vacuum pump supplies pressurized air to the cleaning fluid tank, creating a positive pressure state in the tank, and the cleaning fluid is sent from the liquid inlet to the cleaning fluid outlet. The cleaning fluid is introduced into the nasal cavity as a stream of water or as fine droplets by a spray head. On the other hand, the waste fluid return port communicates with the atmosphere or the nasal cavity, while the rest of the structure is sealed. The suction port of the vacuum pump draws air from the waste fluid tank via a second air passage, creating a negative pressure state in the waste fluid tank. After circulating in the nasal cavity, the cleaning fluid is collected back into the waste fluid tank from the waste fluid return port by negative pressure suction and gravity. At this time, the cleaning fluid flows in from one nostril and is discharged from the other nostril or oral cavity, ensuring smooth flow and significantly improving cleaning efficiency. Furthermore, in this invention, positive pressure supply and negative pressure suction are achieved simultaneously with a single vacuum pump, and the air passage system and liquid passage system are completely separated, so the cleaning fluid and waste fluid do not pass through the drive unit or closed piping.

[0010] The above description illustrates the present invention and its embodiments, but its scope of protection is not limited thereto. The drawings also show only one embodiment of the present invention, and actual applications are not limited thereto. In other words, any structural configuration and embodiment similar to the technical means designed by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the present invention and without creativity, should all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A positive / negative pressure nasal irrigator, Washing head 1 and The main body of the cleaning head 1 is provided with a cleaning fluid discharge port 5 corresponding to the left and right nostrils and a waste fluid return port 6, A liquid tank is located below the cleaning head 1, Equipped with, The aforementioned liquid tank includes a cleaning liquid tank 2 and a waste liquid tank 3. The cleaning liquid tank 2 is in communication with the cleaning liquid discharge port 5. The wastewater tank 3 is in communication with the wastewater return port 6. Equipped with a vacuum pump 7, The pressurized port 76 of the vacuum pump 7 is in communication with the cleaning liquid tank 2. The suction port 71 of the vacuum pump 7 is in communication with the waste liquid tank 3. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator characterized by the following features.

2. A positive pressure adjustment tube is connected to the vacuum pump 7. The pressurized port 76 on the positive pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the cleaning liquid tank 2 via the first air passage pipe 8. A first liquid passage pipe 9 is provided in the cleaning liquid tank 2, and one or more liquid inlets 10 are formed at its lower end. A positive pressure relief pipe is connected to the positive pressure relief port 74 on the positive pressure adjustment pipe. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The cleaning head 1 has a discharge chamber 11 that corresponds to the cleaning liquid discharge port 5. The upper end of the first liquid passage pipe 9 extends into the discharge chamber. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. A negative pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the vacuum pump 7. The suction port 71 on the negative pressure adjustment pipe is connected to the waste liquid tank 3 via the second air passage pipe 14. The upper outlet end of the second air passage pipe 14 is located at the top of the waste liquid tank 3. A negative pressure relief pipe is connected to the negative pressure relief port 72 on the negative pressure adjustment pipe. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

5. The positive pressure relief pipe and the negative pressure relief pipe are in communication with the atmosphere. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator according to claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. The second air passage pipe 14 is positioned along the vicinity of the inner wall of the waste liquid tank 3. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

7. A spray head 12 is provided at the tip of the first liquid passage pipe 9. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

8. Equipped with a main body 4, The main body 4 includes a main body case, and a vacuum pump 7, a battery, and a circuit board 8 are arranged inside the case. The circuit board 8 is electrically connected to the battery and the vacuum pump 7. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

9. The circuit board 8 is provided with a control unit, and the control unit is provided with an operating push button 15. A positive and negative pressure nasal irrigator according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

Images