Intranasal airflow control device

Abstract

To provide an air flow controller in the nasal cavity which enables a subject to perceive an actual smell in the oral cavity during a meal through the posterior nasal cavity route.SOLUTION: The nasal cavity air flow control device 100 for making the subject perceive the odor includes a suction tube 1 inserted from the nostril H of the subject P, and a negative pressure suction means 2 for feeding the air containing the odor in the oral cavity into the nasal cavity N by sucking the inside of the nasal cavity N by negative pressure through the suction tube 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a nasal airflow control device that allows a subject to perceive odors while eating. [Background technology]

[0002] The sensations experienced from eating are formed by the complex interaction of various senses. Taste and smell are particularly closely linked, and it is generally known that there are two pathways by which people perceive food odors while eating: the orthonasal pathway and the retronasal pathway. The orthonasal pathway is the pathway by which food odors from the outside world are perceived through the nasal turbinates when breathing in (inhalation). The retronasal pathway is the pathway by which odors from the oral cavity are perceived through the nasal turbinates when breathing out (exhalation), resulting from the release of flavors during chewing. It is known that these odors play a major role in the perception of food taste.

[0003] For example, individuals who are unable to breathe through their nostrils, such as those who have undergone a total laryngectomy, are unable to generate airflow in the nasal cavity and therefore are unable to perceive odors through either the posterior or anterior nasal pathways while eating.

[0004] Therefore, Patent Document 1 describes a device that uses an odorant source containing external odorants such as food or odorants from the oral cavity to sense breathing and present the odorant through the anterior nasal passage in time with exhalation, thereby simulating the olfactory perception of the posterior nasal passage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-40989 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the odor presentation device described in Patent Document 1 is a device that presents odors only through the anterior nasal passage using odorants, and is not intended to control airflow within the nasal cavity. Furthermore, since it does not perceive odors in the oral cavity during actual eating, it has poor reproducibility of odors in the oral cavity.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides an intranasal airflow control device that allows a subject to perceive actual odors in the oral cavity during a meal through the retronasal passage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In view of the above problems, the nasal airflow control device of the present invention is an intranasal airflow control device that allows a subject to perceive an odor, and is characterized by having a suction tube that is inserted into the subject's nostril, and a negative pressure suction means that creates negative pressure suction inside the nasal cavity through the suction tube, thereby sending air containing odors from the oral cavity into the nasal cavity.

[0009] The suction tube is characterized in that it has a nostril plug on its outer periphery that closes the gap between the outer periphery of the suction tube and the nostril, thereby maintaining the sealing of the nasal cavity.

[0010] The suction tube is inserted into only one of the nostrils.

[0011] Another feature of the present invention is that it has a blocking means for closing the other nostril.

[0012] The suction tube is also characterized in that it is inserted into both of the nostrils.

[0013] The subject is characterized in that he or she has undergone total or partial laryngectomy. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The handheld nasal airflow control device of the present invention comprises a suction tube that is inserted into the nasal cavity of the subject, and a negative pressure suction means that creates negative pressure inside the nasal cavity through the suction tube, thereby sending air containing odors from the oral cavity into the nasal cavity.By creating negative pressure inside the nasal cavity through the suction tube inserted into the nasal cavity using the negative pressure suction means, air containing odors from the oral cavity is sent into the nasal cavity, generating an airflow and allowing the subject to perceive odors from the oral cavity.

[0015] Furthermore, the suction tube has nostril plugs that block the subject's nostrils and maintain a tight seal inside the nasal cavity, allowing air containing odors from the oral cavity to be effectively sent into the nasal cavity.

[0016] Furthermore, by inserting the suction tube into only one nostril, the smell of the outside world can also be perceived from the other nostril via the anterior nasal passage.

[0017] Also, by closing the other nostril, air from the outside world does not flow in, so smells do not mix in the nasal cavity, making it easier to perceive only the smells in the oral cavity.

[0018] Furthermore, by inserting the suction tube into both nostrils, the amount of odor-containing air in the oral cavity is doubled and flows into the nasal cavity, and air from the outside world is prevented from flowing in, making it easier to perceive odors in the oral cavity.

[0019] Furthermore, since the subjects had undergone total or partial laryngectomy, the loss of airflow in the nasal cavity caused the olfactory cells to function less effectively, and olfactory impairment could be alleviated by stimulating the olfactory cells. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an intranasal airflow control device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a suction tube and nostril plugs. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of an intranasal airflow control device according to the present invention. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the intranasal airflow control device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a third embodiment of the intranasal airflow control device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the head showing the anterior and posterior nasal pathways. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The intranasal airflow control device 100 will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the nasal cavity N refers to the space from the nostril H (external nostril) to the internal nostril that connects to the larynx I.

[0022] Generally, when a person breathes while eating, during inhalation, the external odor emitted by the food F itself travels through the anterior nasal pathway ON, as shown in Figure 6, where the odor components are detected by olfactory cells on the olfactory mucosa of the turbinate T in the nasal cavity N, allowing the odor to be perceived. On the other hand, during exhalation, the odor from the oral cavity O, where flavors are released as food F is chewed, travels through the posterior nasal pathway RN, where the odor components are detected by olfactory cells on the olfactory mucosa of the turbinate T in the nasal cavity N, allowing the odor to be perceived.

[0023] For example, a person with no larynx who has undergone surgery to remove either a total or partial laryngectomy has no problems with the esophagus S and can eat normally, but is unable to breathe spontaneously and has difficulty generating airflow in the nasal cavity N. Therefore, odor components cannot be delivered to the olfactory cells in the olfactory mucosa of the nasal turbinate T in the nasal cavity N, resulting in a dulled sense of smell.

[0024] The nasal airflow control device 100 of the present invention is capable of delivering odors in the oral cavity O to the olfactory cells via the posterior nasal pathway RN during a meal, enabling the odor to be perceived even in people who are unable to spontaneously generate airflow in the nasal cavity N, such as those who have undergone total or partial laryngectomy, which removes the larynx I, and who are therefore unable to deliver odor components to the olfactory cells in the olfactory mucosa of the nasal turbinate T in the nasal cavity N.

[0025] The intranasal airflow control device 100 mainly comprises a suction tube 1 and a negative pressure suction means 2.

[0026] [Embodiment] FIG. 2 shows a suction tube 1 to be worn by subject P and nostril plugs 3 attached to the suction tube 1. The suction tube 1 is a flexible tube made of a material that will not injure the human body, such as soft rubber. The diameter of the suction tube 1 is approximately 1 mm to 10 mm, and is determined appropriately depending on the size of the nostrils H of subject P and the size of the nostril plugs 3.

[0027] The nostril plug 3 is attached to the outer periphery of the suction tube 1, and when the suction tube 1 is inserted into one of the nostrils H1 of the subject P, it blocks the gap between the one of the nostrils H1 and the outer periphery of the suction tube 1, thereby maintaining a tight seal inside the nasal cavity N. This prevents air from entering the nasal cavity N through the gap between the one of the nostrils H1 and the outer periphery of the suction tube 1, allowing a stable negative pressure inside the nasal cavity N.

[0028] Furthermore, since the nostril plug 3 has a certain frictional force while creating a stable negative pressure in the nasal cavity N, attaching the nostril plug 3 prevents the suction tube 1 from falling out of one of the nostrils H1. Therefore, the subject P does not need to hold the suction tube 1 himself, and the scent can be delivered stably.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the nostril plugs 3 are made of a soft and elastic material such as rubber and have the shape of two consecutive ellipsoids. By providing two consecutive ellipsoids, the sealing performance can be improved.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 1, one end 1A of the suction tube 1 is inserted into the nostril H of the subject P. The shape of the one end 1A may be rounded so as not to damage the surface of the nasal cavity N.

[0031] The length L from the nostril plug 3 to one end 1A of the suction tube 1 is the length required to insert the suction tube 1 into the nostril H, and is approximately several millimeters to 5 cm. There are no particular limitations on the length L as long as it can create negative pressure in the nasal cavity N. The total length of the suction tube 1 is approximately 1 m at most.

[0032] Furthermore, it is preferable that the portion of the suction tube 1 from the nostril plug 3 to one end 1A be made of a soft material such as rubber, but the portion from the nostril plug to the other end 1B does not have to be made of a soft material because it is not inserted into the nasal cavity N.

[0033] The other end 1B of the suction tube 1 is connected to negative pressure suction means 2. In this embodiment, a pump is used as the negative pressure suction means 2. Air is sucked using the pump, and negative pressure can be created in the nasal cavity N of the subject P through the suction tube 1. The negative pressure suction means 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can create negative pressure in the nasal cavity N, such as by connecting a pump to the other end 1B, or by attaching a small-sized fan to the nostril H, or by connecting an aspirator, cylinder, or the like to the other end 1B.

[0034] (First Example) An example in which the nasal airflow control device 100 is actually used will be described below.

[0035] 3, one end 1A of the suction tube 1 is inserted into one nostril H1 of the subject P. The length of the tube inserted into the nostril H is the same as the length L.

[0036] The subject P may be a tracheotomy patient who has no larynx and is unable to breathe through his / her nostrils H, and who breathes by inserting a tracheal cannula TC through a tracheal stoma TH created by cutting the trachea A near the throat, or a healthy individual.

[0037] The negative pressure suction means 2 is activated when food F is placed in front of the subject P. Although the subject has not yet started eating, activating the negative pressure suction means 2 allows air containing the external smell emitted by the food F itself to enter through the other nostril H2, which is not inserted with the suction tube 1, and the smell of the food F can be perceived through the anterior nasal passage ON.

[0038] Food F is preferably a strong-smelling food such as candy. It can also be food F wrapped in something, such as a bun. The smell of the wrapped food is difficult to perceive as an external smell emitted by the food F itself, but by chewing and releasing the flavor, the wrapped food can be perceived as an odor inside the oral cavity N.

[0039] Negative pressure suction continues when the patient begins to eat. Because the oral cavity (O) is connected to the nasal cavity (N) via the nasal turbinates (T), negative pressure suction from one nostril (H1) allows the odor released in the mouth as food (F) is chewed to be perceived via the posterior nasal pathway (RN).

[0040] After finishing eating, the negative pressure suction may be stopped, and even after swallowing, the smell in the oral cavity O can be perceived differently from that during eating, allowing the user to enjoy the afterglow.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the other nostril H2 is open, so by creating a negative pressure inside the nasal cavity N, air containing external odors enters the nasal cavity N from the other nostril H2. This allows the external odors to be perceived through the anterior nasal pathway ON.

[0042] Therefore, the smell in the oral cavity O associated with chewing food F is perceived through the posterior nasal pathway RN, while the external smell emitted by the food F itself is perceived through the anterior nasal pathway ON. Therefore, even people who do not spontaneously generate airflow in the nasal cavity N, such as those without a larynx, can perceive smells while eating in the same way as healthy people, preventing a decline in olfactory perception and allowing them to enjoy their meals, leading to an improved quality of life.

[0043] The timing for starting negative pressure suction can be determined by subject P himself activating the negative pressure suction means 2 at the same time as subject P places food F in his mouth, or by a sensor that detects the contraction of the jaw muscles, a weight sensor that detects changes in weight on the plate, or a camera sensor that uses a camera to determine when AI has started eating.

[0044] Negative pressure suction is controlled to maintain a constant flow rate. By continuously controlling the flow rate to a constant level, odors in the oral cavity can be perceived continuously, not just during exhalation. In this embodiment, the suction flow rate (L / min) is 0.8 (L / min). The suction pressure for creating negative pressure is -50 kPa. The suction flow rate does not have to be 0.8 (L / min). It can be calculated by dividing the lung volume (L) of an average person per breath by the breathing time (min) of one cycle, or it can be adjusted appropriately while the subject P is using the device to empirically obtain a flow rate that allows for easy and comfortable perception of odors.

[0045] The flow rate of the air for negative pressure suction does not have to be controlled to a constant pressure, but may be controlled by repeatedly turning the negative pressure suction on and off to vary the speed so as to form a pulse waveform.

[0046] Furthermore, even healthy individuals can use the nasal airflow control device 100. By using the nasal airflow control device 100, even healthy individuals who chronically breathe through their mouths and whose olfactory cells are not stimulated can have their sense of smell enhanced. Furthermore, as the subject P tries to sense the smell in the oral cavity O, the number of times he or she chews food F increases, which naturally prevents him or her from eating too quickly.

[0047] (Second Example) As shown in Figure 4, a second embodiment using the intranasal airflow control device 100 further includes a blocking means 4 for closing the other nostril H2. That is, a suction tube 1 is inserted into one nostril H1, and a blocking means 4 is attached to the other nostril H2. In this embodiment, the blocking means 4 is a nostril lid. As with the nostril plugs 3, the nostril lid is preferably made of a soft rubber material to avoid injury to the human body.

[0048] The other nostril H2 can be closed by attaching the blocking means 4. By closing the other nostril H2, which is not inserted with the suction tube 1, with the blocking means 4, it is possible to prevent air from being inhaled from the outside through the nostril H2, preventing the mixing of odors from the outside with odors from the oral cavity O in the nasal cavity N, making it easier to inhale only the air containing the odor from the oral cavity O, and making it easier to perceive only the odor from the oral cavity O. The method for closing the other nostril H2 is not particularly limited, and the blocking means 4 may be used by the subject P himself / herself to press it with his / her finger instead of using the nostril lid, as long as it can be closed.

[0049] Furthermore, if subject P has a tracheotomy, breathing is completed through the tracheal cannula TC in the throat, so there is no particular problem with breathing even if both nostrils H are blocked while eating. Therefore, subject P breathes through the incised throat, eats through the oral cavity O, and generates an airflow in the nasal cavity N that contains the smell of the oral cavity O, allowing the subject to perceive the smell. Therefore, even if subject P has a tracheotomy, he or she can breathe and sense the smell of the oral cavity O while eating, and can therefore enjoy eating just like a healthy person.

[0050] Furthermore, if the subject P has a tracheotomy, a pressure sensor, thermosensor, acoustic device, etc. (not shown) may be attached near the tracheal cannula TC, or a respiration meter that detects respiration from lung expansion or contraction may be provided. A signal from the respiration meter or the like is sent to the control unit, and the control unit sends a command to the negative pressure suction means 2 to automatically perform negative pressure suction only at the time of exhalation, thereby enabling the subject to perceive odors in the oral cavity O in conjunction with respiration. This allows the subject to perceive odors in the same way as a healthy person, allowing the subject to enjoy meals in the same way as a healthy person, leading to an improvement in QOL.

[0051] (Third Example) As shown in Figure 5, in the third embodiment using the nasal airflow control device 100, suction tubes 1 are intubated into both nostrils H of the subject P. Intubating both nostrils H prevents air from the outside from flowing in, preventing odors from mixing in the nasal cavities N and making it easier to perceive only the odor in the oral cavity O. Furthermore, compared to the second embodiment, twice as much odor-containing air from the oral cavity O flows into the nasal cavities N, making it easier to perceive the odor in the oral cavity O.

[0052] The two suction tubes 1 may be connected to one negative pressure suction means 2, or a negative pressure suction means 2 may be connected to each suction tube 1. Even if the sizes of the left and right nostrils H are different, comfortable use can be achieved by connecting a negative pressure suction means 2 to each suction tube 1 and adjusting the suction flow rate between the left and right.

[0053] Furthermore, as in the second embodiment, if the subject P has undergone a tracheotomy, breathing is completed by attaching a tracheal cannula TC to the trachea A, so there is no particular problem with breathing even if both nostrils H are blocked during a meal. Therefore, breathing occurs through the incised throat, eating occurs through the oral cavity O, and the nasal cavity N generates an airflow containing the odor of the oral cavity O, allowing the subject to perceive the odor.

[0054] Furthermore, as in the second embodiment, if the subject P has an incision in the trachea A, a pressure sensor, thermosensor, acoustic device, etc. (not shown) may be attached near the tracheal cannula TC, or a respiration measuring device that detects respiration from lung expansion or contraction may be provided. A signal from the respiration measuring device, etc., is sent to the control unit, and the control unit sends a command to the negative pressure suction means 2 to automatically perform negative pressure suction only at the timing of exhalation, thereby enabling the subject to perceive odors in the oral cavity O in conjunction with respiration, and further enabling the subject to perceive odors at the same level as a healthy person, allowing the subject to enjoy meals at the same level as a healthy person, leading to an improvement in QOL. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 100 Nasal airflow control device 1 Suction tube 1A one end 1B Other end 2. Negative pressure suction means 3 Nostril plugs 4 Obstruction means P subjects ON anterior nasal passage RN retronasal route T nasal turbinate N Nasal cavity A. Trachea S esophagus I Larynx H Nostril O oral cavity H1 One nostril H2 other nostril TC Tracheal Cannula TH stoma F. Food

Claims

1. 1. An intranasal airflow control device for enabling a subject to perceive an odor while eating, comprising: a suction tube inserted into the nasal cavity of the subject through the nostril; a negative pressure suction means for negatively suctioning the inside of the nasal cavity through the suction tube to send air containing odors from the oral cavity into the nasal cavity; An intranasal airflow control device comprising:

2. 2. The intranasal airflow control device according to claim 1, wherein the suction tube has a nostril plug on its outer periphery that closes the gap between the outer periphery of the suction tube and the nostril to maintain the sealing of the nasal cavity.

3. 3. The intranasal airflow control device according to claim 1, wherein the suction tube is inserted into only one of the nostrils.

4. 4. The device for controlling airflow in nasal cavities according to claim 3, further comprising a blocking means for closing the other nostril.

5. 3. The intranasal airflow control device according to claim 1, wherein the suction tube is inserted into both of the nostrils.

6. 3. The intranasal airflow control device according to claim 1, wherein the subject is a person who has undergone total or partial laryngectomy.

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