Angled Nasal Spray Guide for Precise Tissue Targeting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal spray devices lack effective systems and methods to guide the delivery of substances to specific nasal tissue targets, as user errors in positioning can lead to inaccurate drug administration.
Innovation Solution
A nasal spray guide comprising a collar with a lumen and a radially extending shoulder angled relative to the lumen, which helps position the nasal spray tip at a desired angle and depth within the nostril, featuring an alignment indicator for correct orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a nasal spray device is designed to deliver medication to the back of the nasal cavity, then the medication can reach the intended target area, but the device structure becomes more complex and requires precise positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal spray device utilizes the user's own nasal anatomy and natural insertion motion to achieve proper positioning. The guide features work passively with the user's fingers and nasal structure to self-align the spray tip, eliminating the need for complex active positioning mechanisms or precision manufacturing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide features change the geometric parameters of the spray device to create specific engagement shapes that match corresponding features in the nasal cavity. By optimizing the angle, curvature, and dimensions of the guide features, the device achieves precise targeting through geometric compatibility rather than complex mechanical positioning systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If a nasal spray device includes guide features for proper positioning, then the medication delivery accuracy improves, but the ease of operation decreases due to additional positioning steps
Solution Approach 1:
The guide features are designed to be passively engaged by the user's natural insertion motion and nasal anatomy. The geometry of the guide features automatically aligns with corresponding structures in the nasal cavity during normal insertion, requiring no special positioning skills or additional steps from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is segmented into separate guide features on the spray device that independently engage with corresponding anatomical landmarks in the nasal cavity. This segmentation allows each guide feature to handle a specific aspect of positioning, making the overall process intuitive and requiring minimal user intervention.
3Manufacturing precision
If the spray tip is positioned deep in the nasal cavity, then medication reaches the target area, but the risk of contamination and bacterial growth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray tip is extracted from direct contact with the deep nasal cavity environment. Instead of positioning the tip deep inside the nasal passage, the guide features direct the spray trajectory to reach the target area while keeping the tip itself in a cleaner, more accessible position that can be easily cleaned and maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide features act as intermediary structures that mediate between the spray tip and the deep nasal cavity target. These features direct the medication flow along a controlled path to the target area without requiring the tip itself to penetrate deep into the nasal passage, thereby reducing contamination exposure.
4Device complexity
If the nasal spray device lacks proper guide features, then the device structure remains simple, but the medication may not reach the intended area effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The guide features utilize simple geometric parameter changes in the device structure, such as angles, curvatures, and dimensions, to achieve precise medication delivery. These geometric modifications provide the necessary positioning guidance without introducing complex mechanical systems, maintaining structural simplicity while improving delivery precision.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 1D
Figure 2A~2D
AI summary
A nasal spray guide may include a collar defining a lumen configured to receive a nasal spray tip, a shoulder surface extending radially outward from the collar, wherein the shoulder surface is angled relative to the lumen; and a cap defining a cavity and configured to engage the shoulder such that the cavity and the lumen are substantially aligned. In some variations, a method of using the nasal spray guide includes positioning at least a portion of a nasal spray device in the lumen such that a distal portion of the nasal spray device is exposed, inserting the distal portion of the nasal spray device in a nostril of a user until the shoulder of the nasal spray guide is seated against a nasal surface of the user; and actuating the nasal spray device while the shoulder of the nasal spray guide is seated.