Dual-Probe Nasal Device for Paranasal Liquid Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices fail to provide a controlled and effective method for injecting therapeutic solutions into the nasal and paranasal cavities, leading to insufficient cleaning and treatment of upper respiratory system infections.
Innovation Solution
The use of dual-probe devices with primary and secondary channels to seal the nostrils, expand the alar sidewalls, and stimulate the swallowing reflex to exert pressure, allowing therapeutic liquids to penetrate the paranasal cavities, mimicking the Valsalva maneuver and ensuring prolonged contact with the mucosa.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If simple cleaning devices with spraying or continuous flow are used, then the device complexity is low, but the therapeutic liquid cannot effectively penetrate into the nasal canals and ducts of the nasal cavities
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the single-channel approach into two separate channels: a primary channel for delivering therapeutic liquid and a secondary channel for providing expandable sealing elements. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function, enabling reliable penetration into nasal ducts while maintaining operational simplicity through separate, dedicated pathways for each operational requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary sealing of the nostril opening using expandable elements deployed through the secondary channel before therapeutic liquid is delivered. This preliminary action creates the necessary closed environment and pressure conditions that enable the subsequent therapeutic liquid to effectively penetrate into the nasal canals and ducts, ensuring reliable delivery without requiring complex external equipment.
2Device complexity
If sea water is used for cleaning nasal cavities with direct absorption, then the device complexity is low, but the contact time with mucosa is insufficient for osmotic phenomenon to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable sealing elements are deployed in advance through the secondary channel to seal the nostril opening before therapeutic liquid delivery. This preliminary sealing action creates a closed system that retains the therapeutic liquid within the nasal cavity, extending the contact time with the mucosa to allow osmotic phenomena to occur effectively, while maintaining the simplicity of a single-device administration system.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides beforehand cushioning by creating a sealed environment with expandable elements that prevent premature drainage or evaporation of the therapeutic liquid. This cushioning effect ensures that the therapeutic liquid remains in contact with the nasal mucosa for the necessary duration to achieve osmotic therapeutic effects, without requiring complex external retention mechanisms.
3Reliability
If expandable portions are used to seal nostrils and push alar sidewalls outwards, then the delivery of therapeutic liquid to paranasal cavities is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable sealing elements serve multiple functions simultaneously: they seal the nostril opening to prevent liquid leakage, push the alar sidewalls outward to reveal and open the ducts leading to paranasal cavities, and create the necessary pressure differential for controlled liquid delivery. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanical components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable controlled delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of flexible expandable portions made from elastomeric or shape memory materials allows a single component to dynamically adapt its shape and function. These flexible elements can transition from a compact delivery state to an expanded sealing and opening state, eliminating the need for complex rigid mechanical structures while achieving reliable controlled delivery of therapeutic solutions to the paranasal cavities.
4Manufacturing precision
If probes are used to deliver liquid to nasal cavity, then the precision of liquid delivery is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs self-service by using the patient's own physiological swallowing reflex to generate the necessary pressure for liquid delivery. The expandable sealing elements create a closed system that channels the pressure generated during swallowing directly into the nasal cavity, eliminating the need for external compression devices or complex manual manipulation while maintaining precise delivery through the probe structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device replaces complex external mechanical compression systems with the patient's own physiological swallowing mechanism. The expandable sealing elements convert the swallowing motion into directed pressure on the therapeutic liquid, achieving precise delivery to the nasal cavity without requiring external mechanical pumps or compression apparatus, thereby simplifying the overall procedure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables controlled and repeatable delivery of therapeutic solutions into the nasal and paranasal cavities, providing extended exposure for osmotic and healing effects, effectively cleaning and treating the nasal cavities and sinuses.
Implementation Method 1
providing fluid to the secondary channels to expand the probe portion of the secondary channels, seal the nostril openings and expand the alar sidewalls of the nostrils
Implementation Method 2
the phenomena of osmosis and/or nutritional and healing action in order to give desirable benefits may necessarily require contact of the hypertonic sea water, or other liquids as described herein, with the mucosa of the ducts or the sinuses of the nose for a sufficient period of time of stable application
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for providing liquids to nasal and/or paranasal cavities are disclosed. Probe portions of a first and of a second probe are introduced to a user's first and second nostril, respectively. Each probe has a primary channel and a secondary channel. Fluid is provided to the secondary channels to expand the expandable portions of the secondary channels, seal the nostril openings and expand alar sidewalls of the nostrils. This may reveal ducts that lead to the paranasal cavities. The liquid is provided through the primary channels to the nasal cavity, the liquid being disposed to reach and stimulate the soft palate, and may trigger a swallow reflex to raise the soft palate and exert pressure to the liquid, the liquid may find an escape route through the ducts and into the paranasal cavities.