Inflatable Nasal Balloon with Cooling and Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling nasal exudation, such as nosebleeds, are not sufficiently effective and user-friendly, especially for home use, as they fail to directly address the source of bleeding within the nasal cavity and do not provide adequate pressure or cooling to stop the bleeding.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable device with a shaft and balloon is inserted into the nose, featuring an absorber for nasal exudates and a cooling agent that dissolves in a solvent to internally cool the nasal cavity, providing pressure and absorption to control bleeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If an absorbing packing material is inserted into the nasal cavity to control nasal exudation, then the exudation can be absorbed, but the material does not provide sufficient pressure to stop bleeding at the source
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a balloon portion for applying pressure to the bleeding site, a shaft for delivery and fluid injection, and an absorber portion for capturing exudates. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, with the balloon providing focused pressure and the absorber handling exudate management separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses pneumatic pressure from a fluid-filled balloon to apply controlled force to the bleeding site. The balloon is inflated through the shaft with fluid, creating internal pressure that translates to external pressure on the nasal cavity wall, directly addressing the bleeding source with sufficient force.
2Temperature
If home remedies such as cold compresses to the neck are used to control nose bleeds, then cooling is applied, but the actual bleeding site within the nasal cavity is not directly addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon acts as an intermediary vehicle that delivers both mechanical pressure and cooling directly to the bleeding site. By inflating the balloon at the precise location of the Kiesselbach plexus, the device mediates the transmission of cooling effect and pressure exactly where needed, rather than applying cooling remotely to the neck.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is pre-configured with the balloon positioned to reach the bleeding site before use. The shaft is designed to deliver the balloon to the correct location within the nasal cavity, and the absorber is pre-positioned to immediately capture exudates when the balloon is inflated, preparing all components in advance for immediate action.
3Ease of operation
If a non-physician attempts to control nose bleeds using available kits, then the procedure should be simple, but the kits are not sufficiently effective or readily applicable
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed for self-service use by non-physicians. The shaft allows the user to insert and position the balloon themselves, the inflation mechanism is simple and self-contained, and the absorber automatically captures exudates without requiring additional user intervention. The entire process can be performed by the user without professional assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines multiple functions in a single integrated system: the balloon provides both mechanical pressure and cooling to stop bleeding, the shaft serves as both a delivery mechanism and a fluid injection system, and the absorber captures exudates. This multi-functionality ensures reliable bleeding control while maintaining ease of use.
4Force
If an inflatable balloon is used to exert pressure on the nasal cavity walls, then bleeding can be controlled, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is nested within or connected to the shaft, allowing the inflation mechanism to be contained within the delivery structure. The absorber portion is integrated with the shaft, creating a compact nested arrangement where components are housed within each other, reducing overall structural complexity despite the multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon is constructed as a flexible thin-film structure that can be inflated to provide pressure. This flexible shell approach simplifies the structure compared to rigid pressure-applying mechanisms, as the thin film naturally conforms to the nasal cavity shape while providing the necessary force when inflated.
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
The device effectively controls nasal exudation by exerting pressure and cooling the nasal cavity, reducing bleeding and swelling, with visible indicators for absorbed exudates and a compact design for easy use.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling agent that dissolves in a solvent to internally cool the nasal cavity... the agent dissolves in the solvent, thereby cooling the device and accordingly the nose
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable device for insertion into a user's nose for controlling nasal exudation has an elongated shaft including at least one lumen for accommodating a fluid; an inflatable balloon connected to the shaft, the balloon being in fluid connection to the lumen; and an absorber for absorbing nasal exudates, the absorber being disposed at an outer circumference of the shaft and/or at a distal tip portion of the device. Another inflatable device for insertion into a user's nose for controlling nasal exudation has an elongated shaft including at least one lumen for accommodating a fluid; and an inflatable balloon connected to the shaft, the balloon being in fluid connection to the lumen; the balloon containing a cooling agent, wherein the cooling agent is configured to cool the balloon when coming into contact with the fluid.