External Nasal Dilator with Discrete Spring Fingers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal dilators often fail to effectively stabilize and dilate a greater portion of the nasal passages, leading to inadequate relief from nasal obstruction and congestion, particularly at the nasal valve, due to limited distribution of spring biasing forces and poor engagement with the skin surface.
Innovation Solution
The nasal dilator employs a single body truss structure with a resilient member and engagement elements, featuring spring finger components that distribute spring biasing forces to multiple discrete dilation points along the nasal passages, ensuring greater stabilization and dilation by adhering comfortably to the skin without spanning anatomical depressions, thus improving nasal patency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single resilient member overlays only the tissues directly over the nasal valve, then the device structure is simple, but the distribution of spring biasing forces is limited and cannot effectively stabilize and dilate a greater portion of the nasal passages
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member is divided into multiple discrete spring finger components (typically three) that extend outward from the mid-section at different angles. Each spring finger targets a specific dilation point along the nasal passages, allowing the device to stabilize and dilate a greater portion of the nasal passages while maintaining structural manageability through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different spring fingers are configured with specific orientations and lengths to apply spring biasing forces at different locations along the nasal passages. The upper spring finger targets the upper nasal passage, the middle spring finger targets the nasal valve area, and the lower spring finger targets the lower nasal passage, providing localized stabilization and dilation where needed most.
2Reliability
If the resilient member exerts spring biasing forces to multiple discrete dilation points, then the stabilization and dilation coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases with multiple spring finger components
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spring finger components are merged into a single integrated resilient member structure that is formed as one continuous piece of memory metal alloy. This combining approach maintains the reliability benefits of multiple dilation points while simplifying manufacturing and ensuring coordinated action of all spring fingers through their integration into a single structural unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The single resilient member structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, generates spring biasing forces, distributes forces to multiple dilation points, and adapts to the nasal anatomy. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while maintaining effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If the end regions of the nasal dilator span the anatomical depression formed by the alar crease, then the device provides continuous support, but it causes discomfort and poor engagement with the skin surface
Solution Approach 1:
The end regions of the nasal dilator are configured to follow the natural curvature of the nose and extend around the alar crease depression rather than spanning across it. This curved configuration allows the device to conform to the anatomical surface, providing comfortable engagement while maintaining structural integrity through the continuous resilient member that flows smoothly around the anatomical features.
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 design enhances nasal breathing by stabilizing and dilating a larger area of the nasal passages, reducing airflow resistance, and providing effective relief from nasal obstruction and congestion, improving oxygen uptake and sleep quality.
Implementation Method 1
When flexed, the resilient member exerts spring biasing forces that, when engaged to the nose, urge the nasal passage outer wall tissues outward, stabilizing the outer walls and expanding, or dilating, the nasal passages underneath
Implementation Method 2
Nasal dilators of the present invention are capable of flexing in a direction oblique or perpendicular to a surface place thereof, such that the dilator returns to a substantially planar or pre-flexed state when released from flexure
Implementation Method 3
The engagement element, by itself, provides little or no nasal dilation (although depending on the material used, could provide some stabilization to the nasal passage outer walls)
Data Source
AI summary
An external nasal dilator comprises resilient and engagement elements, and includes end regions adapted to engage tissues overlaying and adjacent first and second nasal passages of a human nose. Each end region includes a plurality of resilient spring finger components separated therebetween by engagement element tab extensions. The end regions are further adapted to extend around the anatomical depression formed by the alar crease adjacent each nostril. When in use the dilator stabilizes or expands said tissues and prevents or inhibits the nasal outer walls from drawing inward during breathing.