Portable Nasal Irrigation Device with Integrated Compressor and Hermetic Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional nasal douche devices are cumbersome, require external connections for operation, and lack hermetic sealing, making them non-portable and difficult to clean and disinfect, which poses infection risks.

Innovation Solution

A portable nasal washing device with integrated components, hermetic sealing, rechargeable batteries, and a dual-function battery charger that supports the device during recharging, allowing autonomous use without external connections, featuring a compressor group with a pump and electric motor for generating compressed air, and a nebulizing system for delivering liquid to the nasal cavities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If traditional nasal douche devices are connected to external equipment (compressor, electric circuit), then they can generate sufficient compressed air for nebulization, but they become cumbersome, bulky, and require external connections, reducing portability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressed air generation capabilityVSAvoidportability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the compressor, electric motor, battery, and nebulization components into a single integrated portable device. The compressor group with electric motor is housed within the device body along with rechargeable batteries, eliminating the need for external equipment while maintaining sufficient compressed air generation capability for effective nasal irrigation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device integrates multiple functions into one unit: the compressor generates compressed air, the battery provides power, the nebulization system delivers medicated liquid, and the collection chamber receives discharged matter. This multi-functional integration eliminates the need for separate external equipment while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If functional components are housed in a body without hermetic sealing, then the device structure is simpler, but cleaning and disinfection becomes difficult, posing infection risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structure simplicityVSAvoidcleanability and disinfection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs hermetic sealing mechanisms including gaskets and seals between the body, cap, and collection chamber. These sealing elements create a closed, washable structure that protects internal components while allowing the entire device to be easily cleaned and disinfected without exposing sensitive internal parts to water or cleaning agents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The device is divided into separable components (body, cap, collection chamber) that can be disassembled for cleaning. The hermetic sealing between segments allows each part to be cleaned independently while maintaining protection of internal components during the cleaning process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the device lacks integrated power supply, then the device structure is simpler, but it requires external electric connections, reducing autonomy and portability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidautonomy and portability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is equipped with rechargeable batteries that provide self-contained power supply, enabling autonomous operation without external electric connections. The batteries can be recharged by connecting the device to the electric network, but during use, the device operates independently, providing true portability and convenience for nasal irrigation anywhere

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables easy, autonomous, and infection-free nasal washing with all components integrated and sealed, facilitating cleaning and disinfection, and providing a self-sufficient, portable solution for nasal irrigation.

Implementation Method 1

a compressor group with a pump and electric motor for generating compressed air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

a nebulizing system for delivering liquid to the nasal cavities

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNebulization: Aerosol

Data Source

PatentEP2274033B1Device for washing nasal cavities with an incorporated pump
Publication Date: 2017.09.20 FLAEM NUOVA
  • EP2274033B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2274033B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2274033B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention concerns a device for washing nasal cavities by a nebulised liquid, that comprises a main body (12), a tank for liquids (14) possibly subdivided into a nebulisation chamber (23) and a collection chamber (24) of the substances returning from the nasal cavities, and means of collection and nebulisation of the treatment liquid from said nebulisation chamber and delivery of the nebulised liquid towards the nasal cavities with the help of a flow of air under pressure generated by a compressor group. The main body (12) has a cavity and the compressor group (18) is housed in said cavity in communication, on one part, with the outside by means of an intake passage (21) and, on the other part, with said means of collecting and nebulisation of the treatment liquid by means of a delivery nozzle (21').