Handheld Nasal Irrigation With Gravity and Suction Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nasal irrigation devices lack a practical, hand-held solution that combines gravity, pressure, and suction delivery methods, and do not offer a powered mechanism for safe and controlled irrigation, leading to inefficiencies and user discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held nasal irrigation device with a source of saline solution, an effluent receptacle, a nasal interface, fluid passageways, and a switch and valve assembly that utilizes gravity, pressure, and powered suction to deliver saline solution effectively, ensuring a controlled and gentle irrigation process while collecting effluent for easy disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nasal irrigation devices use only gravity or pressure delivery methods, then the device structure remains simple, but the irrigation effectiveness and user comfort are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple delivery methods (gravity, pressure, and suction) into a single nasal irrigation device. The device integrates a saline solution source, effluent receptacle, nasal interface, fluid passageways, and a powered mechanism with switch and valve assembly to provide controlled irrigation through combined gravitational and suction forces, thereby improving irrigation effectiveness while managing device complexity through unified design.
2Ease of operation
If nasal irrigation devices use powered suction mechanism, then the controlled and gentle irrigation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The powered suction mechanism automatically draws saline solution through the nasal cavity and collects effluent in the receptacle, eliminating the need for manual pouring or squeezing operations. The switch and valve assembly provides automated control of the irrigation process, making operation simpler despite the added mechanical components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional nasal irrigation devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but mess and risk of harmful pressures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The effluent receptacle acts as an intermediary to collect and contain the irrigated fluid, preventing mess during and after the irrigation process. The controlled suction mechanism serves as a mediator to regulate fluid flow and pressure, eliminating the harmful pressure spikes associated with manual squeezing methods while maintaining simple enough structure for practical use.
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 provides a convenient, effective, and comfortable nasal irrigation experience by combining gravity and suction, reducing nasal congestion and improving airflow, while minimizing mess and risk of harmful pressures, thus addressing the limitations of existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum source, fluid passageways... The source of saline solution communicates with the effluent receptacle through the fluid passageway
Implementation Method 2
The nasal interface engages a device user's nostrils to deliver saline solution by gravity from the source to the nasal cavity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for nasal irrigation are provided in which a nasal irrigation device includes a source of saline solution, an effluent receptacle, a nasal interface, a vacuum source, a fluid passageway to communicate the source of saline solution with the effluent receptacle through the nasal interface and a nasal cavity of a user, and a switch and valve assembly for selectively controlling the vacuum source and flow of the saline solution through the fluid passageway. The source of saline solution is disposed relative to the device to provide gravitational inducement of the saline solution to the nasal interface in engagement to the device user's nostrils. A combination of the gravitational inducement and a relative vacuum from the effluent receptacle generates a fluid flow for irrigating, cleansing and massaging the nasal cavity and ostia of the user. The entire device is assembled as a hand-held device for convenient lifting and disposal against the user's nostrils.