Nasal Spray Delivery Guide for Accurate Lateral Wall Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nasal sprays are often misdelivered due to difficulties in positioning the spray device correctly, leading to ineffective medication absorption and potential injuries such as epistaxis and septal ulcerations, particularly in patients with physical limitations.
Innovation Solution
A nasal spray delivery guide comprising a pair of guide elements and a flexible connector, designed to be inserted into nostrils to direct the spray to the lateral nasal wall, preventing over-insertion and ensuring accurate delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If patients use standard nasal spray devices without guidance, then the device is simple to manufacture and low cost, but the delivery accuracy and patient safety deteriorate due to improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a nasal spray guide as an intermediary device that facilitates accurate delivery of nasal spray medication. The guide includes a guide body with a guide channel that directs the spray along the lateral nasal wall, and a positioning element that ensures correct placement. This intermediary structure enables precise delivery without requiring complex integrated systems in the spray device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the nasal spray delivery system into separate components: the nasal spray device and the nasal spray guide. The guide can be used independently with various spray devices, allowing each component to be optimized separately. The guide body, guide channel, and positioning element are distinct structural segments that work together to achieve accurate delivery.
2Measurement precision
If patients are instructed on proper spray device handling, then delivery accuracy improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in following instructions, especially for patients with physical limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal spray guide enables self-service by providing built-in positioning and guidance features that automatically ensure correct delivery angle and location. The positioning element (such as a flange or wing) self-adjusts to fit the patient's anatomy, and the guide channel automatically directs the spray along the lateral nasal wall without requiring the patient to manually position the device at the correct angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates visual indicators (such as colored zones or markings) on the guide or spray device that provide immediate feedback to the patient about correct placement and delivery angle. These visual cues allow patients to self-correct their positioning without needing to remember complex verbal instructions.
3Length of moving object
If spray is directed towards the nasal septum or back of throat, then insertion depth may be increased, but harmful effects increase due to epistaxis, septal ulcerations, or sore throat
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal spray guide provides localized protection by creating a specific delivery pathway along the lateral nasal wall that avoids the nasal septum and back of the throat. The guide channel is configured to direct spray only to the intended target area (lateral nasal wall), while the positioning element prevents medial deviation toward the septum. This localized control of spray direction eliminates harmful effects without limiting necessary insertion depth.
Data Source
AI summary
A nasal spray delivery guide including a pair of guide elements spaced apart from one another and configured to be at least partially inserted into respective nostrils of a patient, and a flexible connector element attached to and extending between the guide elements. Each guide element includes an aperture extending therethrough from a base end to a tip end of the guide element. A method for delivering a nasal spray into a patient's nose includes the steps of providing the nasal spray delivery guide, inserting the guide elements at least partially into respective nostrils of the patient, inserting at least a portion of a nasal spray delivery device into one of the guide elements, and activating the nasal spray delivery device to deliver a nasal spray to a lateral wall of the respective nasal cavity.