Nose Clip with Curved Inner Support for Nasal Valve Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nasal airway opening solutions, such as nasal strips and homemade devices, often cause irritation and allergic reactions due to adhesives and can be ineffective in maintaining nasal airflow, while surgical options are invasive and not universally applicable.
Innovation Solution
A nose clip that applies outward pressure against the nasal cavity's interior surface using a malleable material with a curved inner support member to open the nasal valve, improving airflow without adhesives and accommodating varying nasal anatomies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive strips are used to open the nasal airway, then lateral displacement of the nasal valve is achieved, but user irritation and allergic reactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive component entirely from the nasal airway opening device. Instead of using adhesive strips that bond to the skin, the invention uses a mechanical insertion device that physically opens the nasal valve through lateral displacement without requiring any adhesive substances, thereby eliminating adhesive-related irritation and allergic reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a curved insertion tool as an intermediary device that applies mechanical force to open the nasal valve. This intermediary tool allows the user to achieve nasal airway opening through mechanical means rather than relying on adhesive substances, thus resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and adhesive-related harm.
2Reliability
If nasal strips are placed on the outside of the nose, then lateral displacement is provided, but the effectiveness depends on nasal anatomy and sidewall characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible, curved insertion tool that can adapt its shape and application force based on the user's specific nasal anatomy. The device is designed to be inserted and manipulated within the nasal cavity, allowing it to conform to different nasal passages and achieve effective lateral displacement of the nasal valve regardless of individual anatomical variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from external application (nasal strips on the skin) to internal insertion (curved tool within the nasal cavity). This parameter change in application location and method allows the device to directly interact with the nasal valve structure, providing consistent effectiveness across different nasal anatomies without relying on external adhesive bonding.
3Reliability
If devices push on the medial wall of the nose (septum) to open the airway, then nasal airflow is improved, but irritation and erosion of the nasal mucosa occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach of pushing on the medial wall (septum) by instead applying lateral displacement force to open the nasal valve from within the nasal cavity. The curved insertion tool is designed to apply force in a direction that opens the airway without compressing or irritating the septum, thereby achieving airflow improvement while avoiding mucosal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies force locally at the nasal valve region rather than on the septum. The curved insertion tool is specifically designed to target the nasal valve structure and apply lateral displacement force precisely where needed to open the airway, avoiding contact with and potential damage to the septum and surrounding mucosal tissues.
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 nose clip effectively increases nasal airflow, reducing discomfort and the risk of irritation, and can be used by individuals with nasal collapse or for general breathing improvement during physical exertion, while also serving as a platform for a drug-delivery apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a malleable material with a curved inner support member to open the nasal valve
Data Source
AI summary
A nose clip includes an outer support member adapted to contact an outside surface of a nose; a bridge connected at a first end to the outer support member; and an inner support member connected to a second end of the bridge and adapted to be inserted into the nostril and to contact an inner surface of the nostril. When inserted, tension generated between the outer support member and the inner support member causes lateral movement of a surface within the nostril and opens a nasal airway. Additionally, the inner support can be curved to create an outward movement of the lateral wall of the nose. This in turn enables improved breathing. The nose clip may be made of a malleable material. The inner support member may include extensions that are malleable. The inner support members may be bent so that they create a convex contour of an interior surface of the nasal cavity. A different embodiment of the nose clip can be used to deliver drugs via a fluid filled cavity and porous surface that allows evaporation of the fluid and drug into the nasal cavity as air is drawn over the inner support member.