CN112203627A

CN112203627A - Therapeutic device for treating conditions associated with sinuses, nasal cavity, ears, nose and throat

Info

Publication number: CN112203627A
Application number: CN201980026976.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 理查德·K·博根; 大卫·J·刘易斯; 卡莱布·平克尼; 大卫·邦纳; 迈克尔·马洛尼
Original assignee: Health Beep Ltd
Current assignee: Health Beep Ltd; Healthy Humming LLC
Priority date: 2019-05-07
Filing date: 2019-05-07
Publication date: 2021-01-08
Also published as: WO2020226629A1; AU2019444217A1; EP3965711A4; EP3965711A1; CA3139409A1

Abstract

A treatment device for treating symptoms of a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user includes a housing that a user can hold to apply the treatment device to the user, the housing including an air intake hole that allows air to enter the treatment device. An acoustic vibrator located within the housing provides acoustic vibrations to the user, and a power source located within the housing provides power to the acoustic vibrator. The mask is connected to the housing and includes a nasal interface that is applicable around the nose of the user. The valve of the mask opens to allow the user to breathe through the air inlet hole and closes to prevent the user from exhaling through the air inlet hole. The mask also includes a septum and a nasal cavity in which the user's nares are located when the nasal interface is applied to the user.

Description

Therapeutic device for treating conditions associated with sinuses, nasal cavity, ears, nose and throat

Background

Many people suffer from sinusitis, which is characterized by edema, inflammation and obstruction of the upper respiratory mucosa. Typically, the sinuses are filled with air, but inflammation and edema can lead to obstruction, fluid flow (e.g., mucus, drainage, etc.), and/or accumulation of infectious material (e.g., bacteria, viruses, etc.). Sinusitis causes a number of uncomfortable symptoms, including pain due to sinus cavity pressure, nasal mucus discharge, headaches, and the like. Accordingly, there is a need for treatment of sinusitis, including acute, subacute, recurrent, and/or chronic sinusitis.

Furthermore, when a person encounters sudden pressure changes (e.g., aircraft takeoff and/or landing), eustachian tube balance may be lost, which may cause the pressure in the ear canal to become unbalanced. It is necessary to treat loss of eustachian tube balance due to sudden changes in pressure.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an embodiment, described herein is a therapeutic device for treating one or more symptoms associated with a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user, the therapeutic device may include a vibration generator configured to provide vibrations to a nasal interface of the user, the nasal interface being located over, around, or in the nose of the user. The treatment device may further include: a gas module configured to provide gas at a positive pressure to a user at a chamber; and a seal configured to maintain a positive pressure at the chamber. The treatment device may further include: a power module configured to provide power to the vibration generator to generate vibrations; and a housing that can be held by a user and connected to the vibration generator, the gas module, and the power module. The therapeutic device may further comprise a user interface mounted on the housing and operable by a user to control one or more of the following functions of the therapeutic device: increase gaseous malleation, reduce gaseous malleation, adjust gaseous malleation, increase the frequency that gaseous malleation was adjusted, reduce the frequency that gaseous malleation was adjusted, open gaseous malleation, close gaseous malleation, increase the vibration that vibration generator produced, or reduce the vibration that vibration generator produced. The gas module of the therapeutic apparatus may act as a vibration generator by regulating the positive pressure of the gas. The treatment device may further include: a medication module configured to provide medication to a user; and a user interface mounted to the housing and operable by a user to control one or more of the following functions of the therapeutic apparatus: the method may include activating the medication module to provide medication to the user, deactivating the medication module to stop providing medication to the user, increasing an amount of medication provided to the user by the medication module, or decreasing an amount of medication provided to the user by the medication module. The treatment device may be associated with a seal included on the housing and/or a chamber located within the housing. The therapeutic device may further include a nasal pillow extending from the housing and connected to the vibration generator. The seal body may be located on the nasal pillow and the chamber may be located within a nostril associated with the nasal pillow. The vibrations may be transmitted to the user through the nasal pillows, and the nasal pillows may also include stabilizers. The power module may provide power generated by the user's breath or a crank operated by the user to the vibration generator to provide vibrations to the user. The power provided by the power module may be electric power or rotary power.

The treatment device may further comprise at least one of: a temperature control module for heating the gas, or a humidity control module for increasing or decreasing the humidity of the gas. The gas may correspond to one or more of: air, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, water vapor, exhaled breath of the user, or heliox. The positive pressure of the gas may be 4 to 25cm or 4 to 10cm of water. The therapeutic device may include a valve that prevents positive pressure within the chamber from exceeding a threshold.

According to another embodiment, a manually-operated therapy device for treating one or more symptoms associated with a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user described herein may include a vibration generator configured to provide vibrations to a nasal interface of the user, the nasal interface being located over, around, or in a nose of the user. The treatment device may further include: a power module configured to provide power generated by a user to the vibration generator; and a gas module configured to provide gas having a positive pressure to a user at the chamber. The gas module may include a reservoir that may be filled with exhaled breath of the user to provide a positive pressure of gas. The therapeutic device may further include a seal configured to maintain a positive pressure of the chamber; and a housing that a user can hold and connect to the sealed body, the vibration generator, the power module, and the gas module. The user generated power may come from the user's exhaled breath or the user's rotating crank. The treatment device may include a cover.

According to another embodiment described herein, a method for treating one or more symptoms associated with a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user may include providing a treatment device including a vibration generator configured to provide vibrations to a nasal pillow located at a nasal interface of the user, the nasal interface located in a nose of the user. The treatment device may further include: a gas module configured to provide gas at a positive pressure to a user at a chamber; and a seal configured to maintain a positive pressure at the chamber. The method may further include operating the treatment device to provide vibrations to the nasal pillows and operating the treatment device to provide gas to the chambers.

According to another embodiment described herein, a therapeutic device for treating one or more symptoms associated with a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user includes a vibration generator including an acoustic device configured to provide sound. The therapeutic device also includes a seal that may be applied to a nasal interface of a user, the nasal interface being positioned around a nose and/or mouth of the user. The therapeutic device further comprises a housing that can be held by a user, the housing being connected to the vibration generator and the sealing body. When the seal body is applied to the user's nasal interface, the vibration generator may apply sound to the user's nasal interface. The therapeutic device may also include an airtight chamber formed within the housing when the seal is applied to the nasal interface of the user, and a gas module connected to the housing and configured to provide a positive pressure in the airtight chamber. The positive pressure may be generated by the exhaled breath of the user. The treatment apparatus may also include a poppet valve that limits the positive pressure. The treatment device may further comprise a check valve that prevents a vacuum from being created in the airtight chamber. The therapeutic device may further comprise a user interface operable by a user to control one or more of the following functions of the therapeutic device: turning the sound on, turning the sound off, increasing the sound level produced by the vibration generator, decreasing the sound level produced by the vibration generator, increasing the frequency of the sound, or decreasing the frequency of the sound. The therapeutic device may further include a power module. The power module may be located within the vibration generator. The vibration generator may comprise a signal source. The vibration generator may receive a signal from an external source, which is used by the acoustic device to generate sound. The acoustic device may be a speaker, an electro-acoustic transducer, a tone generator, a tone module, an ultrasonic generator, an ultra low frequency generator, or a buzzer. The sound may be like a hum. The frequency of the sound may be from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz. The sound level of the sound may be from about 20 decibels to about 100 decibels. The gas module may generate vibrations.

According to another embodiment described herein, a therapeutic device for treating one or more symptoms associated with a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user includes a vibration generator including an acoustic device that converts a signal into sound. The signal is generated by a vibration generator or an external device. The therapeutic device further comprises a housing that can be held by a user, the housing being connected to the vibration generator. The shell is connectable to a nasal interface of a user to provide sound to a nasal cavity, a sinus, and/or an ear canal of the user. The therapeutic device may also include a gas module connected to the housing and driven by the exhalation breath of the user to provide positive pressure to the user or to provide vibration to the user.

According to another embodiment described herein, a method for treating one or more symptoms associated with a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user includes providing a treatment device including a vibration generator configured to provide sound. The method also includes applying the therapeutic device to a nasal interface of a user. The method also includes operating the therapeutic device to apply sound to a nasal interface of the user. The method may further include exhaling by the user to provide positive pressure to the user's nasal interface or to provide vibrations to the user's nasal interface. The method may further include the sound having a frequency from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz.

According to another embodiment described herein, a therapeutic device for treating one or more symptoms associated with a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user includes a housing that a user can hold to apply the therapeutic device to the user, the housing including an air intake that allows air to enter the therapeutic device. The therapeutic device also includes an acoustic vibrator operable to provide acoustic vibrations to a user, the acoustic vibrator being located within the housing. The therapeutic device also includes a power source for powering the acoustic vibrator, the power source being located within the housing. A mask is connected to the housing and includes a nasal interface applicable around the nose of the user and a valve aligned with the air inlet aperture, the valve opening to allow the user to breathe through the air inlet aperture, the valve closing to prevent exhaled air of the user from escaping the air inlet aperture. The face mask further comprises: a membrane opposite the nasal interface, the membrane being a closed end of the mask; and a nasal chamber (nasal chamber) extending from the nasal interface, wherein the user's nares are located when the nasal interface is applied around the user's nose. The acoustic vibrator provides acoustic vibrations directly to the nose of the user when the nasal interface is applied around the nose of the user and when the acoustic vibrator is operated to provide the acoustic vibrations. When applied around the nose of a user, the nasal interface may form a seal between the mask and the user that allows pressure to be maintained in the nasal cavity. The mask may include a vent aligned with the mechanical vibrator that creates pressure in the nasal cavity or provides mechanical vibration to the user when a seal is formed between the user and the mask and when the user exhales into the nasal interface, the exhaled breath of the user being provided to the mechanical vibrator through the vent. The pressure may be determined by the weight of a ball bearing located within the mechanical vibrator, with the air vent aligned with the ball bearing. The ball bearings may oscillate to produce mechanical vibrations. The treatment device may further include a second valve aligned with the second air inlet aperture, the second valve being located in the mask opposite the valve and the second air inlet aperture being located in the housing opposite the air inlet aperture. The therapeutic device may also include a user interface operable by a user to communicate sound to the user. The user interface may be a button. The acoustic vibrations may have a frequency from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz. The acoustic vibrator may include an amplifier that provides a signal to the speaker that is used by the speaker to provide the acoustic vibrations. The signal may be provided at a frequency above 20000 hertz. The acoustic vibrator may include a button operable by a user interface to provide acoustic vibrations for a minimum amount of time. The mask may be removably connected to the housing. The valve may correspond to a flap of material.

According to another embodiment described herein, a mask for a therapeutic device includes: a nasal interface applicable around a user's nose; and a valve that allows a user to breathe through the valve when the valve is open when the nasal interface is applied to the user. The valves correspond to flaps. The mask may further include a membrane opposite the nasal interface, the membrane being a closed end of the mask. The mask may further include nasal cavities in which the user's nares are located when the nasal interface is applied around the user's nose. The mask may be formed of silicone. The mask may be of unitary design. The mask may include a medial side insertable into the treatment apparatus, the valve being located on the medial side. The mask may include a vent opening on the medial side that corresponds to an aperture that allows exhaled air of the user to exit the nasal cavity when the nasal interface is applied to the user. The mask may include a recess into which the treatment device may be inserted, the medial side being located to one side of the recess. The recess may include a key to align the mask in the treatment device. The mask may include a second valve opposite the valve.

An example method for treating nasal symptoms of a user described herein includes: a therapeutic treatment device for generating acoustic vibrations is provided, the therapeutic treatment device comprising a mask including a nasal interface applicable around a user's nose and a nasal chamber extending from the nasal interface into which a user's nares may be inserted. The mask also includes a valve that opens to allow the user to inhale, and closes to maintain pressure in the nasal cavity. The therapeutic device also includes an acoustic vibrator that generates acoustic vibrations with the speaker, and a housing coupled to the mask, the acoustic vibrator being located within the housing. The method also includes applying a nasal interface around the nose of the user, and operating the therapeutic device to apply sound to the nasal interface of the user. The method also includes exhaling by the user to create a positive pressure in the nasal chamber. The therapeutic device may include a mechanical vibrator that produces a mechanical vibration when the user exhales. The frequency of the sound may be from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz.

Drawings

FIG. 1 represents an example environment in which techniques described herein may be implemented.

Fig. 2 shows a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the treatment apparatus of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of the treatment apparatus of fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4A and 4B depict alternative non-limiting example embodiments of the treatment device of fig. 1.

Fig. 5A-5E depict alternative non-limiting example embodiments of a therapeutic device according to the techniques described herein.

Detailed Description

The devices, systems, methods, techniques, and/or technologies (hereinafter "technology") described herein may provide a therapeutic device for treating sinus symptoms and methods for a user to use the therapeutic device to treat sinusitis as well as various other disorders of the sinuses, nasal cavity, ears, nose, throat, etc. This technique may be described in fig. 1 through 5E. Fig. 1 through 5E are attached hereto and are incorporated by reference herein. The following detailed description refers to fig. 1-5E. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. The embodiments depicted in fig. 1-5E are example embodiments, but the present techniques may be embodied in many different embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts a non-limiting example environment in which the techniques described herein may be implemented. As shown in fig. 1, the environment 100 may include a user 110, the user 110 may apply a treatment device 120 to form a seal 130 (covered by the treatment device 120 in fig. 1) at/around the nasal passage of the user. The user 110 may position the treatment device 120 by placing the treatment device 120 on, over, around, or within the user's nostrils, nose, mouth, and/or face. The seal body may form a chamber associated with the nasal passage of the user 110, which may be substantially airtight and/or watertight. The seal 130 may maintain pressure within the chamber, may prevent or limit an amount of gas from entering and/or exiting the treatment device to the environment, and/or may ensure that a user inhales some or all of the gas/drug/etc. provided by the treatment device (e.g., through the chamber). The user 110 may be suffering from one or more sinus symptoms that may be treated by the treatment device 120 (e.g., mucus, drainage, infection, inflammation, pressure imbalance in the sinus and/or ear canal, etc.). The seal may be located in the nasal passages, outside the nasal passages, on the face around the nasal passages (as shown in fig. 1), around the mouth and/or nose, and the like. The treatment device may include a gas module (which may also include temperature and humidity controls), a vibration generator, a power module, a medication module, a valve, a nasal pillow, and/or a ballast for treating sinus symptoms as further described herein. The components shown in fig. 1 are provided for illustrative purposes only, and the disclosure herein is not intended to be limited to the components provided therein. There may be other components, fewer components, different components, and/or a different arrangement of components than those shown in fig. 1. Likewise, in some embodiments, one or more components/modules of the therapeutic device of fig. 1 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more components/modules of the therapeutic device of fig. 1. Further, the treatment device 120 of fig. 1 is depicted as a device having a monolithic construction. The treatment devices can be formed as a single component and/or as multiple components having various structural designs and/or arrangements. FIG. 1 depicts an example environment 100 in which the techniques may be implemented. Example embodiments employing this technique are described further below.

Fig. 2 depicts an example embodiment of the therapeutic device 120 of fig. 1. As shown in fig. 2, the therapeutic device 120 may include a housing 210 having a user interface 211, a valve 212, a sealing body 220, a vibration generator 230, a nasal pillow 240, a gas module 250, a power source 260, and a drug module 270. The components shown in fig. 2 are provided for illustration purposes only, and the disclosure herein is not intended to be limited to or require the components provided herein. There may be other components, fewer components, different components, and/or a different arrangement of components than those shown in fig. 2. Likewise, in some embodiments, one or more components/modules of the therapeutic device of fig. 2 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more components/modules of the therapeutic device of fig. 2. For example, but not limiting of, the functionality of the vibration generator 230 may be provided by the gas module 250 and/or the power source 260.

The therapeutic device may include one or more modules that may apply a controlled amount of vibration to the user via the nasal interface in a manner that stimulates the user's nasal cavities and sinus cavities and/or in a manner that alleviates symptoms associated with the sinuses, nasal cavities, ears, nose, and/or throat. The therapeutic device may also or alternatively include one or more modules that may provide gas to the user via the nasal interface in a manner that stimulates the user's nasal cavities and sinus cavities and/or in a manner that alleviates symptoms associated with the sinuses, nasal cavities, ears, nose, and/or throat. The therapeutic device may also or alternatively include one or more modules for controlling the temperature and/or humidity level of the gas, and/or combining a controlled amount of a drug (e.g., in liquid and/or powder form) with the gas. The therapeutic device may include a power module that stores power (e.g., batteries, battery packs, etc.) and/or receives power (e.g., power received from an ac power source and/or controls power), and/or may be manually powered by the user (e.g., by inhaling, exhaling, or other manual means).

The user may hold the housing 210 while using the treatment device 120 to treat sinus symptoms. Additionally or alternatively, the housing 210 may provide a chamber (e.g., when the seal body 220 is applied to a nasal interface) that may store gas under pressure and/or deliver drugs to a user for treating one or more of the symptoms described herein. Additionally or alternatively, one or more components of the treatment device 120 may be permanently and/or removably seated, mounted, and/or attached to the housing 210 such that the treatment device 120 may be more compact, convenient, and/or may be of a unitary design. The housing 210 may enclose one or more modules discussed herein. The housing 210 may include a user interface 211 formed by one or more buttons, joysticks, displays, touch screens, dials, and the like, that a user may interact with to control the therapeutic device (e.g., control vibrations, control gas pressure, temperature, flow and/or humidity, drug delivery, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the user interface 211 may be placed on any other component of the therapy device 120, including the vibration generator 230, one of the modules, and so forth. The user interface 211 may be a single unit, as shown in FIG. 2; or the user interface 211 may consist of separate components at different locations on the treatment device 120 (e.g., an on/off switch at one location, and a vibration-modifying control at another location, etc.). The user interface 211 may include a power switch, one or more buttons, or a user interface to control settings associated with the modules described herein, such as gas pressure, dose, vibration level, vibration frequency, temperature, humidity, and the like. The user interface may include a display that may present information identifying parameters associated with the modules described herein, such as charge level, gas level, pressure level, medication level, humidity level, vibration frequency, temperature, and the like.

The housing 210 may also include a valve 212, which valve 212 may regulate the pressure and/or flow of gas into and/or out of a chamber associated with the housing 210. For example, but not limiting of, the valve 212 may correspond to a poppet valve, which may prevent the pressure within the chamber from exceeding a certain threshold associated with the opening pressure of the poppet valve. Additionally or alternatively, the valve 212 may correspond to a check valve that may prevent a vacuum and/or a pressure below ambient pressure from being created within the chamber (e.g., when a user inhales). Additionally or alternatively, the valve may correspond to a pressure regulating and/or flow regulating valve, which may limit the pressure within the chamber, and/or the flow rate of gas into and/or out of the chamber.

The housing 210 may be formed from one or more materials (e.g., polymers, metal alloys, fiberglass, composites, etc.) having sufficient strength and rigidity to support static and/or dynamic loads (e.g., forces, torques, tensions, compressions, stresses, strains, etc.) applied to the housing 210 by components of the treatment device 120 (e.g., when they are mounted on the housing, applying pressure to the housing, etc.) to support user operation of the treatment device to support pressure and/or vibration applied to the housing 210 by the user and/or components of the treatment device 120. The seal 220 may be an interface between the treatment device 120 and a user, and thus treatments (e.g., vibrations, pressure, drugs, etc.) described herein may be provided through the seal 220 (e.g., vibrations through the seal 220, pressure transferred to the user due to the seal 220, etc.).

The sealing body 220 may be a separate component that is permanently and/or removably attached to the housing 210, the nasal pillow 240, and/or some other portion of the treatment device 120, which may form a chamber at the nasal interface of the user. The user may apply the seal body 220 to the user (e.g., by grasping the housing and pressing the seal body around the nasal interface) to form a chamber within which gases (e.g., pressurized gases, therapeutic gases, etc.), drugs, humidity, etc. may reside prior to inhalation by the user. The seal 220 may be completely and/or partially hermetic. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the seal body 220 is located on a surface of the housing 210 that contacts the face of the user. Additionally or alternatively, the sealing body 220 may be placed in other locations, such as the nasal pillows 240. As shown in FIG. 1, the sealing body 220 may be formed in a shape (e.g., a mask, a cover, etc.) that may fit over or around the user's nose and/or the user's nose and mouth. In this example, the seal 220 may enable a positive pressure (e.g., above ambient pressure) to be generated, controlled, and/or maintained within the chamber (e.g., the volume inside the housing 210, etc.) when gas is provided to the user by the treatment device 120. As discussed further herein, the pressure may be constant, adjustable, may cause vibration, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the treatment device 120 may provide treatment (e.g., vibration, humidity, medication, temperature controlled gas and/or medication, etc.) from one or more modules to the user through the sealed body 220.

The sealing body 220 may be made of one or more materials (e.g., polymers, rubbers, metals, etc.) having sufficient strength and rigidity to support the static and/or dynamic loads (e.g., forces, torques, tensions, compressions, stresses, strains, etc.) applied to the sealing body by other components of the treatment device 120. For example, and without limitation, the sealing body 220 may support a vibration load associated with a pressure change and/or vibration generating device, and may support a pressure load associated with applying pressure to a user. Additionally or alternatively, the sealing body 220 may be formed of one or more materials having sufficient flexibility and resiliency to be pressed by a user (e.g., when forming the sealing body at and/or around the nasal interface) and/or comfortably used by a user. For example, the sealing body 220 may be formed of a gasket-like material that may be comfortable to a user and/or may maintain pressure within a chamber formed by the sealing body 220. The sealing body 220 may be removable to allow cleaning and/or replacement of the sealing body 220.

The vibration generator 230 may provide mechanical vibrations to the user via the nasal interface (e.g., at the sealing body 220, the nasal pillows 240, etc.). The vibration generator 230 may include one or more mechanical vibration generating components (e.g., a biased weight device, a cam drive device, etc.). For example, the vibration generator may include one or more electrically driven vibration components, including but not limited to an eccentric rotating mass motor, an offset weighted motor, a linear resonant actuator, a piezoelectric bender, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the vibration generator may be mechanically driven. For example, the user may power the vibration device by breathing into the nasal interface. By inhaling and/or exhaling, a user may rotate a set of blades (e.g., rotor blades, turbine blades, fan blades, etc.) that may be attached to a shaft associated with a mass that is offset from the center of the shaft. As the shaft rotates, the offset weights rotate, thereby creating a centrifugal force applied to the user when, for example, the shaft is connected to (e.g., allowed to rotate in bearings and transmit vibratory forces, etc.) the nasal interface (e.g., connected to components associated with the nasal pillows 240, the sealing body 220, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the user may exhale to fill a reservoir (e.g., a reservoir located within gas module 250) with exhaled air (e.g., through a check valve or the like that allows exhaled air to enter but not escape), and may rotate the blade set to rotate the shaft that generates the vibrations using pressure generated and/or stored within the reservoir (e.g., allowing gas to escape the reservoir or the like when another valve is operated, e.g., controlled by user interface 211). Additionally or alternatively, the user may manually operate the shaft (e.g., by operating a crank, etc.) to generate the vibrations, e.g., in the manner described herein. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing examples of vibration generation. Any type of known vibration device may be used. For example, the inner mass may be attached to a spring that may be depressed by a shaft that travels along a cam that may be connected to a shaft that is driven by a user (e.g., by the user's breath, by hand, etc.). Transmitting vibrations to the user via the nasal interface may stimulate the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity, thereby rupturing and/or loosening liquids, mucus, solids, and/or obstructions within the user's nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity. Such stimulation may promote drainage of the nasal and/or sinus cavities. Additionally or alternatively, the vibration may open the ear canal to relieve pressure on the eardrum that may be generated by infection, mucus, and/or pressure changes (e.g., take-off and/or landing on an airplane).

Additionally or alternatively, the vibration generator 230 may be acoustically driven. Vibration generator 230 may include one or more acoustic devices that generate acoustic vibrations and/or sound ("sound"). The acoustic device may correspond to any sound generating device including, for example, a speaker, an electroacoustic transducer, a tone generator, a tone module, an ultrasonic generator, an ultra low frequency generator, a buzzer, etc. The acoustic device may receive a signal (e.g., an electrical signal that is converted to sound by the acoustic device, etc.) from the power module 260 or some external electronic device, and may use this signal to generate sound. Additionally or alternatively, the vibration generator 230 may include a signal source. The user may control vibration generator 230, for example, via user interface 211, to adjust the sound (i.e., turn the sound on or off, increase the frequency of the sound, decrease the frequency of the sound, increase the level of the sound, decrease the level of the sound, increase the sound pressure, decrease the sound pressure, increase vibrations associated with the sound, decrease vibrations associated with the sound, etc.). The sound may correspond to vibrations associated with pressure changes, which may be audible (e.g., within a frequency of about 20 hertz (Hz) to about 20000Hz, a sound level of from about 0 db to 100 db or more, etc.) or inaudible (e.g., low frequency sounds known as infrasound, high frequency sounds known as ultrasound, etc.). The sound applied may depend on the comfort of the user (i.e., the sound level is not so high as to make it uncomfortable) and/or the usefulness of the sound in producing therapeutic vibrations (e.g., at or near resonance frequencies associated with, for example, the treatment device 120, cilia within the user's sinuses, bone and/or cartilage of the user's sinuses, etc.). The vibration generator may provide a constant or variable rate of amplitude, frequency and/or sound pressure sound to the user. For example, the sound may buzz over a range of sound levels (e.g., from about 20 decibels to about 100 decibels) (e.g., at a frequency of about 100Hz to 150Hz, more specifically, from about 115 Hz to about 140 Hz, etc.). The sound may vary depending on the degree of occlusion of the user, the pressure in the user's ear, etc. The vibration generator may generate sound that vibrates the therapeutic device 120 or a portion thereof. These vibrations may be transmitted to the user through the seal body 220 and/or the nasal pillows 240. Additionally or alternatively, sound from the vibration generator 230 may cause vibrations in the user (e.g., cilia in the user's sinuses may vibrate, bone and cartilage of the sinuses may vibrate, mucus in the user's sinuses may vibrate, etc.).

When the vibration generator 230 includes a signal source, sound may be generated from the signal generated by the vibration generator 230. The signal source may generate one or more signals (e.g., electrical signals, etc.) that are used by the acoustic devices of the vibration generator 230 to generate the acoustic waves or acoustic wave patterns described herein. The signal source may correspond to: for example, a device that can produce sound signals (e.g., tone generator, etc.), or a medium that can store signals (e.g., hard disk drive, memory medium, etc., that can store digital or analog signals), and an output device (e.g., digital-to-analog converter, etc.) that can read signals from the medium and deliver the signals to an acoustic device to produce sound. The signal may be provided to the acoustic device when, for example, the therapeutic device is turned on, when the user controls the user interface to turn on the signal or modify the signal, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the vibration generator 230 may receive a signal, for example, from the power module 260 or an external device, which may be used by an acoustic device of the vibration generator 230 to generate sound as described herein. The vibration generator 230 may also include an amplifier that may increase the strength of the signal generated and/or received by the vibration generator 230.

The nasal pillows 240 may be one or more members that fit the nose of the user. The nasal pillows 240 may transmit vibrations to the user, such as vibrations generated by the vibration generator 230, the pressure module 250, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the nasal pillow 240 may form a seal in the nasal passage of the user (e.g., by including a seal such as seal 220) to allow therapy (e.g., pressurized gas, medication, etc.) to be provided to the user in the intranasal cavity through the nasal pillow 240. For example, the nasal pillows 240 may include one or more channels (e.g., penetrations/tubes, etc.) (not shown) through which medication, pressurized gas, etc. may be delivered to the user from one of the modules described herein.

Nasal pillow240 may include one or more stabilizer assemblies attached to, integrated into, and/or formed as part of the nasal pillows. Additionally or alternatively, the stabilizer assembly may be attached to, integrated into, and/or formed as part of another component of the treatment device 120 associated with transmitting vibrations to the user (e.g., the sealing body 220 or the housing 210). The stabilizer assembly may be made of a high density material (e.g., steel, copper, lead, molybdenum, silver, gold, tungsten, platinum, high density polymers (e.g., aluminum, copper, molybdenum, silver, gold, tungsten, platinum, etc.) (e.g., titanium, molybdenum

) High gravity composite ceramics, etc.). The high density material may be ergonomically shaped to fit in, over or around the user's nostrils, nose, mouth and/or face. For example, and without limitation, the high density material may form a seal within the user's nares (similar to the seal 220 at the nasal pillows). The mass, inertia, and/or momentum of the stabilizer assembly may enable vibrations to be imparted to the user through the nasal interface (e.g., at the nasal pillow 240, the sealing body 220, the housing 210, etc.). The stabilizer assembly may transmit vibrations to the user in response to vibrating the user's nasal and/or sinus cavities. Such vibrations may stimulate the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavities in a manner that loosens, expels, and/or otherwise removes fluids, mucus, solids, and/or other obstructions within the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavities. The vibratory force provided to the user via the stabilizer assembly as described above may be generated by the vibration generator 230, the gas module 250 (e.g., the regulated gas pressure may cause the nasal interface and/or the stabilizer assembly to vibrate in a manner that applies the vibratory force to the user), and/or another component and/or module of the treatment device 120 that may generate vibrations as described herein. When a user uses the treatment device 120 as described herein, the nasal pillows 240 may extend from the housing 210 (e.g., connected to the housing and/or a stabilizer assembly associated with the housing, etc.), the vibration generator 230, the gas module 250 (e.g., when the gas module 250 is formed as part of the housing 210), etc. to the nostrils of the user.

The gas module 250 may provide gas (e.g., air, water vapor, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, mixtures of oxygen and helium, carbon dioxide, or combinations of these gases, etc.) to the user at a positive pressure (e.g., greater than ambient pressure) via a nasal interface (e.g., in a chamber formed by the housing 210 and the seal body 220, in a nostril through a nose pillow, etc.). Gas module 250 may provide gas in different modes, for example: a constant mode that applies a constant pressure while the user inhales, exhales, or both, an adjusted pressure while the pressure is varied, according to the user's requirements, and the like. The gas module 250 may be connected to (e.g., formed as part of by a gas-tight connection or the like) the housing 210, the nasal pillows 240, and/or another component of the therapy device 120 in a manner that allows pressurized gas to be supplied to and/or received from the user. Gas module 250 may include a pressure vessel that may receive, contain, and/or supply gas at a positive pressure (e.g., above ambient pressure). For example, the gas module 250 may include a reservoir that may be filled with compressed gas as discussed further herein, which may be regulated to provide gas to a user at a pressure (lower than the pressure at which the gas is stored in the reservoir). Additionally or alternatively, the gas module 250 may include a pump (e.g., an electric pump, a manual pump, etc.) that may generate pressurized gas, such as compressed air, for use by the therapy device 120. Gas module 250 may also or alternatively provide pressure to the user that is generated when the user exhales. For example, the user may generate pressure by exhaling (e.g., normal exhalation, exhalation in a manner similar to a balloon, etc.) into a chamber formed by the treatment device 120 (e.g., a chamber formed within the housing 210, formed within a nostril through the nasal pillow 240, etc.). The gas module 250 may include a valve, such as a poppet valve of the housing 210, which may limit the pressure in the chamber, for example, by opening to allow gas to escape the chamber. Pressure may be maintained by, for example, the seal body 220 and/or the nasal pillows 240. The pressure may be stored in the chamber and/or redirected to a reservoir of gas module 250 and used to provide gas pressure to a user (e.g., when inhaling and/or exhaling), as described herein. Additionally or alternatively, gas pressure may be used to generate vibrations as described herein.

The gas module 250 may include a regulator (e.g., a poppet valve, a pressure regulator valve, a single stage diaphragm pressure regulator, a two stage diaphragm pressure regulator, a spring loaded regulator, etc.) to control the pressure and/or flow rate of the gas applied to the user. The pressure regulator may allow gas to be applied to a user at a desired pressure range, such as 4-25cm water (4-25cm H2O), more desirably 4-10cm H2O. The pressure regulator may vary the pressure applied to the user. The gas module 250 may also or alternatively include one or more shut-off valves (e.g., gate valves, ball valves, shut-off valves, spring-loaded shut-off valves, etc.) that may be operable (e.g., by the user interface 211, etc.) to start and/or stop the flow of gas from a gas source (e.g., a compressed gas source) to a user.

Gas module 250 may also regulate and/or oscillate the pressure of the gas applied to the user. Adjusting the pressure of the gas applied to the user may generate a gas pressure pulse that propagates through the nasal interface into the nasal and/or sinus cavities. The gas module may regulate the gas pressure by controlling the shape of each pressure pulse. Such adjustments may include controlling the rate at which the gas pressure increases, stabilizes, and/or decreases over time. The gas module may also or alternatively regulate the gas pressure by controlling the pulse duration, the duration between pulses, the pulse frequency, and the duty cycle associated with the pulses, among other things. The modulating gas pressure pulse may rupture and/or loosen fluid, mucus, solids, or other obstructions within the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity of the user, which may facilitate mucus drainage. To regulate the gas pressure, gas module 250 (or some other component of treatment device 120) may include, for example, a solenoid that may be used to alter the gas delivery path through gas module 250. The solenoid may alter the path of gas from a first pressure regulator (which provides gas to the nasal interface at one pressure) to a second pressure regulator (which provides gas to the nasal interface at a different pressure) and/or from the first pressure regulator to the non-regulated passage via a gas module (which provides gas at a stored or generated pressure). Additional regulators (three, four, five, etc.) may also be used, including the use of three-position (or more) solenoids, multiple solenoids, or other ways of changing the gas path through the regulator. In this way, the pressure at which the gas is introduced into the user can be regulated, for example by operating a solenoid. Additionally or alternatively, the gas module may include one or more pressure regulators that may be configured to switch between two or more pressures or between pressure and no pressure (e.g., equivalent to ambient pressure) in response to an input (automatically and/or manually) to oscillate the pressure of gas delivered to the user. The gas module may vary the gas pressure and/or the modulation frequency of the gas pressure (e.g., based on a series of modulation pressure pulses associated with the waveform, frequency, and/or duty cycle, etc.) to help break up and/or loosen fluids, mucus, solids, and/or obstructions to facilitate drainage of the nasal and/or sinus cavities and/or restore eustachian tube balance. Varying the pressure of the gas and/or the modulation frequency of the gas pressure may also or alternatively generate gas-induced vibrations that may be applied to the user's nasal interface in the same and/or similar manner as the vibrations generated by the vibration generator 230 (e.g., via the nasal pillow 240, the sealing body 220, the housing 210, etc.). In this embodiment, the gas module 250 may be used as the vibration generator 230 because the gas module 250 generates the vibration by adjusting the pressure applied to the user. Modulating the pressure (or, for example, operating a solenoid valve) may cause the nasal interface (e.g., nasal pillows, etc.) to vibrate. Additionally or alternatively, when exhaling into gas module 250 via the nasal interface, the gas pressure may be adjusted and/or gas vibrations may be generated by the user, which may use the pressure generated from the exhalation to generate pressure and/or vibrations as described further herein. Thus, the therapeutic device may be automatically operated by manual force provided by the user (e.g., crank, etc.) and/or using an external power source (e.g., electromotive force, etc.) based on the user's inhalation or exhalation, generating and/or controlling gas pressure and/or gas-induced vibrations within the therapeutic device.

The power module 260 may include one or more power generating components and/or power source components. For example, the power module 260 may include, for example, a battery (e.g., a conventional Direct Current (DC) battery, etc.), a connection to an Alternating Current (AC) power source (e.g., a wall outlet), etc. Additionally or alternatively, the power module 260 may include a manual power device that may be used to provide therapy as further described herein. For example, but not limiting of, the power module 260 may include a crank (e.g., a handle attached to a shaft, etc.) that may be used by a user to provide rotational energy to the vibration generator 230 (e.g., by rotating the handle). The vibration generator 230 may convert rotational energy (e.g., energy from a rotating shaft) into vibrations that may be applied to the user's nasal interface. Additionally or alternatively, the power module 260 may include a turbine device (not shown) that generates rotational energy when the user exhales (e.g., the user exhales into, for example, the housing 210, and the exhaled breath exits the housing 210 across blades associated with the turbine device, etc.). Rotational energy from the turbine device may be provided to the vibration generator 230 to generate vibrations. Additionally or alternatively, power module 260 may include a balloon device that may be inflated by the user (e.g., by exhaling into treatment device 120, etc.). The balloon device may store pressure that may be used to obtain rotational energy from, for example, a turbine device. In addition to providing power to generate vibrations, the power module 260 may also provide power to the relevant components, such as the user interface 211, the valve 212, and the housing 210, the gas module 250, the drug module 270, and/or any other component of the therapeutic device 120 that requires power, such as electrical, mechanical, electromechanical, hydraulic, etc. The power module 260 may also or alternatively provide a signal to the vibration generator 230 that may be used by the vibration generator 230 to generate sound.

The drug module 270 may provide liquid, aerosolized, vaporized, and/or powdered drugs to the gas. The drug module may be connected to the therapy device 120 (e.g., to the gas module 250, the housing 210, the nasal pillow 240, etc.) via a gas-tight connection (e.g., a hollow tube, manifold, tee in a line associated with the gas module). The drug module may adjust the flow and/or dose of the drug, for example, with a metering device, a nozzle associated with a particular cross-section, or the like. The drug module may include a mixing valve, nozzle, sprayer, etc., that may vaporize, atomize, and/or separate the drug before, during, and/or after administration to the user (e.g., direct administration to the user, mixing of gas from gas module 250 prior to administration to the user, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the mixing valve may evenly distribute the drug in the gas.

The therapeutic device 120 may also or alternatively provide a temperature control module (not shown) that may heat, cool, or otherwise control the temperature of the gas and/or medication delivered to the user via the nasal interface. The temperature control module may be connected to the gas module and/or the drug module via a gas-tight connection (e.g., a tee in a line associated with the gas module and/or the drug module). The temperature control module may include a heat exchanger that may apply heat to the gas and/or medicament to raise the temperature of the medicament and/or gas entering the nasal interface. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature control module may utilize a resistor that may convert electrical energy to thermal energy and may apply heat to the gas and/or drug to raise the temperature of the gas and/or drug. The temperature control module may cause a portion of exhaled gas breathed by the user to be transferred to gas conditioned for provision to the user via the nasal interface.

The therapy device 120 may also or alternatively include a humidity control module (not shown) to provide humidified gases to the user through the nasal interface. The humidity control module may be connected to the treatment device via an airtight connection (e.g., a manifold, tee, etc. in one of the lines associated with the treatment device). The humidity control module may combine moisture (e.g., tap water, distilled water, steam, etc.) with the gas, the drug, and/or both. Increasing the moisture and/or humidity of the gases entering the nasal interface may keep the nostrils, throat, and/or membrane within the oral cavity moist and/or lubricate the patient's nasal and sinus cavities. Increasing the moisture and/or humidity of the gas may also or alternatively rupture and/or loosen fluids, mucus, solids, or obstructions within the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity of the user, which may facilitate mucus drainage. The humidity control module may include a humidifier (e.g., an evaporative humidifier, an impeller humidifier, an evaporator, an atomizing nozzle, an ultrasonic humidifier, a forced air humidifier, etc.) that may increase the humidity of the gas entering the nasal interface.

Fig. 3 depicts the treatment device 120 of fig. 1 and 2 further comprising a cover 310. The cover 310 may surround and/or enclose one or more components of the treatment device 120. The cover 310 may, for example, enclose the housing 210 and the modules of the treatment device. The cover 310 may include one or more apertures 311 that may allow gas (e.g., gas from the gas module 250, exhaled breath, air from the environment, etc.) to enter and/or exit the treatment device 120. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, cap 310 may be designed to look like an elephant nose or a child's toy (e.g., giraffe, super hero, etc.). The cap 310, which is designed in the shape of a child's toy, may attract a child who wants to use the treatment apparatus 120. The cover 310 may also or alternatively include a user interface penetration 312 that may allow a user to control the therapeutic device 120 via a user interface when the cover is mounted, placed, or otherwise mounted on the therapeutic device. In addition to surrounding and/or enclosing the treatment device 120, the cover 310 can also or alternatively reduce noise associated with operating the treatment device 120.

The systems and/or methods may enable a treatment device to administer one or more treatments to a user to treat sinus and/or nasal symptoms and/or one or more symptoms associated with sinusitis (e.g., inflammation, edema, pressure-induced pain in the sinus cavity, nasal mucus secretions, headache, etc.) and/or restore eustachian tube balance. For example, the user may place the nasal interface on, over, within, or around the user's nose and/or mouth. In one embodiment, the nasal interface may include two nasal pillows, which may be located in the nose of the user. Additionally or alternatively, the nasal interface may include a housing that may be placed around the user's nostrils and/or mouth. When a user places the nasal interface around and/or within the nose, the nasal interface may form a seal that may maintain a pressure that may be applied to the user via the nasal interface. The chamber may be formed by applying a seal body to a nasal interface of a user.

The user may operate the therapy device (e.g., by toggling a switch, opening a valve, pressing a button, etc.) to cause the gas module to apply gas (e.g., air, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, mixtures of oxygen and helium, combinations of these, etc.) contained within and/or generated by the gas source to the nasal interface. The gas module may include one or more pressure regulators that may regulate the gas applied to the nasal interface to within a pressure range (e.g., 4-25cm H2O). Additionally or alternatively, the gas module may adjust and/or oscillate the pressure of the gas applied to the nasal interface automatically and/or by input from a user (e.g., by pressing a button via a user interface, entering preferred settings via a user interface, etc.), and may change the frequency of the adjusted and/or oscillated pressure. Modulation and/or oscillation of the gas pressure applied to the user at the nasal interface may result in gas pulses and/or gas vibrations, the frequency of which may be altered (e.g., increased, decreased, or changed) by the gas module.

Gas may flow from the gas module to the nasal interface. The seal may maintain the pressure generated at the nasal interface by the application of gas by the gas module. The valve may limit the pressure generated at the nasal interface and/or may prevent the pressure within the cavity from exceeding a limit (e.g., when the user exhales into the cavity). Additionally or alternatively, the gas module and/or seal may maintain a particular pressure at the nasal interface when the user inhales and/or exhales. The pressure applied to the user by the gas, and the pressure changes caused by the regulated gas pressure and/or exhalation by the user, may rupture and/or loosen mucus within the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity of the user, which may facilitate mucus drainage and/or may treat one or more symptoms associated with sinusitis (e.g., inflammation, edema, pain due to sinus cavity pressure, nasal mucus drainage, headache, etc.) and/or may restore eustachian tube balance.

The gas module may also or alternatively apply positive pressure to the nasal interface of the user by trapping pressure within a cavity inside the housing caused by the exhaled breath of the user. The cavity may be formed when the seal body is applied to the nasal interface of a user, which may form an airtight container in the housing. Pressure may be applied to the user only when exhaling (i.e., limiting the ability to exhale to generate pressure, etc.) or when exhaling and inhaling. The gas module may also or alternatively use the exhaled breath of the user to provide vibrations to the user's nasal interface.

The treatment device may mechanically vibrate the nasal interface to transmit vibratory forces to the face, nose, and/or mouth and nasal and/or sinus cavities of the user. The user may provide input to the therapy device, for example via a user interface, to control the intensity and/or rate of the vibrations. Such control may enable the user to increase, decrease, or maintain the vibratory force exerted on the user. The mechanical vibration may be applied to the user with and/or without gas pressure from the gas module.

The vibration generator may include an acoustic device that may generate sound and/or sound-driven vibrations ("sound") that cause the nasal interface and/or the user's sinuses (e.g., cilia of the user, nasal passages, and/or bone, cartilage, etc. within the sinuses) to vibrate. Sound may be applied to the user at or near the nasal interface. The user may operate the therapeutic device, e.g., via a user interface, to turn the sound on or off to control the frequency, level, and/or sound pressure of the sound generated by the acoustic device, which may control the amount of sound and/or vibration applied to the user. Such control may enable a user to increase, decrease, or maintain the vibratory force and/or sound applied to the user. Additionally or alternatively, the user may operate the therapy device to allow the signal to be provided to the vibration generator (e.g., by connecting the therapy device to an external source that can provide the signal to the vibration generator, etc.). Sounds in any range of frequencies, sound levels, sound pressures, etc. may be applied, including sounds similar to a hum (e.g., having a frequency from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz, etc.). Acoustic vibrations and/or sounds may be applied to the user with and/or without gas pressure from the gas module and with and/or without processing from other modules discussed herein.

A user may operate a drug module of the therapeutic device (e.g., by interacting with a user interface, pressing a button on the drug module, etc.) to apply a drug (e.g., vaporized drug, powdered drug, etc.) to the user. The medicament may rupture and/or loosen mucus within the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity of the user, which may facilitate mucus drainage and/or may treat one or more symptoms associated with sinusitis (e.g., inflammation, edema, pain due to sinus cavity pressure, nasal mucus drainage, headache, etc.). The medication module may apply medication to the nasal interface with or without gas from the gas module. The drug module may vaporize and/or separate the drug prior to application of the drug to the nasal interface. The drug module may uniformly mix the drug with the gas.

The user may operate the temperature module to increase and/or decrease the temperature of the gas and/or medicament applied to the user at the nasal interface. The temperature control module may heat the gas, the drug, or both before they enter the nasal interface. Increasing and/or decreasing the temperature of the gas and/or drug may rupture and/or loosen mucus within the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity of the user, which may facilitate mucus drainage and/or may treat one or more symptoms associated with sinusitis (e.g., inflammation, edema, pain due to sinus cavity pressure, nasal mucus drainage, headache, etc.).

The user may operate the humidity module to increase and/or decrease the humidity of the gas, the medication, or both applied to the user at the nasal interface. Increasing the humidity of the gas, the drug, or both may break and/or loosen mucus within the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity of the user, which may facilitate mucus drainage and/or may treat one or more symptoms associated with sinusitis.

The user may operate a power module that may provide mechanical power (e.g., via a vibration generator) for generating vibrations that are transmitted to the user through the nasal interface. The vibrations may break and/or loosen mucus within the nasal cavity and/or sinus cavity of the user, which may facilitate expulsion of mucus. Additionally or alternatively, the vibration may open the ear canal to relieve pressure on the eardrum that may be generated by infection, mucus, and/or pressure changes (e.g., take-off and/or landing on an airplane). In another embodiment, the power module may include a manually driven (e.g., by the user's breath, the user's hands, etc.) vibratory device, may be shaped like a child's toy (e.g., elephant, giraffe, super hero, etc.), and may be used by a child to alleviate discomfort associated with eustachian tube imbalance (e.g., when traveling by airplane).

Fig. 4 depicts an alternative embodiment of the treatment apparatus of fig. 1. As shown in fig. 4, the treatment device 400 may include a housing 410 having a user interface 411, a valve 412, a sealing body 420, a vibration generator 430, a gas module 450, and a power module 460. The components shown in fig. 4 are provided for illustrative purposes only, and the disclosure herein is not intended to be limited to the components provided therein. There may be other components, fewer components, different components, and/or a different arrangement of components than those shown in fig. 4. Likewise, in some embodiments, one or more components/modules of the therapeutic device of fig. 4 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more components/modules of the therapeutic device of fig. 4.

Components of the treatment device 400 may have the same or similar functionality as similarly numbered components of the treatment device 120 described in fig. 2. For example, the housing 410 may function similarly to the housing 210 of fig. 2. The housing 410 may include a user interface 411, a valve 412, and a lanyard 413. The user interface 411 may function the same as or similar to the user interface 211 of fig. 2. Although the user interface 411 is depicted on the housing 410, the user interface 411 may be located on any one or more surfaces of the treatment device 400. The function of the valve 412 may be the same or similar to the valve 212 of fig. 2. The lanyard 413 may provide a means for the therapeutic device to connect to the user such that the user does not have to grip the therapeutic device 400 while using the therapeutic device 400. For example, lanyard 413 may correspond to an elastic band, headband, or the like that may be placed around the head of user 110. The tension in the lanyard 413 can hold the therapy device 400 on the user 110 in a manner that enables therapy to be administered to the user (e.g., the seal 420 can be brought into contact with and/or form an airtight seal around the user's nasal interface, vibrations generated by the therapy device 400 can be applied to the user, etc.). The seal body 420 may function the same or similar to the seal body 220 of FIG. 2. The vibration generator 430 may function the same as or similar to the vibration generator 230. Gas module 450 may function the same or similar to gas module 250. The power module 460 may function the same as or similar to the power module 260.

In one particular embodiment of the therapeutic apparatus 400, the vibration generator 430 may be acoustically driven and may generate sound that may be provided to a user. The vibration generator 430 may include an acoustic device that may generate sound. The acoustic device may receive a signal from a signal source. The signal source may be included in the vibration generator 430. When a signal source is included in vibration generator 430, the user may alter the signal generated by the signal source, for example, by adjusting a control on user interface 411. Additionally or alternatively, the signal source may be included in another component of the therapy device 400 (e.g., the power module 460) or may be an external source of electrical signals that may be converted to sound by the acoustic device of the vibration generator 430. The external source may be, for example, a signal jack (e.g., a speaker jack, a headphone jack, etc.) of another device (e.g., a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, an amplifier, a stereo, a signal generator, etc.) that outputs a signal for producing sound. The power module 460 may provide electrical signals (e.g., the power generator may be a signal source) and/or electrical power (e.g., electrical power used by a signal source such as the vibration generator 430, an acoustic device of the vibration generator 430, an amplifier of the vibration generator 430, etc.) to the vibration generator 430. The power module 460 may be separate from the vibration generator 430 or form a part of the vibration generator 430. Alternatively, the therapeutic device 400 may function without the power generator 460, for example, when the therapeutic device 400 receives a signal from an external source.

Certain embodiments of treatment device 400 may also include a gas module 450. The gas module 450 may provide positive pressure (i.e., above ambient pressure) to the user as the user exhales, and may also or alternatively provide mechanical vibration to the user. Gas module 450 may be any mechanism, component, or device that may provide positive pressure to a user and/or provide vibration to a user using pressure generated. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 4A and 4B, a user may place the seal body 420 around the user's nasal interface (e.g., around the nose and/or mouth, etc.) to form a chamber within the housing 410. The user may exhale into the therapeutic device 400 via the nasal interface to create a positive pressure within the chamber. When the user exhales, positive pressure may be applied to the user until the user inhales and/or while the seal body is applied to the user's nasal interface. The gas module 450 may set a maximum pressure in the chamber. For example, as shown in the embodiment of fig. 4B, the gas module 450 may include a bracket 451 extending from the housing 410. The mount 451 may include a seat 452 on which a ball bearing 453 may be seated. The seat 452 may be a hollow member that includes an aperture through which exhaled air of the user may exit the chamber via the seat 452. The valve 412 may correspond to a check valve that allows a user to inhale through the housing, but does not allow exhaled air of the user to escape the housing 410 through the valve 412.

When the user exhales, the positive pressure within the chamber generates a lift force (i.e., proportional to the pressure applied to ball bearings 453 and the surface area of ball bearings 453 applying the pressure) that is applied to ball bearings 453 proximate to seat 452. When the lift force exceeds the weight of ball bearing 453, ball bearing 453 can lift from seat 452, allowing the user's exhaled air to escape the chamber. Ball bearing 453 can be lifted from seat 452 until it contacts cap 454, particularly upper surface 455 of cap 454, or until the lift force is less than the weight of ball bearing 453. In this manner, the weight of ball bearing 453 can be used to set the maximum pressure of the chamber. Additionally or alternatively, the cap 454 may be adjusted to limit the distance the ball bearing 453 can rise from the seat 452, which may increase the maximum pressure of the chamber by limiting the amount of exhalation that may pass between the ball bearing 453 and the seat 452. The cap 454 can be adjustable, such as via a connection (e.g., threaded connection, press fit connection, etc.) between the cap 454 and the mount 451. The cap 454 may include a vent 456, which vent 456 may be an opening that allows exhaled air of the user to escape the gas module 450.

When the lift force is less than the weight of ball bearing 453, ball bearing 453 may fall back onto seat 452, thereby preventing exhaled air of the user from escaping the cavity of housing 410 until the lift force exceeds the weight of ball bearing 453. When the ball bearing 453 drops back onto the seat 452, vibration may be generated. Additionally or alternatively, vibration may be generated when ball bearings 453 contact upper surface 455 of cap 454 (e.g., due to lift). Thus, when the user exhales, the ball bearings 453 can oscillate (i.e., rise and fall) to produce vibrations that can be applied to the user via the nasal interface. In addition to the positive pressure created by the exhalation into the housing, and in addition to the vibrations imparted to the user by the sound generated by the vibration generator 430, these vibrations may also be imparted to the user. Positive pressure and vibration may treat symptoms of the sinuses, nasal cavity, ears, nose, and/or throat.

Fig. 5A-5E depict alternative example embodiments of a treatment device. As shown in fig. 5A, the treatment device 500 can include a housing 510 having a user interface 511 and an intake aperture 512. The treatment device 500 may also include a mask 520 having a nasal interface 522. The therapeutic device 500 may also include an acoustic vibrator 530, a mechanical vibrator 550, and a power source 560. The components shown in fig. 5A-5E are provided for illustrative purposes only, and the disclosure herein is not intended to require or limit the embodiments contemplated herein to those shown herein. There may be other components, fewer components, different components, and/or a different arrangement of components than those shown in fig. 5A-5E. Furthermore, in some embodiments, one or more components of the therapeutic device of fig. 5A-5E may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more components/modules of the therapeutic device of fig. 5A-5E.

The functionality of the components of the treatment device 500 may be the same as or similar to similarly identified components of the treatment device 120 and/or the treatment device 400. For example, the housing 510 may function similarly to the housing 210 of fig. 2 and/or the housing 410 of fig. 4A and 4B. In this embodiment reflected in fig. 5A and 5B, the housing 510 may include a user interface 511, air intake vents 512 (in fig. 5B, one air intake vent 512 is shown, but may be one, two, or more air intake vents according to embodiments, and the treatment device 500 may include pairs of air intake vents), a connector 513, and a pivot 514. The user interface 511 may allow a user to operate the therapeutic apparatus 500. The user interface 511 is depicted as a button that can be pressed by a user to operate the acoustic vibration generator 530, for example by turning on and/or off. User interface 511 may include additional elements that function the same as or similar to user interface 211 and/or user interface 411.

The air intake holes 512 may correspond to holes in the housing 510 through which air may be supplied when a user inhales. In the treatment device 500, each intake aperture 512 (only one shown) is formed by three apertures. The treatment device 500 includes a pair of intake apertures 512, one on each side of the treatment device 500. As discussed with reference to the mask 520, the air intake apertures 512 may be located at or near the area of the housing 510 to which the mask 520 is connected. When a user inhales while using the therapeutic device 500, air can enter the mask 520 from the environment through the air inlet holes 512 (e.g., through the valve 526 as will be further described herein) and reach the user.

Connector 513 may be a component of housing 510 that allows housings 510 to be interlocked or connected together to form housing 510. For example, the cross-sectional view of fig. 5B is drawn along a parting line where two portions of the housing 510 are joined (i.e., right and left). Connector 513 may join two portions of housing 510 to form housing 510. Connector 513 may be a known method for interlocking components to join them. The pivot 514 may correspond to a portion of the housing 510 that may be coupled with the user interface 511 (e.g., a hole, a spring-loaded pin connection, etc.). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, user interface 511 may be rotatably coupled to pivot 514, which may allow user interface 511 to rotate when a user presses down on user interface 511. The pivot 514 may provide a connection between the housing 510 and the user interface 511 such that when the user interface is depressed by the user, the user interface 511 operates the therapeutic apparatus 500 by contacting the switch 533. The pivot 514 may include a spring to ensure that the user interface 511 returns to the un-depressed position after being depressed by the user, or the spring 518 may be located separately from the pivot 514 to accomplish this function.

The mask cavity 515 may correspond to an aperture (hole, opening, etc.) and a hollow cavity in the housing 510 into which a portion of the mask 520 may be inserted to connect the mask 520 to the housing 510 and/or allow the treatment device 500 to operate as described herein. The mask interface 516 may correspond to a portion of the housing 510 adjacent to the mask cavity 515 that may be inserted into a portion of the mask 520 to further couple the mask 520 to the housing 510. In the embodiment shown in fig. 5B, the mask interface 516 is an annular portion of the housing 510. Mask interface 516 may include a keyway 517, which may correspond to a groove, missing portion of material, cut-out, etc., and key 529 of mask 520 may be inserted into keyway 517 to properly align mask 520 in housing 510.

The acoustic vibrator 530 may function the same as or similar to the vibration generator 430. The acoustic vibrator 530 may provide acoustic vibrations to the user. The acoustic vibrator may function the same as or similar to the vibration generator 430 and may include the same and/or similar components. The acoustic vibrator 530 may include a speaker 531, a circuit board 532, a button 533, and an amplifier 534. In the embodiment depicted in fig. 5B, the acoustic vibrator 530 may generate acoustic vibrations via a speaker 531 (e.g., a speaker, tone module, buzzer, and/or any other acoustic device). The speaker 531 may receive signals from the circuit board 532 that may cause the speaker 531 to generate acoustic vibrations. The acoustic vibrations may correspond to sound having a frequency from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz.

Circuit board 532 may include one or more components associated with providing signals to speaker 531. The circuit board 532 may correspond to a conventional circuit board or a known substitute. Alternatively, the circuit board 532 may be omitted and components of the circuit board may be mounted to the housing 510 and/or other components of the treatment device 500, which may be electrically connected using known methods. The circuit board 532 may include a button 533, and when the user presses the user interface 511, the button 533 may be contacted by the user interface 511. The buttons 533 may cause the circuit board 532 to pass signals to the speaker 531. The button 533 may include a delay that may result in the signal being provided to the speaker 531 for a minimum amount of time (e.g., half a second, 1 second, 25 seconds, 1 minute, etc.) such that when the button 533 contacts the user interface 511, the signal is provided for the minimum amount of time. If the user interface is released and pressed again within this minimum amount of time, the signal will not be interrupted and thus the speaker 531 will continue to produce acoustic vibrations. Software or hardware may control the acoustic vibrations, may cause delays, etc. Alternatively, another component of the therapeutic device (e.g., a separate delay, a software routine, a loop programmed on a circuit board, etc.) may provide a delay that causes the signal to be generated in a minimum amount of time. Additionally or alternatively, the therapeutic device 500 may not provide a signal for a minimum amount of time (i.e., only when the button 533 is pressed). When the button is pressed, an electrical signal may be passed to a microprocessor or other component that can make a decision (i.e., allow an amplifier to provide a signal, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the user interface may cause an input to the circuit board 532, which may cause the microprocessor to perform a function (double click to provide continuous processing, triple click to use data, etc.).

Circuit board 532 may also or alternatively include amplifier 534. The amplifier 534 may generate a signal that is provided (e.g., such as via a lead 535, which is, for example, a wire or other electrical connection through which a signal may be passed) to the speaker 531 to generate acoustic vibrations. Amplifier 534 may provide digital or analog signals to a speaker. In one embodiment, the amplifier 534 generates digital signals at a rate in excess of about 20000 hertz at a rate in excess of the frequency audible to humans. As described above, the frequency of the sound produced by the signal may be about 100 to 150Hz, more specifically about 120 to about 135 Hz. The amplifier 533 may also or alternatively provide a signal at a rate greater than about 30000 hertz. In one embodiment, amplifier 533 provides a signal at a frequency of about 30000 hertz to about 40000 hertz (preferably about 31000 hertz). Providing a signal at a frequency higher than the audible frequency may ensure that humans, and potentially other animals, etc., cannot hear the signal produced by amplifier 533, and/or the sound produced by speaker 531 fluctuates due to the digital signal.

The mechanical vibrator 550 may provide mechanical vibration to the user and/or may allow positive pressure to be generated in the chamber 523 of the mask 522. The mechanical vibrator 550 may function the same as or similar to the gas module 450. As shown, mechanical vibrator 550 may include a bracket extending from housing 510, and the bracket may include a seat on which ball bearings 553 may be seated. The seat may be a hollow member that includes an aperture 555 through which the exhaled breath of the user may exit the chamber 523. As discussed further herein, the aperture 555 may be aligned with the vent 525 in the mask 520 to allow exhaled breath of the user to exit the chamber 523 and exit the aperture 555 through the vent 525. In this manner, the air ports 525 align with the ball bearings 553 to communicate the exhaled breath of the user to the ball bearings 553.

When the user exhales, the positive pressure within chamber 523 will generate a lift force in orifice 555 (i.e., proportional to the pressure applied to ball bearings 453 and the surface area of ball bearings 453 applying the pressure) applied to ball bearings 553 near the seat. When the lift force exceeds the weight of ball bearings 553, ball bearings 553 may lift from the seat, allowing the user's exhaled air to escape the chamber. Ball bearing 553 may be lifted from the seat until it contacts cap 554, or until the lift force is less than the weight of ball bearing 553. In this way, the weight of ball bearings 553 may be used to set the maximum pressure of the chamber. Additionally or alternatively, cap 554 may be adjusted to limit the distance ball bearings 553 may rise from the seat, which may increase the maximum pressure of the chamber by limiting the amount of exhalation that may pass between ball bearings 553 and the seat. The cap 554 may be adjustable, such as via a connection (e.g., threaded connection, press fit connection, etc.) between the cap 554 and the bracket. The cap 554 may include a vent that may be an opening that allows exhaled air of the user to escape the mechanical vibrator 550.

When the lift force is less than the weight of ball bearings 553, ball bearings 553 may fall back onto seat, thereby restricting and/or preventing exhaled air of the user from escaping chamber 523 until the lift force exceeds the weight of ball bearings 553. When ball bearings 553 fall back on the seat, vibrations may be generated. Additionally or alternatively, vibrations may be generated when ball bearings 553 contact cap 554 (e.g., due to lift forces). Thus, when the user exhales, the ball bearings 453 can oscillate (i.e., rise and fall) to produce vibrations that can be applied to the user via the nasal interface. In addition to the positive pressure created by the exhalation into the mask 520, and in addition to the vibrations imparted to the user by the sound generated by the acoustic vibrator 530, these vibrations may also be imparted to the user. Positive pressure, mechanical vibration, and/or acoustic vibration may treat symptoms of the sinuses, nasal cavity, ears, nose, and/or throat.

The power source 560 may function the same or similar to the power module 260. As shown in fig. 5B, the power source 560 may correspond to a battery and may be connected to the circuit board 532 such that the power source 560 and the acoustic vibration generator 530 are located within the housing 510. Power source 560 may provide power to acoustic vibrator 530 to allow, for example, amplifier 533 to generate a signal and/or other components to function as described herein.

The mask 520 may correspond to a portion of the treatment device 500 that extends from the housing 510 and may be applied around the user's nose (i.e., shaped to fit over the upper lip and around the user's nose). In the embodiment shown in fig. 5A-5E, the mask 520 is generally hollow so that it may be applied around the nose of the user (i.e., over the upper lip and around the nose so that both nostrils are located within the mask). Applying the mask around the user's nose (rather than the mouth, or mouth and nose) may better transmit vibrations (mechanical vibrations, acoustic vibrations, etc.) to the nasal passages, sinuses, and/or ear canal than when vibrations are provided to the mouth or to a combination of the nose and mouth. In other configurations, the mask may be applied to the nose and/or mouth. The mask 520 is depicted as being removably connected to the housing 510, which may allow a user to replace the mask 520 of the treatment device 500, for example, when the mask is soiled. In other embodiments, the mask 520 may be permanently attached to the housing 510 and/or formed as part of the housing 510. As shown in fig. 5C, the mask 520 may include a lateral side 521 and a medial side 524. When the mask 520 is connected to the housing 510, the outer side 521 may be located primarily outside of the housing 510. The medial side 524 may be primarily located inside the shell 510 when the mask 520 is connected to the shell 510. The outer side 521 is not limited to the components depicted in fig. 5A-5E. There may be other components, fewer components, or a different arrangement of components than those shown in the figures. In other embodiments, one or more components of outer side 521 may perform the functions of another one or more other components of outer side 521. Moreover, in other embodiments, certain components of the outer side 521 may be located in the inner side 524, and vice versa.

The mask 520 may be made of any type of material. Desirably, the mask 520 is formed of a material that is comfortable to the user when the user applies the nasal interface 522 around the nose. Further, the mask 520 may be formed of a material that withstands the forces exerted on the mask 520 by the user (i.e., pressure, forces applied to the nose, etc.) and/or vibrations generated by the treatment device 500. In one embodiment, the mask 520 is a one-piece design formed from silicone. In another embodiment, the face shield 520 is formed from one or more plastics. In another embodiment, the mask 520 is formed from multiple materials (i.e., the nasal interface is formed from a softer plastic, silicone, etc., while other portions of the mask 520 are formed from a hard plastic, metal, etc.).

The lateral portion 521 may include a nasal interface 522 and a nasal cavity 523. The nasal interface 522 may be the portion of the mask 522 that is applied around the nose of the user (i.e., above the upper lip and around the nose). The nasal cavity 523 may be a hollow cavity into which a user's nose may be inserted and/or which may maintain pressure when the nasal interface 522 is applied to a user. When the nasal interface 522 is applied around the nose of a user, both nostrils of the user may be located inside the nasal chamber 523. Additionally or alternatively, the nasal interface 522 may form a seal with the user so that pressure may be maintained inside the mask 520, for example, when the user exhales. Although the nose chamber is discussed herein as being part of lateral side 521, nose chamber 523 may be located in both lateral side 521 and medial side 524. In the embodiment of fig. 5A-5E, the nasal chamber 523 extends from the nasal interface 522 to the septum 527. In other embodiments, the nose chamber 523 may be a different chamber in size, arrangement, location, etc.

The inner portion 524 can include a vent 525, one or more valves 526 (the treatment device 500 includes a pair of valves 526, one on each side, but other embodiments can include a single valve 526 or more than two valves, etc.), a membrane 527, a groove 528, and a key 529. The inner side 524 is not limited to the components depicted in fig. 5A-5E. There may be other components, fewer components, or a different arrangement of components than those shown in the figures. In other embodiments, one or more components of the inner side portion 524 may perform the functions of another one or more other components of the inner side portion 524.

The vent 525 may correspond to a hole that aligns with the orifice 555 of the mechanical vibrator 550 when the mask 520 is connected to the housing 510. When a user applies the nasal interface 522 around the user's nose, a seal may be formed between the user and the mask 520 so that pressure may be maintained in the nasal chamber 523, which may be generated when the user exhales. As discussed herein, when the pressure in the nose chamber 523 is sufficient to lift the ball bearings 553 from the seat of the mechanical vibrator 550, the user's exhaled breath may exit the nose chamber 523 via the vent 525, which may operate the mechanical vibrator 550 as described herein.

The valve 526 may be a check valve that allows a user to inhale through the valve and close to maintain pressure in the nasal cavity 523 (e.g., pressure generated when a user applies the nasal interface 522 around the user's nose to form a seal and exhales into the nasal cavity 523). The valve 526 may be aligned with the air intake aperture 512 of the housing 510 such that when a user inhales, air may pass from the exterior of the housing 510 through the air intake aperture 512, through the valve 526 into the nasal chamber 523, and to the user (i.e., into the user's nares, allowing the user to inhale). As shown in fig. 5E, the valve 526 can be designed as a flap of material of the inner side portion 524 that presses against the air intake holes 512 when the user exhales to prevent the user's exhaled air from escaping the nasal chamber 523 through the air intake holes. When the user inhales, the vacuum created by the user's inhalation pulls the flap material away from the air intake aperture 512 (i.e., the flap is joined to the inner side 524 at flap end 526-P, which joint allows the flap to operate as described herein), thereby allowing the user to inhale air through the air intake aperture 512. In this manner, the valve 526 opens to allow the user to breathe, and closes to maintain pressure in the nasal chamber 523. As shown, the treatment apparatus 500 includes a pair of valves 526 corresponding to a pair of intake apertures 512.

Diaphragm 527 may correspond to the closed end of face shield 520. In the embodiment shown in fig. 5A-5E, the membrane 527 is located opposite the nasal interface 522. Unlike other masks used to provide air or oxygen to a user (e.g., CPAP masks), the mask 520 may not be connected to an oxygen/air source, so the mask 520 may not require a conventional opening to provide air-oxygen. The membrane 527 may be located at or near the acoustic vibrator 530 and since the membrane 527 is closed, the membrane 527 may vibrate when the acoustic vibrator 530 generates vibrations, and so on. Thus, the diaphragm 527 may affect (e.g., increase and/or decrease the vibration imparted to the user, increase and/or decrease the sound that the user may hear, etc.) the acoustic vibration imparted to the user. The membrane 527 may be formed of a thinner material than the rest of the mask 527. Alternatively, the diaphragm 527 may be formed of a thicker material than the rest of the mask 527. Alternatively, the diaphragm 527 may not have a uniform thickness (e.g., may be thicker in the middle, thinner at the edges, etc.), which may affect the acoustic vibrations imparted to the user. In the embodiment shown in fig. 5A-5E, the only openings in the mask 520 are the nasal interface 522, the vent 525, and the valve 526. The vent 525 and valve 526 are located opposite the nasal interface 522, with the vent 525 being located on an upper surface of the inner side 524. In this embodiment, the output (e.g., mucus, etc.) from the user may generally remain contained in the mask 520 rather than entering the housing 510, which may prevent the output from reaching the acoustic vibrator 530, the power source 560, and/or other portions of the treatment device 500.

As shown in fig. 5D, the face shield 520 may also include a groove 528. The mask interface 516 of the housing 510 may be inserted into the groove 528 to couple the mask 520 to the housing 510. In the embodiments described herein, both the groove 528 and the mask interface 516 have an annular shape, although any shape may be used in the design. The mask interface 516 and the groove 528 may be designed such that the two may cooperate to join the mask 520 and the housing 510. Groove 528 may include a key 529 (e.g., a tongue, a piece of material, etc.) that may be aligned with (e.g., fit within, etc.) mask keyway 517 to properly align mask 520 in housing 510.

The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Any modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the embodiments.

It is apparent that the apparatus, systems, methods, techniques, and/or technologies described above may be implemented in many different forms of hardware and/or software in the implementations described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The actual or specialized hardware and/or materials used to implement the apparatus, system, method, techniques, and/or technology are not limited to the embodiments; it is to be understood that the hardware, software, and/or materials may be designed to implement the devices, systems, methods, techniques, and/or technologies based on the description herein.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Even if specific combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the embodiments. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may refer directly to only one other claim, the disclosure of embodiments includes each dependent claim in combination with each other claim in the set of claims.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the embodiments unless explicitly described as such. In addition, as used herein, the articles "a" and "an" are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with "one or more". Where only one item is intended, the term "only one" or similar language is used. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. A therapeutic device for treating one or more symptoms associated with a nasal cavity, sinus, and/or ear canal of a user, the therapeutic device comprising:

a housing that a user can hold to apply the therapeutic device to a user, the housing including an air inlet hole that allows air to enter the therapeutic device;

an acoustic vibrator operable to provide acoustic vibrations to a user, the acoustic vibrator being located within the housing;

a power source providing power to the acoustic vibrator, the power source being located within the housing;

a mask connected to the housing, the mask comprising:

a nasal interface applicable around the nose of the user;

a valve aligned with the air inlet aperture, the valve allowing a user to breathe through the air inlet aperture when open, the valve preventing a user from exhaling through the air inlet aperture when closed;

a membrane opposite the nasal interface, the membrane being a closed end of the mask; and

a nasal cavity extending from the nasal interface in which a user's nares are located when the nasal interface is applied around the user's nose;

thus, when the nasal interface is applied around the nose of a user and when the acoustic vibrator is operated to provide acoustic vibrations, the acoustic vibrator provides acoustic vibrations directly to the nose of the user.

2. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the nasal interface forms a seal between the mask and the user when applied around the nose of the user, the seal allowing pressure to be maintained in the nasal cavity.

3. The therapeutic device of claim 2 wherein the mask includes a vent aligned with a mechanical vibrator that generates pressure in the nasal chamber or provides mechanical vibration to the user when a seal is formed between the user and the mask and when the user exhales into the nasal interface, the exhaled breath of the user being provided to the mechanical vibrator through the vent.

4. The therapeutic device of claim 3 wherein the pressure is determined by the weight of ball bearings located within the mechanical vibrator, the air vents being aligned with the ball bearings.

5. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 4 wherein the ball bearings oscillate to produce mechanical vibrations.

6. The therapeutic device of claim 1, further comprising a second valve aligned with a second air intake aperture located in the housing opposite the air intake aperture, the second valve located in the mask opposite the valve.

7. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operable by a user to communicate sound to the user.

8. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface corresponds to a button.

9. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the acoustic vibrations is about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz.

10. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic vibrator comprises an amplifier that provides a signal to a speaker, the signal being used by the speaker to provide the acoustic vibration.

11. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal is provided at a frequency above 20000 hertz.

12. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 7, wherein the acoustic vibrator comprises a button operated by the user interface to provide the acoustic vibration for a minimum amount of time.

13. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the mask is removably connected to the housing.

14. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve corresponds to a valve material.

15. A mask for a therapeutic device, the mask comprising:

a nasal interface applicable around a user's nose;

a valve that, when applied to a user, allows the user to breathe through the valve when the valve is open, the valve corresponding to a flap;

a nasal cavity in which a user's nares are located when the nasal interface is applied around the user's nose.

16. The mask of claim 15, wherein the mask is made of silicone.

17. The mask of claim 15, wherein the mask is a one-piece design.

18. The mask according to claim 15, further comprising a medial portion insertable into the treatment device, the valve being located in the medial portion.

19. The mask of claim 18, further comprising a vent on the medial portion corresponding to an aperture that allows exhaled breath of a user to exit the nasal cavity when the nasal interface is applied to the user.

20. The mask according to claim 15, further comprising a recess into which the therapeutic device can be inserted.

21. The mask according to claim 20, wherein the recess includes a key to align the mask in the therapeutic device.

22. The mask according to claim 15, further comprising a second valve opposite the valve.

23. A method for treating nasal symptoms of a user, the method comprising:

providing a therapeutic apparatus that generates acoustic vibrations, the therapeutic apparatus comprising:

a mask, the mask comprising:

a nasal interface applicable around the nose of a user,

a nasal cavity extending from the nasal interface into which a user's nares may be inserted, an

A valve that when open allows a user to inhale, and when closed maintains pressure in the nasal chamber;

an acoustic vibrator that generates acoustic vibration using a speaker;

a housing connected to the mask, the acoustic vibrator being located within the housing;

applying the nasal interface around a nose of a user;

operating the therapeutic device to apply sound directly to a nasal interface of a user; and

the user exhales to create a positive pressure in the nasal chamber.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the therapeutic device further comprises a mechanical vibrator that produces a mechanical vibration when the user exhales.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the frequency of the sound is from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz.