WO2002053076A1

WO2002053076A1 - Disposable nose fossae cleaning device

Info

Publication number: WO2002053076A1
Application number: PCT/IT2001/000665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Attilio Alonzo
Original assignee: Attilio Alonzo
Priority date: 2001-01-08
Filing date: 2001-12-31
Publication date: 2002-07-11
Also published as: ITFI20010002U1

Abstract

A disposable instrument for cleaning the nasal passages comprising a body (1) of elongated and substantially conical or truncated conical shape, made of absorbing and atraumatic material, suitable for being inserted in a nasal passage, a flap (2) extending radially from the large-diameter end of the body (1), capable of acting as a stop when the body (1) is inserted in the nasal passage, and a handling grip (3) extending from the side of flap (2) opposite to the one that bears the body (1).

Description

TITLE

DISPOSABLE NOSE FOSSAE CLEANING DEVICE DESCRIPTION Field of the invention The present invention concerns the field of medico- hygienic facilities or aids. In particular, it has as its object a new disposable instrument for cleaning the nasal passages or fossae that is especially, but not exclusively, intended for use in early childhood. Description of the prior art

Virus-caused inflammatory pathologies of the outer respiratory tracts are very frequent in early childhood. These affections lead to a marked increase of the sero- mucosal secretions and also to substantial swelling of the affected tissues. Not even with the help of an adult is the child in a position to assure efficient cleaning of its nose, and even less so can it do this unassisted. The mucus thus remains in the nasal passages, hindering the child's respiration and facilitating bacterial infections, with consequent worsening of the pathology due to possible complications at the level of the bronchial system and the middle ear.

Similar problems may arise with adults suffering forms of invalidity, old people and, more generally, with all subjects not capable of expelling the excess mucus by means of the common and everyday operation known as "blowing one's nose".

The present invention sets out to obviate the problematics just described with the help of an instrument that, though being elementary in structure and easy to use, can assure efficient removal of the nasal secretions of all subjects who are not capable of doing this autonomously, especially children. Summary of the invention

According to the invention, a disposable instrument for cleaning the nasal passages is characterized by the fact of comprising a body of elongated shape, substantially in the manner of a cone or a truncated cone, realized in absorbing and atraumatic material, suitable for being inserted in a nasal passage, a flap that extends radially from said body at the end where it has its largest diameter and is therefore capable of acting as a stop that prevents further introduction of the body into the nasal passage, and a handling grip that extends from said flap on the side opposite said conical body.

The anatomical form of the conical or truncated conical body facilitates its introduction into the nasal passage, from which the mucus is extracted mainly by absorption, and secondarily by virtue of the mechanical effect deriving from a delicately impressed reciprocating or rotatory movement of the instrument . Said mechanical effect can be further enhanced by arranging for the surface of the body to be roughened or provided with grooves, possibly also helicoidal grooves extending over the entire length of the body, which are particularly efficacious when the secretions prove to be relatively dense .

Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be illustrated in greater detail by means of the description given below of a particular embodiment, which serves as an example and is not to be deemed limitative in any way, said description making reference to the following drawings attached hereto : - Figure 1 shows a schematic side elevation of an instrument in accordance with the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a front view of the instrument of Figure 1, i.e. as seen in the axial direction from the tip of the absorbing body; and

- Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the instrument illustrated by the preceding figures.

Detailed description of the invention Referring to these figures, the instrument in accordance with the invention comprises a body 1 of an overall shape that is elongated in the manner of a cone or a truncated cone and a discoidal flap 2 that extends radially from the large-diameter end of said body. From the face of the disc opposite the one that bears said body 1 there extends a handling grip 3, which in the illustrated example assumes the form of a small peg arranged along the same axis as body 1.

Body 1, and preferably also at least a part of flap 2, namely the side facing body 1, are made of an absorbing and atraumatic material, that is to say, material that is relatively soft and can be easily deformed, for example cellulose fibres or pulp. In the illustrated example the surface of body 1 is also provided with grooves 4 extending helicoidally along its entire length. When the instrument has to be used, the user picks it up by gripping the handle 3 between the thumb and the index finger. The body 1 is then introduced delicately into the nasal passage of the subject whose nose has to be cleaned. This assures that the mucus will adhere to body 1 and be partially absorbed by it. This effect can be further enhanced by impressing a cautious reciprocating or rotatory motion upon the instrument, as also by the presence of the grooves 4, which prove to be particularly efficacious when the mucus is particularly dense.

Coming up against the bottom of the nose, flap 2 prevents an excessive penetration of body 1 into the nasal passage. The atraumatic nature of the employed material prevents the cleaning action from causing injury to the mucous membranes of the nose . The ergonomic form of the grip 3 assures that the instrument can be handled with particular ease. As already mentioned, grip 3 and possibly flap 2 may be made of some material different from the rest of the instrument, for example, plastic material. Nevertheless, the entire instrument is preferably made by appropriate moulding from a single piece of the aforesaid absorbing and atraumatic material, and this not only for reasons of production economy, but also to assure safety in use, i.e. preventing body 1, possibly together with flap 2, becoming detached from grip 3 and remaining entrapped in the nasal passage. On the other hand, use of this material also for flap 2, or at least for the part that faces body 1, also has important functional consequences, because it enhances the absorption capacity of the instrument, hinders loss of mucus, especially onto the user's hands, and renders the impact of the instrument against the nose less traumatic. The material could also be impregnated with substances capable of exerting some therapeutic effects on the affection, at least of the symptomatic type, decongestants and balsamic essences for example. Should the mucus prove to be particularly dry, the cleaning operation could be preceded by washing the nasal passages with physiological, marine or thermal solutions of a type available in commerce. The instrument disposable will be marketed in sterile packages, preferably of the multipack type, with each individual instrument in a sterile wrapping, and could be produced in various sizes to match the size of the nasal fossae of the subject for which it is intended.

It can therefore be seen quite readily that the instrument in accordance with the invention makes it possible to assure an efficacious cleaning of the nasal passages of children and other subjects unable to blow their nose, and to do so by means of a very simple operation that is easily tolerated by the person on whom it is performed. In this way the affection of the outer respiratory tracts will run its course more favourably, more rapidly and, above all, with a considerably smaller risk of complications.

The reference to cellulose fibres or pulp for realizing (at least) body 1 is obviously not to be considered limitative, since the instrument could be made of any material that complies with the aforesaid requirements of being soft and atraumatic. Nor is the invention limited to the form of the embodiment here described and illustrated, for said form could vary and comprise numerous execution variants.

Claims

1. A disposable instrument for cleaning the nasal passages, characterized in that it comprises a body (1) of an elongated and substantially conical or truncated conical shape, made of absorbing and atraumatic material, suitable for being inserted in a nasal passage, with a flap (2) that extends radially from said body at its large-diameter end and can therefore act as a stop when the body is inserted in the nasal passage, and a handling grip (3) that extends from said flap on the side opposite to the one that bears said body.

2. An instrument in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flap (2) is made at least partially of the same absorbing and atraumatic material as said body (1) .

3. An instrument in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein said body has a roughened side surface to facilitate adhesion of the mucus.

4. An instrument in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the side surface of said body is provided with one or more helicoidal grooves.

5. An instrument in accordance with anyone of claims 2 to 4, but made from a single piece of said absorbing and atraumatic material .

6. An instrument in accordance with laim 5 made by means of moulding.

7. An instrument in accordance with anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said material is cellulose fibre or pulp.

8. An instrument in accordance with anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said material is pre-treated with substances having a therapeutic effect, for example, decongestants or balsamic essences.

9. An instrument in accordance with anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said handling grip (3) is of the form of a small peg extending along the same axis as said body.