WO2005118021A1

WO2005118021A1 - Electric nasal passage cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2005118021A1
Application number: PCT/HU2004/000072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sándor KÁLLAI; Zsolt Roncs; Sándor Nagy
Original assignee: Kallai Sandor; Zsolt Roncs; Nagy Sandor
Priority date: 2004-06-01
Filing date: 2004-07-05
Publication date: 2005-12-15
Also published as: HU0401068D0; HU225702B1; HUP0401068A2

Abstract

The object of the invention is an electric nasal passage cleaning apparatus. It is a characteristic feature of the invention that the connecting branch (31) is also designed as an internal tube (31') with slightly decreasing conicity protruding into the internal part of the head (3) along preferably 3/4 of its length. There is a deflecting insert (33) formed between the conical end and preferably the middle of the head (3) projecting to preferably 1/3 of the length of the internal tube (31') ensuring regulated flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it, and there is a collecting reservoir (34) at the cylindrical end of the head (3) between the internal tube (31') and the cylindrical part.

Description

ELECTR IC NASAL PASSAG E CLEANI NG A PPA RATUS

The object of the invention is an electric nasal passage cleaning apparatus that can be expediently used for removing secreta produced in the nasal passages using an electric vacuum source (vacuum pump). It is well-known that babies and infants under the age of 2 or 3 can not blow their nose, therefore it is important that secreta produced in the nasal passages should be regularly removed, which is a good way of preventing the infants from serious complications. This is the purpose of different single function nose cleaning and nasal passage cleaning apparatuses and some mu ltifunction, e.g. nasal secreta and breast- milk sucking devices.

As it is well-known, a part of the nose cleaning apparatuses is manually operated, however, in lack of producing satisfactory vacuum, these are not suitable for perfect removing of the secreta. Such a manual nose suction device is presented in specification No. JP 10248922.

The prior art is represented by design sample no. HU D 87747 describing a nose suction device to be connected to a vacuum cleaner. The nose suction device comprises a conical head to be inserted into the nose, a cylindrical reservoir with a pipe connection, a pipe connected to the pipe connection, and an adapter on the other end of the pipe to be connected to the vacuum cleaner.

Also the prior art is represented by the nose suction adapter connected to a vacuum cleaner described in the specification of utility model No. HU U 1775, the vacuum source of which is also a vacuum cleaner, and the nose piece, the discharge collecting reservoir and the conical piece to be connected to the vacuum cleaner is constructed from two slightly conical matching elements as one unit. These known designs use a vacuum cleaner as a separate source of vacuum.

There are some constructions to be used for multiple functions. One of these constructions is utility model No. HU U l 666, the object of which is a pump device for draining secreta, especially for suction of nasal secreta and breast-milk. This device comprises a pump unit, a container unit, a cover unit and a suction bell. With this construction it may occur that due to the flow conditions the air containing the secreta changes its direction in 90°, and therefore the thinner part of secreta may get into the flexible tube and it may get to the motor with the air flow, and further, the valves of the pump may get stuck. A vacuum operated therapeutic apparatus for removing secreta from body cavities e.g. from nose or ear described in patent specification No. HU 199304 is also a multi-function apparatus. The apparatus comprises a long and thin glass tube bent in angle at its middle part, the rear end of which is connected to a vacuum source. Such an apparatus can easily be blocked by thicker secreta, and, due to its pointed design, it can easily damage the body cavity being sucked, therefore this apparatus should only be used by specialists.

The object of patent specification No. FR 2769229 is a discharge remover from infants' nose, operated by a battery-driven small motor, and the secreta is advantageously filtered by a cotton filter. The filtered secreta than gets into a container through an outlet. The apparatus automatically stops if the end of the suction head touches the infant's nasal cavity. With this construction a separate filer is required before collecting the discharge.

The body-fluid suction device supplied with a removable filter unit, described in patent specification No. WO 0136020, also contains a filter unit, which is inserted between the vacuum source and the suction pipe. The body-fluid collecting reservoir separates the sucked body-fluid from the air and collects the separated fluid. With this construction too. the removable filter is used for filtering the air containing the body-fluid sucked.

The device for sucking secreta from babies', infants' or injured persons' nose described in patent specification No. CH 687851 also contains a filter. This known device comprises a cylindrical or prismatic body, the end of which is supplied with a connector suitable for being inserted into the nasal cavity, and comprises a pressure-and-suction container supplied with valves and a filter. Also the prior art is represented by the device described in patent speci fication No. 1 I U 215563 to be used for removing secreta produced in the internal and external body-cavities using a vacuum source. The suction head of this device, which is suitable for reception of a limited amount of secreta. is designed as a tube of sufficiently large diameter for preventing choking, and the part of it closer to the input opening of the collection reservoir is at least partly designed to have a conical surface of slighter conicity and opposite direction as compared to the conicity at the suction opening. Further, both the end of the suction head close to the input opening of the collection reservoir and the sucked output of the collecting reservoir are designed to have a narrowed part in their diameter limiting the suction effect of the vacuum source to a predefined, safe level. This known construction has the disadvantages that the suction head is suitable for storing only a limited amount of secreta, the collecting reservoir is complicated with a double chambei . the suction head is fitted into the input opening of the collection reservoir using a separate gasket ring, and further, the thin secreta sucked may gel into the vacuum tube and get to the motor.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the known constructions and to construct an electric, battery- or mains-operated nasal passage cleaning apparatus having an own vacuum source, which ensures that the secreta sucked from the nasal cavities remain in the head and do not get into the long flexible tube, which is of simple construction, comprising relatively few parts, easily operated, the suction head of which can be drawn apart and put together by a simple movement, has a separate collecting reservoir that can easily be cleaned after usage, can be used in hygienic home environment without any expertise, and is economically manufactured.

The fundamental idea of the invention is that if we construct an electric nasal passage cleaning apparatus with the features defined in claim 1 , the construction will be better than the known inventions representing the prior art.

Therefore the object of the invention is an electric nasal passage cleaning apparatus having a battery- or mains-operated vacuum source with a pipe stub and a switch producing continuous vacuum, a flexible tube connecting the pipe stub with the connecting branch on one. preferably cylindrical end of the cylindrical head, and a connecting extension containing a suction hole, which can be inserted into the nasal passage, on the other, preferably conical end of the head. It is a characteristic feature of the invention that the connecting branch is also designed as an internal tube with slightly decreasing conicity protruding into the internal part of the head along preferably VΛ of its length, there is a deflecting insert formed between the conical end and preferably the middle of the head projecting to preferably 1/3 of the length of the internal tube ensuring regulated flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it, and there is a collecting reservoir at the cylindrical end of the head between the internal tube and the cylindrical part.

The apparatus of the invention can be further characterized in that the flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it is regulated by a ring shaped slit formed between the inside surface of the conical end and cylindrical middle part of the head and the outside surface of the deflecting insert, the width of which slit is between 1.9 and 2,4 mm, preferably 2, 1 5 mm and the deflecting insert, forcing to change the direction of flow preferably two times at 1 80° at its bottom and middle part.

At a preferable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the part of the deflecting insert close to the conical end of the head is suitably of conical shape, the half cone angle of which is 1 8-26°, preferably 22°.

At another preferable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the part of the deflecting insert close to the conical end of the head is preferably of spherical segment shape, the radius of which is 5-7 mm, preferably 6 mm.

At a third preferable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention there are ribs on the surface of the deflecting insert situated preferably at 120°. acting as spacers. At an advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the connecting extension is preferably conical or it has a conical end provided with a silicone tube or it may be cloverleaf-shaped.

At another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the conical part of the head, the connecting extension and the deflecting insert are preferably constructed as one unit.

At a further advantageous embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the head can preferably be drawn apart and put together at its cylindrical middle portion in a close fitting way.

For the sake of easy cleaning and sterilisation of the apparatus according to the invention, it is advantageous if the head is preferably made of food-quality, heat-resistant plastic.

The apparatus according to the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawings where:

Figure 1 is schematic axonometric drawing of the electric nasal passage cleaning apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is an axonometric drawing of the head according to the invention with conical connecting extension and conical deflecting insert, Figure 3 is a sectional view of the head with conical connecting extension and conical deflecting insert shown in figure 2, - Figure 4 is an axonometric drawing of the head according to the invention with a connecting extension of conical end provided with a silicone tube and with a deflecting insert of spherical segment shape, Figure 5 is a sectional view of the head with a connecting extension of conical end provided with a silicone tube and with a deflecting insert of spherical segment shape shown in figure 4, Figure 6 is a front view of the clovcrleaf-shapcd connecting extension according to the invention, Figure 7 is the A-A section of the cloverleaf-shaped connecting extension shown in figure 6.

Figure 1 is schematic axonometric drawing of the electric nasal passage cleaning apparatus according to the invention with two heads 3, one shown in axonometric view, the other shown in section.

The apparatus has a battery or mains-operated vacuum source 1 with a pipe stub 1 1 and a switch 12 producing continuous vacuum. A flexible lube 2 is connecting the pipe stub 1 1 with the connecting branch 31 formed on one, preferably cylindrical end of the cylindrical head 3 with the connecting extension 32 having conical end provided with a silicone tube, shown in axonometric view. The other head 3 with conical connecting extension 32 is shown in sectional view. At this head 3 as well, the connecting branch 3 1 is also designed as an internal tube 31 ' with slightly decreasing conicity protruding into the internal part of the head 3 along preferably ³Λ of its lenglh.

There is a deflecting insert 33 formed between the conical end and preferably the middle of the head 3 projecting to preferably 1/3 of the length of the internal tube 31 ' ensuring regulated flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it. There is a collecting reservoir 34 at the cylindrical end of the head 3 between the internal tube 3 1 ' and the cylindrical part, and there is a ring shaped slit 35 formed between the inside surface of the conical end and cylindrical middle part of the head 3 and the outside surface of the deflecting insert 33.

Figure 2 is an axonometric drawing of the head 3 according to the invention with conical connecting extension 32 and conical deflecting insert 33. The figure shows the connecting branch 31 to which the flexible tube 2 is connected, and the conical connecting extension 32 which can be inserted into the nasal cavity. The head 3 can preferably be drawn apart and put together at its cyl indrical middle portion in a close fitting way. and the two parts are designed as one unit each.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the head 3 with conical connecting extension 32 and conical deflecting insert 33 shown in figure 2, where the connecting branch 3 1 is also designed as an internal tube 3 1 ' with slightly decreasing conicity (preferably 1°) protruding into the internal part of the head 3 along preferably % of its length. There is a deflecting insert 33 formed between the conical end and preferably the middle of the head 3 projecting to preferably 1 /3 of the length of the internal tube 3 1 ' ensuring regulated flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it. There is a collecting reservoir 34 at the cylindrical end (bottom) of the head 3 between the internal tube 3 1 ' and the cylindrical part. The flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it is legulated by the ring shaped l it 35 formed between the inside surface of the conical end and cylindrical middle part of the head 3 and the outside surface of the conical deflecting insert 33, the width of which slit is between 1.9 and 2,4 mm, preferably 2, 1 5 mm, and the deflecting insert 33. forcing to change the direction of flow two times at preferably 1 80° at its bottom and middle part. In figure 3, the way of air with the secreta in it sucked in through the suction hole of the conical connecting extension 32 is indicated by arrows. The first 180° change in the direction of the flow takes place at the bottom part of the slit 35 and the deflecting cone 33, while the second 1 80° change in the direction takes place at the middle part of the deflecting cone 33 and the hole at the middle of the internal tube 31 ', while the secreta carried by the air is deposited in the collecting reservoir 34 and the air flows in the flexible tube 2. The half cone angle α of the conical deflecting insert 33 is 18-26°, preferably 22°. There are thin ribs 331 on the surface of the deflecting insert 33, preferably at the middle portion of its length, situated preferably at 120°, acting as spacers.

Figure 4 is an axonometric drawing of the head 3 according to the invention with a connecting extension 32 of conical end provided with a silicone tube and with a deflecting insert 33 of spherical segment shape. The figure shows the connecting branch 3 1 to which the flexible tube 2 is connected, and the connecting extension 32 with conical end provided with a si licone tube, where the silicone tube is connected to the connecting extension 32 of conical end formed at the conical end of the head 3. preferably of slightly decreasing conicity (appr. 4°). Also at this preferable embodiment, the head 3 can be drawn apart and put together at its cylindrical middle portion in a close fitting way. The part of the head 3 with cylindrical end has the same shape and size for each type, and is also designed as one structural unit.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the head 3 with a connecting extension 32 of conical end provided with a silicone tube and with a deflecting insert 33 of spherical segment shape shown in figure 4. At this preferable embodiment, the part of the head 3 with cylindrical end - and therefore the connecting branch 31 , the internal tube 3 1 ' and the collecting reservoir 34 - is similar to the part with cylindrical end shown in figure 3. However, the part of the deflecting insert 33 close to the conical end of the head 3 is not of conical shape but preferably has the shape of a spherical segment of radius R = 5-7 mm, preferably 6 mm. The flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it is ensured by the spherical segment shaped deflecting insert 33 with the ring shaped slit 35 situated at the conical end of the head 3, with preferably two changes in the direction of flow at 1 80° at the bottom and the middle part of the deflecting insert 33, and this way the secreta is deposited in the collecting reservoir 34 while the air flows into the flexible tube 2. There arc thin ribs 331 on the surface of the deflecting insert 33, preferably at the middle portion of its length, situated preferably at 120°. also acting as spacers.

The connecting extension 32 with conical end is preferably of slightly decreasing conicity so that the silicone tube can easily be pulled on it and fit well on it.

Figure 6 is a front view of the cloverleaf-shaped connecting extension 32 according to the invention. At this preferable embodiment the connecting extension 32 of the required length pulled on the conical end has preferably four "leaves" at its end in cloverleaf-shaped arrangement. The suction hole has an internal diameter D l and an external diameter D2, and preferably D2/D 1 = 1 ,6. Figure 7 is the A-A section of the cloverleaf-shaped connecting extension shown in figure 6, where diameter D3 is the distance between the farthermost points of two opposite leaves, ad L is the length of the cloverleaf-shaped connecting extension 32 pulled on the conical end, and preferably D3/D 1 = 5,6.

The operation of the electric nose cleaning apparatus according to the invention is as follows.

First the apparatus is prepared for use. It must be decided if the apparatus will be operated by batteries (preferably two 1.5 V batteries of AA type) or connected to the mams (130/230 V). Than the preferably 900 mm long flexible tube 2 is connected to the pipe stub 1 1 and the connecting branch 3 1 of the chosen type of head 3. The main point when choosing the head 3 to be used is to chose the suitable connecting extension 32 and deflecting insert 33. The connecting extension 32 with conical end is suitably used for cleaning the nose of infants between the age of 3 months and 2-3 years, when the conical end is inserted into the infant's nasal cavity, and the continuous vacuum provided by the vacuum source 1 after its switch 12 has been switched on creates vacuum in the nose as well. The connecting extension 32 with conical end provided with a silicone tube is suitably used with babies below the age of 3 months, when the silicone tube is put into the secreta and this way a local suction can be applied.

The cloverleaf-shaped connecting extension 32 is also used with babies instead of the silicone tube, and it prevents the end of the connector from being pushed up entirely into the nasal cavity only into the secreta.

There are preferably be two types of deflecting inserts 33. With the first type, the part close to the conical end of the head 3 is preferably conical, while with the second type, the part close to the conical end of the head 3 is preferably spherical segment shaped. The conical deflecting insert 33 is primarily used with heads 3 having connecting extension 32 with conical end, while the spherical segment shaped deflecting insert 33 is primarily used with heads 3 having connecting extension 32 with conical end provided with silicone tube, but the two types of deflecting inserts 33 can be interchanged as well. However, it is important that the width of the ring shaped slit 35 should be the same at the two deflecting inserts 33, preferably it should be 1 ,9 - 2,4 mm. (The experiments showed that the best result can be achieved with a width of the slit 35 of about 2 mm.)

After the required preparations, the chosen type of head 3 with the connecting extension 32 is inserted into the nasal cavity, the vacuum source I is switched on using the switch 12 and sucking of the nose is started. The flow of the air sucked from the nasal cavity with the secreta in it is regulated by the ring shaped slit 35 and the deflecting insert 33, preferably forcing to change the direction of flow two times at 180° at its bottom and middle part, so that the air can flow as described in connection with figure 3 and 5 and as indicated by the arrows in the figures.

This way the secreta carried by the air is deposited in the collecting reservoir 34 at the bottom of the head 3, so that no secreta can get into the flexible tube 2. After using the apparatus, it is switched off using the switch 12, the head 3 is drawn apart at its cylindrical middle part, the secreta is removed from the collecting reservoir 34, and the two parts of the head 3 are cleaned e.g. using running water, and, if it is necessary, it can be sterilised e.g. by boiling. After cleaning, the head 3 is put together from the two parts. The required sealing is provided by tight fitting, no additional gasket ring is necessary.

At a preferable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the head 3 is preferably made of food-quality, heat-resistant plastic, e.g. natural policarbonate, while the flexible tube 2 is preferably made of silicone.

The electronic nasal passage cleaning apparatus according to the invention has met its objectives, and its advantages are as follows: due lo the regulated flow, the secreta sucked remains in the head and do not get into the long flexible tube and to the motor of the vacuum source, simple construction, consisting of relatively few parts, simple to operate, the suction head can be drawn apart or put together by a single movement, there is no need for additional gasket ring for the sealing, it has a separated collecting reservoir which can easily be cleaned after use, it is hygienic, it can be used at home with no expertise, it is economically manufactured.

Claims

Cla ims

1 . Electric nasal passage cleaning apparatus having a battery- or mains-operated vacuum source ( I) with a pipe stub ( 1 1 ) and a switch ( 12) producing continuous vacuum, a flexible tube (2) connecting the pipe stub ( I I ) with the connecting branch (3 I ) on one, preferably cylindrical end of the cylindrical head (3), and a connecting extension (32) containing a suction hole, which can be inserted into the nasal passage, on the other, preferably conical end of the head (3), characterized in that the connecting branch (31 ) is also designed as an internal tube (31 ') with slightly decreasing conicity protruding into the internal part of the head (3) along preferably % of its length, there is a deflecting insert (33) formed between the conical end and preferably the middle of the head (3) projecting to preferably 1/3 of the length of the internal lube (31 ') ensuring regulated flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it, and there is a collecting reservoir (34) at the cylindrical end of the head (3) between the internal tube (3 1 ') and the cylindrical part.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the flow of the sucked air with the secreta in it is regulated by a ring shaped slit (35) formed between the inside surface of the conical end and cylindrical middle part of the head (3) and the outside surface of the deflecting insert (33), the width of which is between 1 ,9 and 2,4 mm, preferably 2, 15 mm, and the deflecting insert (33), forcing to change the direction of flow preferably two times at 1 80° at its bottom and middle part.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the part of the deflecting insert (33) close to the conical end of the head (3) is suitably of conical shape, the half cone angle (α) of which is 1 8-26°, preferably 22°.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the part of the deflecting insert (33) close to the conical end of the head (3) is preferably of spherical segment shape, the radius (R) of which is 5-7 mm, preferably 6 mm.

5. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that there are ribs (33 1 ) on the surface of the deflecting insert (33) situated preferably at 120°, acting as spacers.

6. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the connecting extension (32) is preferably conical or it has a conical end provided with a silicone tube or it may be cloverleaf-shaped.

7. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the conical part of the head (3), the connecting extension (32) and the deflecting insert (33) are preferably constructed as one unit.

8. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the head (3) can preferably be drawn apart and put together at its cylindrical middle portion in a close fitting way.

9. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 8, characterized in that the head (3) is preferably made of food-quality, heat-resistant plastic.