# US 11,305,077 B2 · Therapeutic device for treatment of conditions relating to the sinuses, nasal cavities, ear, nose and throat

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- Number: US 11,305,077 B2
- Document ID: US11305077B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/517,125
- Filed: 2021-11-02
- Published: 2022-02-24
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-14
- Assignees: Healthy Humming, LLC
- Applicants: Healthy Humming, LLC
- Inventors: Richard K. Bogan; David J. Lewis; Caleb Pinckney; David Bonner; Michael Maloney
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305077B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/0006: {with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways}
- A61H 1/00: Apparatus for passive exercising (A61H5/00 takes precedence); Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A61H 9/0007: {Pulsating}
- A61H 9/0071: {by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets}
- A61H 23/004: {With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient}
- A61H 23/008: {using shock waves}
- A61H 23/02: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 23/0236: {using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers}
- A61H 23/0245: {with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric}
- A61H 33/14: Devices for gas baths with ozone, hydrogen, or the like (production of ozone or hydrogen C01B, C25B1/02)
- A61H 35/04: for the nose
- A61M 15/0013: {with inhalation check valves}
- A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 15/0086: {Inhalation chambers}
- A61M 15/0098: {Activated by exhalation}
- A61M 15/08: Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
- A61M 16/0072: {Tidal volume piston pumps}
- A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
- A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)}
- A61H 2033/143: {with oxygen}
- A61H 2201/0153: hand-held
- A61H 2201/0157: portable
- A61H 2201/0207: heated
- A61H 2201/105: with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
- A61H 2201/123: Linear drive
- A61H 2201/1238: with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
- A61H 2201/1246: by piston-cylinder systems
- A61H 2201/1253: driven by a human being, e.g. hand driven
- A61H 2201/1604: Head
- A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces
- A61H 2201/5002: Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
- A61H 2201/5025: Activation means
- A61H 2201/5082: Temperature sensors
- A61H 2205/022: Face
- A61H 2205/023: Nose
- A61H 2205/027: Ears
- A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps}
- A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)}
- A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen
- A61M 2202/0216: Ozone
- A61M 2202/0225: Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
- A61M 2202/0266: Nitrogen (N)
- A61M 2205/505: Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- A61M 2210/0618: Nose
- A61M 2210/0662: Ears
- A61M 2210/0681: Sinus (maxillaris)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

A therapeutic device for treating one or more conditions associated with a user's nasal cavities, sinuses, and/or ear canals includes a housing having an opening, an acoustic vibrator within the housing that is operable to provide an acoustic vibration to the user, a fan within the housing that is operable to provide a pressure to the user and a power supply that provides power to the acoustic vibrator and the fan. A mask is connected to the housing at the opening and includes a nasal interface appliable around the nose of the user, a nasal chamber in which the user's nostrils are located and an aperture through which the fan delivers the pressure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A therapeutic device for treating one or more conditions associated with a user's nasal cavities, sinuses, and/or ear canals, the therapeutic device comprising:
a housing including an opening;
an acoustic vibrator that is operable to provide an acoustic vibration to the user, the acoustic vibrator located within the housing;
a fan that is operable to provide a pressure to the user, the fan located within the housing;
a power supply that provides power to the acoustic vibrator and the fan, the power supply located within the housing;
a mask that is connected to the housing proximate the opening, the mask including
a nasal interface appliable around a nose of the user;
a nasal chamber extending from the nasal interface, the user's nostrils being located in the nasal chamber when the nasal interface is applied around the nose of the user; and
an aperture, the fan delivering the pressure to the user through the aperture;
whereby, the acoustic vibrator provides the acoustic vibration 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 vibration; and
whereby, the fan provides the pressure directly to the nose of the user when the nasal interface is applied around the nose of the user and when the fan is operated to provide the pressure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The therapeutic device of claim 1, where the nasal interface creates an airtight seal between the mask and the user when the nasal interface is applied around the nose of the user, the seal permitting pressure to be maintained in the nasal cavities.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The therapeutic device of claim 1, where the power supply is connected to a circuit board, and the circuit board operates the fan or the acoustic vibrator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The therapeutic device of claim 1, where the acoustic vibration has a frequency of from 100 hertz to 150 hertz.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 6

A therapeutic device for treating one or more conditions associated with a user's nasal cavities, sinuses, and/or ear canals, the therapeutic device comprising:
a housing including an opening and an orifice;
an acoustic vibrator that is operable to provide an acoustic vibration to the user, the acoustic vibrator located within the housing;
a positive pressure unit that provides a pressure to the user that is generated by exhaled breath of the user, the positive pressure unit connected to the housing proximate the orifice such that the exhaled breath of the user enters the positive pressure unit through the orifice;
a power supply that provides power to the acoustic vibrator, the power supply located within the housing;
a mask that is connected to the housing at the opening, the mask including
a nasal interface appliable around a nose of the user; and
a nasal chamber extending from the nasal interface, the user's nostrils being located in the nasal chamber when the nasal interface is applied around the nose of the user;
whereby, the acoustic vibrator provides the acoustic vibration 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 vibration; and
whereby, the positive pressure unit provides the pressure directly to the nose of the user when the nasal interlace is applied around the nose of the user and when the user exhales into the mask.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The therapeutic device of claim 6, where the positive pressure unit includes a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber including a restrictor and the second chamber including a vane that is connected to the restrictor via a shaft.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The therapeutic device of claim 7, where the restrictor has an offset connection to the shaft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The therapeutic device of claim 8, where the restrictor and vane are offset by an angle of between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The therapeutic device of claim 9, where the restrictor and vane are operable from a first position to a second position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The therapeutic device of claim 10, where the exhaled breath of the user exits the second chamber through a first exit and second exit when the restrictor and vane are between the first position and the second position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The therapeutic device of claim 10, where the exhaled breath of the user exits the second chamber through only a first exit when the restrictor and vane are in the first position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The therapeutic device of claim 6, where the positive pressure unit includes a flexible nozzle, the flexible nozzle including a pair of nozzle members.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The therapeutic device of claim 6, where the positive pressure unit includes a fan that is powered by the exhaled breath of the user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 6)

The therapeutic device of claim 6, where the positive pressure unit includes a piston that is connected to a spring, the piston operable to an open position when the exhaled breath of the user creates a force that is stronger than a spring force generated by the spring.

### Claim 16 (depends on 6)

The therapeutic device of claim 6, where the positive pressure unit includes a piston that is connected to a motor, the motor operable to move the piston from a first position, in which the exhaled breath of the user is restricted from exiting the positive pressure unit by the piston, to a second piston position, in which the exhaled breath of the user is not restricted from exiting the positive pressure unit by the piston.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The therapeutic device of claim 16, where the motor is connected to the power supply.

### Claim 18 (depends on 6)

The therapeutic device of claim 6, where the mask is removably connected to the housing.

### Claim 19 (depends on 6)

The therapeutic device of claim 6, where the mask includes a vent, the vent aligned with the orifice.

### Claim 20 (depends on 6)

The therapeutic device of claim 6, where the acoustic vibration has a frequency of from 100 hertz to 150 hertz.