Irrigation and aspiration device and method

A hand-held nasal irrigation device comprising:

• a source of saline solution;
• an effluent receptacle;
• a nasal interface including a nozzle for engaging a nostril of a user of the hand-held nasal irrigation device;
• a fluid passageway having an irrigation channel and an aspiration channel disposed to communicate the source of saline solution with the effluent receptacle through a nasal cavity of the user;
• a valve for selectively controlling a flow of the saline solution through the fluid passageway for transmission of the saline solution into the nostril, out of the nostril, and into the effluent receptacle, wherein the nasal interface and a switch are self-contained within the hand-held nasal irrigation device;
• and
• a battery compartment,
• wherein the irrigation channel is in fluid communication with the source of saline solution, wherein the irrigation channel is between the source of saline solution and the effluent receptacle, wherein the irrigation channel is between the source of saline solution and the aspiration channel, wherein the irrigation channel has an irrigation channel distal end and an irrigation channel proximal end, wherein the irrigation channel distal end is farther from the battery compartment than the irrigation channel proximal end, wherein the irrigation channel is movable relative to the battery compartment from an irrigation channel first position to an irrigation channel second position, wherein when the irrigation channel is in the irrigation channel first position, the irrigation channel extends in an irrigation channel first direction away from the effluent receptacle, and wherein when the irrigation channel is in the irrigation channel second position, the irrigation channel extends in an irrigation channel second direction away from the effluent receptacle,
• wherein the aspiration channel is in fluid communication with the effluent receptacle, wherein the aspiration channel is between the source of saline solution and the effluent receptacle, wherein the aspiration channel is between the effluent receptacle and the irrigation channel, wherein the aspiration channel has an aspiration channel distal end and an aspiration channel proximal end, wherein the aspiration channel distal end is farther from the battery compartment than the aspiration channel proximal end, wherein the aspiration channel is movable relative to the battery compartment from an aspiration channel first position to an aspiration channel second position, wherein when the aspiration channel is in the aspiration channel first position, the aspiration channel extends in an aspiration channel first direction away from the effluent receptacle, and wherein when the aspiration channel is in the aspiration channel second position, the aspiration channel extends in an aspiration channel second direction away from the effluent receptacle.

A nasal irrigation device comprising:

• a hand-held controller;
• a source of irrigant;
• an effluent receptacle;
• a nasal interface comprising a nozzle, wherein the nasal interface is disposed below the source of irrigant and above the effluent receptacle for transmission of the irrigant from the source of irrigant, into the nostril, out of the nostril, and into the effluent receptacle;
• a vacuum source for forming a relative vacuum in the effluent receptacle;
• a fluid passageway having an irrigation channel and an aspiration channel disposed to communicate a stream of the irrigant from the source to the effluent receptacle through the nasal interface upon sealing engagement of the nasal interface to the nostril, and upon urging of the irrigant from the source to the effluent receptacle by a combination of the transmission of the irrigant and the relative vacuum;
• a switch and valve assembly for selectively controlling the vacuum source and the stream of the irrigant through the fluid passageway, and wherein the vacuum source, the fluid passageway, the nasal interface and the switch and valve assembly are self-contained within the controller;
• a battery compartment,
• wherein the irrigation channel is in fluid communication with the source of irrigant, wherein the irrigation channel is between the source of irrigant and the effluent receptacle, wherein the irrigation channel is between the source of irrigant and the aspiration channel, wherein the irrigation channel has an irrigation channel distal end and an irrigation channel proximal end, wherein the irrigation channel distal end is farther from the battery compartment than the irrigation channel proximal end, wherein the irrigation channel is movable relative to the effluent receptacle from an irrigation channel first position to an irrigation channel second position, wherein when the irrigation channel is in the irrigation channel first position, the irrigation channel distal end is at a first angle relative to the irrigation channel proximal end, wherein when the irrigation channel is in the irrigation channel second position, the irrigation channel distal end is at a second angle relative to the irrigation channel proximal end,
• wherein the aspiration channel is in fluid communication with the effluent receptacle, wherein the aspiration channel is between the source of irrigant and the effluent receptacle, wherein the aspiration channel is between the effluent receptacle and the irrigation channel, wherein the aspiration channel has an aspiration channel distal end and an aspiration channel proximal end, wherein the aspiration channel distal end is farther from the battery compartment than the aspiration channel proximal end, wherein the aspiration channel is movable relative to the effluent receptacle from an aspiration channel first position to an aspiration channel second position, wherein when the aspiration channel is in the aspiration channel first position, the aspiration channel distal end is at a first angle relative to the aspiration channel proximal end, and wherein when the aspiration channel is in the aspiration channel second position, the aspiration channel distal end is at a second angle relative to the aspiration channel proximal end.