Ear piercing healing grommet system

#Not Applicable

#It is well known and well publicized that infections and problems associated with ear piercing continue to be widespread as they have remained so for decades. It is additionally well known in the industry that the sale of jewelry is a primary object of the dominant vendors engaged in such business, and that the ear piercing service is a means to the primary end insofar as the piercing service is frequently offered “free” with the purchase of jewelry.

#While the pierced openings of most end user consumers eventually heal, it is well known that a significant number of piercings do not heal optimally, and that a significant number sustain unnecessarily long term recurring discomfort traceable to the original piercing. It is appreciated that a piercing, and ear piercing in particular, involves the formation of a new epidermal passage through flesh and requires extraordinary care and maintenance throughout an advisable eight-week healing phase. Such care presents an extraordinary challenge to young consumers. In fact it is well known that the frequent reluctance of young consumers to follow proper care procedures which contributes mainly to the cause of such piercing infections and problems. Given the absence of viable choice in the marketplace, consumers, many of which are young children, often must accept the only standard of service available. Such reluctant participation even occurs despite the fact that parents remain extremely suspicious and concerned about the quality of piercing being practiced at most retail sites. Parents of increasingly younger end user consumers would greatly appreciate more choices that address their serious consumer issues and importantly more choices that affordably ensure a proper healing independent of young consumers' frequent reluctance to adhere to instructions and advice for proper care and maintenance during the extended healing phase.

#These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the piercing/healing grommet assembly components, and healing grommet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention within which is nested a conventional earring also shown;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cannula constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein there is depicted a cannula lumen with a closed sharpened distal end;

#The detailed description as set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of this invention.

#Referring now to the Figures, and initially to FIG. 1, there is shown the components of an improved ear piercing/healing grommet and delivery system. An elongate cylindrical sleeve or healing grommet 12 is formed of a bio-compatible material, such as medical grade plastic. In such embodiment, the sleeve or grommet 12 is specifically designed to embed and reside within the pierced channel opening in the ear. The grommet 12 may be provided with an annular collar or flange 22 formed about the proximal end thereof which serves to radially abut about the tissue surrounding the piercing opening, thereby defining the entryway into the piercing and provide means for anchoring the grommet 12 axially within the formed piercing. As a consequence, grommet 12 will provide the individual with a channel or pathway through which he or she may insert ornamental earrings and the like and change jewelry, which is not available via piercing made directly through flesh insofar as such piercing necessarily require that the tissue heal about such piercing, which can take over a month for initial healing to take place and up to several months for complete healing for most individuals.

#In a preferred embodiment the grommet 12 may be formed of a relatively flexible material to thus enable individuals to readily insert and affix earrings or other types of jewelry having arcuate contours, such as hoops and the like. By varying the durometer hardness of various grommet materials, and by varying the thickness of various sections of the grommet 12 advantages may be gained over prior art for achieving vital and specialized tasks. For example, it is well known that intermittent rotation of the designated imbedded piercing shaft (or in this case a healing grommet 12), is critical to successful and timely healing of the pierced opening. Said annular collar or flange 22 may be formed with ample rigidity and thickness for easy grasping or compressively engaging for the above rotation purpose, while still maintaining a relatively thin cross section. Further, the shaft portion 24 of grommet 12 may be of ample length to allow the space needed for easy grasping of said flange 22. As mentioned above, when ornamental earrings such as depicted in FIG. 14 or hoops are inserted into the shaft 24 of grommet 12 said flange 22 will not be noticeable to casual observance as with prior art. Furthermore, said flange 22 may be further camouflaged by forming the flange 22 as clear or translucent or in any number of skin-toned colors.