Universal medical tube retainer and nasal wall tissue dilator
OwnerCarl J. Simmons, Robert N. Sadlerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for expanding the volume of interior nasal air passages (65 and 67) by introducing separating forces in anatomical outer nasal wall tissues (62 and 64) to enhance oxygen flow and minimize obstruction caused by the presence of nasally inserted medical tubing, which further supports and retains various combinations of oxygen cannula (68), a nasogastric suction tube (35), or an enteral feeding tube (40). This method includes a device containing a clip assembly (14), adjustable arm (18) and dilator patch assembly (12). The primary purposes of this method are to reduce incidence of secondary infection, increase efficacy of oxygen therapy and improve patient comfort.
Claims16
A medical device for facilitating nasal insertion of medical tubing and for improving the flow of oxygen through a patient's nasal passages comprising:
- (a) a nasal dilator including a resilient band and a patch having adhesive thereon for application to a patient's nose, said nasal dilator having means for introducing separating forces in outer nasal wall tissues, thereby expanding the volume of interior nasal passages;
- and
- (b) a retainer clip assembly, said retainer clip assembly extending distally of a patient's nose from said nasal dilator and having means for supporting and retaining medical tubing near the entrance to a patient's nose.
A medical device comprising a stack of the following elements laminated together:
- (i) an adhesive release strip;
- (ii) a patch having medical grade adhesive on the side adapted to face a patient's nose;
- (iii) a pair of parallel interface adhesive strips having adhesive material on both sides;
- (iv) a pair of resilient bands having a spring constant for producing a pulling force on a patient's outer nasal tissues;
- (v) a retainer clip assembly extending distally of a patient's nose from said patch and having means for supporting and retaining medical tubing near the entrance to a patient's nose, and
- (vi) a top material strip.
A method for facilitating nasal insertion of medical tubing and for improving the flow of oxygen through a patient's nasal passages, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a nasal dilator including a resilient band and a patch having adhesive thereon for application external to a patient's nose, said nasal dilator having means for introducing separating forces in outer nasal wall tissues, thereby expanding the volume of interior nasal passages;
- (b) providing a retainer clip assembly, said retainer clip assembly extending distally of a patient's nose from said nasal dilatator, having means for supporting and retaining medical tubing near the entrance to a patient's nose;
- (c) adhesively applying said nasal dilator to the nose of a patient, said dilator being adapted to introduce separating forces in outer nasal wall tissues, thereby expanding the volume of interior nasal passages;
- and
- (d) supporting and retaining medical tubing near the entrance to the patient's nose by said retainer clip assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.