NL1039166C2 - Nasal dilator. - Google Patents

Description

Nasal dilator

The present invention relates to a nasal dilator comprising magnets .

5 A nasal dilator is a device for improving respiration through the nose. Nasal dilators are used to reduce discomfort due to a blocked nose, to reduce snoring, and to improve nasal airflow during sporting activities. For a normal person, about 50% of the total airway resistance is in the nose and the remainder in the lower airways. The 10 nose has a constriction (bottleneck), usually located at the internal nasal valve area, that determines most of the airflow resistance in the nose. From the alar rims to the nasal bones, and therefore at the location of the constriction, the lateral walls of the nose are flexible. The restriction of the air flow through the nose exists in 15 particular when inhaling. The reason for this is that because the lateral walls come closer together during inhalation, the constriction in the nose becomes more severe. A modest improvement in the cross-sectional flow-through area, effectively reducing the constriction in the nose, can make a significant difference in nasal 20 airflow. This can be understood in view of Poiseuille's Law for the flow through tubes having a circular cross-section, which law shows that the resistance to flow is inversely related to the radius of such a tube to the power four.

Basically, there are two main types of nasal dilators: 1) 25 Bandaid-like nasal dilators, which are single use (disposable). They comprise a resilient member attached to an adhesive base. The adhesive base is applied to the outside of the nose, bending the resilient member. Because the resilient member tries to revert to its original straight shape, the bandaid-like nasal dilator exerts an outward force 30 on the lateral walls of the nose, widening the air passages in the nose. 2) Re-usable intra-nasal devices with two legs. The legs of the intra-nasal device are introduced in the nostrils, one leg in each nostril. The legs push away from each other, against the inner surface of the air passages in the nose. The force is exerted because the 35 intra-nasal device comprises resilient material or oppositely oriented magnets are present at the distal portions of the legs.

The prior art is replete with patent applications for magnetic anti-snore devices that lack any physical basis, with a fictitious 1039166 2 effect attributable to non-factual belief in magical properties of magnets .

A nasal dilator according to the preamble is known from JP2002301153A.

5 A disadvantage of this re-usable intra-nasal dilator is that the user may lose it during his/her sleep or other activity because the process of dislodging is energetically favourable and that the nasal dilator is somewhat limited when it comes to reducing the airway resistance.

10 The object of the present invention is to provide a re-useable nasal dilator that allows for improved breathing by reducing the nasal airway resistance.

To this end, a nasal dilator according to the preamble is characterized in that the nasal dilator is a set comprising two bodies, 15 each of the two bodies having - a first leg having at a distal portion thereof a magnet; and - a second leg connected to the first leg via a bridge comprising flexible material, each of said two bodies capable of being clamped to an ala nasi of 20 a human nose between the distal portions of said first leg and said second leg.

In a state where both bodies are clamped to a respective ala nasi, the bodies repel each other and the airway resistance is reduced. Because of the two legs of a body only one leg is introduced 25 intra-nasally, the intra-nasal airflow resistance is increased to a limited extent, the increase being overcome by the repelling force. Because of the relatively even thickness of the ala nasi, the dislodging process is not particularly energetically favourable, which aids in keeping the bodies in place, i.e. clamped to the alae nasi.

30 Compared to some other non-magnetic nasal dilators known in the art, the central area of each of the nasal passages is relatively unobstructed. This results in a reduction of the air resistance and hence improved ease of breathing. The flexible material of the bridge is for example a resilient material, allowing the body to be clamped to 35 an ala nasi. The length of a body of a nasal dilator according to the present invention measured along said body from the distal portion of the first leg to the distal portion of the second leg is in general 2.5 to 6 cm, preferably 3 to 5 cm. The total magnetic strength provided by 3 a body is in practice equivalent to a magnet with a magnetic force (Fh) on an iron plate (Fe) between 10 Newton (= 1.0 kg) and 50 Newton (= 5.1 kg), preferably between 14 Newton (= 1.4 kg) and 40 Newton (= 4.1 kg). Total magnetic strength means the combined magnetic force of both legs 5 of a body.

According to a possible embodiment the set comprises a third body having - a first leg having at a distal portion thereof a magnet; and - a second leg connected to the first leg via a bridge comprising 10 flexible material, said third body being designed so as to allow said third body to be clamped to a nasal septum of a human nose between the distal portions of said first leg and said second leg.

In use, the magnet of the third body will be aligned such that 15 with the third body clamped to the nasal septum of a nose, the magnet of the third repels the first and second bodies clamped to the alae nasi. The third body results in a reduction of the distance between two repelling bodies, allowing stronger repelling force for a given magnet strength, and/or allowing for the use of cheaper,, smaller or weaker 20 magnets. The first, second and third bodies may be identical. Because the septum is relatively sensitive, particular care should be take to avoid discomfort for a user. If the third body is clamped to the septum by a magnet in each of the first leg (111) and second leg (112) of said third body, weaker magnets may be employed for the third body than for 25 the first and second body.

According to a favourable embodiment, the second leg has at a distal portion thereof a magnet-attractable element.

The magnet-attractabe element is for example a steel element. It helps to focus the magnetic field and hence increase the force with 30 which the magnets of two opposite bodies of the nasal dilator attract. The use of a magnet-attractable element also helps to reduce the risk that the magnet of the first leg (111) gets dislodged from the remainder of the body, which is undesirable as it might be inhaled by the user if the first leg (111) is inserted into the user's nostril.

35 According to a favourable embodiment, the magnet-attractable element is a magnetic element.

This allows for an even stronger increased repelling force. In contrast to the nasal dilator of JP2002301153A, part of the repelling 4 force is generated outside the nose, thus less volume has to be occupied inside the nasal passages, thus increasing the ease of breathing .

According to a favourable embodiment, the magnetic strength of the 5 magnet in the second leg is at least 25% more than the magnetic strength of the magnet in the first leg.

This makes it possible for a user of the nasal dilator to select the strength with which the bodies repel each other, by clamping the bodies either with their first legs inside the nasal passages or with 10 the second legs inside the nasal passages. The magnets in the first leg (111) may be of a different magnetic material or grade thereof than the magnets of the second leg (112) and/or the difference in magnetic strength is the result of different dimensions of the magnets employed. E.g. the magnet in the second leg (112) may be thicker or composed of a 15 stack of two magnets of the type used in the first leg (111) .

According to a favourable embodiment, the bridge comprises a hinge allowing a body of the nasal dilator to clamp to a plate having a uniform thickness of 4 mm - in a first position with sections of a first side of the body 20 facing each other and - in a second position with sections of a second side of the body facing each other, the second side being opposite to the first side, wherein the difference in distance between i) the magnet of the first leg, and ii) the magnet-attractable member in the second leg, in 25 the first position and in the second position is at least 0.1 mm.

Depending on whether the bridge is given a U-shape by bending the legs in one way or the other way, the distal portions of the legs of the U-shaped body thus formed attract each other with a different force, and thus a user may select a clamping force comfortable for that 30 user. The difference in distance between the magnets of the two legs is preferably at least 0.2 mm, more preferably at least 0.3 mm. It should be noted that the plate having a uniform thickness of 4 mm is not part of the nasal dilator and merely an aid for defining the embodiment.

According to a favourable embodiment, the magnet of a body is a 35 planar magnet.

This reduces inconvenience for the user, because strong clamping can be achieved with limited force per unit of surface area. For a nasal dilator where the bodies each contain a magnet and a 5 magnet-attractable element, the risk of dislodging the body is reduced. In general, the orientation of the magnetic field will be at an angle to the plane of said planar magnet, usually at an angle between 40" and 0" to the normal of the main plane.

5 According to a favourable embodiment, the magnet of a body is aligned such that the magnetic field is oriented at an angle a to the plane defined by the ala nasi area clamped between two distal portions, the angle a being between 5 and 15'.

This can be achieved using a magnet having a magnetic field at an 10 angle to the normal of the main surface of the planar magnet, or a planar magnet with its main surface being at said angle to the plane defined by the ala nasi area clamped between said two distal portions of said first leg (111) and second leg (112). The former approach is preferable over the latter, because it allows for less volume being 15 taken up by the intranasal portion of the body. The effect of the specified orientation is that in a first position of the bodies (e.g. with the first legs inserted into the nose) the magnetic fields of the first body and the second body repel each other with a stronger force than in a second position with the second legs inserted into the nose 20 because the magnetic fields are then at an obtuse angle. This allows the user to select the force with which the bodies repel each other, even with identical magnets in the first and second leg (112). In the present application, the orientation of the magnet field is defined by a line through the south and north pole of the magnet.

25 According to a favourable embodiment, the legs and bridge of each body are made of flexible material, and the distal portion of at least one of the legs comprises a chamber for holding the magnet.

This reduces the chance that a magnet is dislodged from the leg.

According to a favourable embodiment, the flexible material is 30 chosen from silicone and polyurethane.

These are relatively comfortable materials for a user. Their resilient nature can also contribute to retaining a magnet or magnet-attractable element in a leg.

According to a favourable embodiment, the nasal dilator comprises 35 a bridging body comprising an elongated resilient member, the bridging body having a first distal portion and a second distal portion and a magnet attractable element at each of the first distal portion and the second distal portion.

6

Such a bridging body can be applied to the outside of the nose, bending the resilient member. It remains in place thanks to the magnet-attractable elements. Because the resilient member tries to revert to its original straight shape, the bridging body exerts an 5 outward force on the lateral walls of the nose, widening the air passages in the nose.

The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the drawing where

Fig. 1 shows a top view on a nasal dilator according to the 10 invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of a face of a user of the nasal dilator;

Fig. 3 a frontal, cut-out view of a nose provided with a nasal dilator;

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a body of an alternative nasal dilator 15 according to the invention in two positions;

Fig. 5 shows a frontal, cut-out view of a nose provided with a nasal dilator;

Fig. 6 corresponds with Fig. 3 and shows a nasal dilator comprising a third body; 20 Fig. 7 shows a bridging body of a nasal dilator according to the invention; and

Fig. 8 shows a side view of a face of a user of the nasal dilator with the bridging body of Fig. 7.

Fig. 1 shows a nasal dilator 100 comprising a first body 101 and a 25 second body 102. The first body 101 and the second body 102 are made of flexible polyurethane (hardness: Shore A-70) and shown in an un-bent position of the bodies. The first body 101 comprises a first leglll and a second legll2, joined via a bridge 113. At a distal portion of the first leglll, the first leglll contains a first magnet 114. At a distal 30 portion of the second legll2, the second legcontains a second magnet 115. Of the first magnet 114 in Fig. 1 we face its south pole. Of the second magnet 115 we face its north pole.

Specifics of the magnets (Webcraft GmbH, Gottmadingen, Germany): 35 Material: Neodymium (NdFeB)

Coating: Gold-plated (Ni-Cu-Ni-Au)

Measurements: length (1) 10mm x width (w) 5mm x height (h) 2mm

Magnet poles South/North over the height (h) = 2 mm 7

Max working temperature: 80°C

Material grade: N 50

Magnetic flux density: 1.4 Tesla

Magnetic force (Fh) on an iron plate (FE): 11.08 Newton = 1.13 kg 5 Dead weight: 0.76 g

Experiments with bodies having one magnet in each leg showed magnets with a magnetic force (Fh) on an iron plate (Fe) between 7 Newton = 0.7 kg and 20 Newton = 2.03 kg to be effective. In experiments 10 with weaker magnets the beneficial effect on the air flow increase was relatively limited while stronger magnets sometimes caused some discomfort. The magnets as specified above and used in the embodiment discussed here were effective and did not cause any significant discomfort.

15

Dimensions of a body of the nasal dilator (un-bent): length from tip to tip: 36 mm width at the distal portion: 13 mm height at the distal portion: 8 mm 20 thickness at the distal portion: 4.2 mm width of the legs: 6 mm thickness of the legs: 2 mm at the distal portion tapering towards the bridge 1 mm 25 Fig. 2 shows a side view of a face 200 of a user of the nasal dilator 100, the user having a nose 201. Body 101 of the nasal dilator 100 is clamped to said nose 201.

Fig. 3 shows a frontal, cut-out view of the nose 201 which has two alae nasi 301, 302 left and right of nostrils 303, 304, the nostrils 30 303, 304 being left and right of nasal septum 305. For good measure, bony orbits 306, 307 for the right and left eye (not shown) have been indicated in part as well. Bone is shown in Fig. 3 with a dotted line.

First body 101 has been clamped to ala nasi 301 by inserting the second leg 112 of the first body 101 into nostril 303. Because the 35 first magnet 114 at the distal portion of the first leg 111 of the first body 101 attracts the second magnet 115 at the distal portion of the second leg 112 of the first body 101, the first body 101 is securely clamped to the ala nasi 301 by the magnets. The alae nasi have i 8 a relatively constant thickness. As a result, a minor movement of a body clamped to an ala nasi is not significantly energetically different and the body does not become progressively more easily dislodged.

5 Second body 102 has been inserted with its second leg 112' in nostril 304 and clamped to the ala nasi 302 using magnets 114, 114'.

Because the north poles of the second magnets 115, 115' face each other, the bodies 101, 102 repel each other, widening the airway passages 311 inside the nose 201. This allows the user to inhale more 10 easily and/or reduces snoring.

Because the first magnets 114 and the second magnet 115 of the first body 101 (and similarly for the second body) form a stack, the total magnetic strength with which the bodies 101, 102 repel each other is increased. So, the first magnets 114, 114' increase this repelling 15 force without being present inside the nose 201. Being outside the nose 201, the first magnets 114, 114' do not reduce the cross-sectional flow-through area of the nasal airways 311 and consequently do not have a detrimental effect on the air flow resistance in the airway passages 311. The direction of the magnetic field has been indicated by arrows.

20

Dimensions of respective chambers in distal portions of the legs 111, 112 for holding the magnets: 9.9 x 4.9 x 1.9 mm 25 Dimensions of slits 312 giving access to said chambers: 3.7 x 0.7 mm

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a first body 101 of an alternative nasal dilator 100 bent in a first configuration (top) and bent in the 30 opposite way in a second configuration (bottom). To allow body 101 to be in the first or second configuration as desired, in the embodiment discussed here the first leg 111, the second leg 112 and the bridge 113 are made of a flexible material, the bridge 113 having a thickness that is smaller than that of the first leg 111 and than the second leg 112. 35 The body 101 has a first side 401 and a second side 402. The first magnet 114 is closer to the first side 401 of body 101 than to the second side 402. The same goes for the second magnet 115 at the distal portion of the second leg 112. As a result, in the first configuration 9 the first magnet 114 and the second magnet 115 are further apart than in the second configuration. Being further apart means that they don't attract each other as strongly in the first configuration as in the second configuration. As a result, the user can elect how strong the 5 user wants to clamp the body 101 to the ala nasi 301 of his nose 201.

Fig. 4 also illustrates that the first magnet 114 may be of a different strength than the second magnet 115. In this embodiment, the first magnet 114 and the second magnet 115 are of the same material (neodymium), but second magnet 115 has twice the thickness. This can be 10 easily achieved by stacking two magnets. The user may choose which leg of body 101 to insert into a nostril 303. Thus the user can choose how strong the bodies 101, 102 repel each other.

It is important to realise that this customization does not require any modification of the nasal dilator itself. It will be 15 convenient if the first side 401 and the second side 402 are colour-coded, e.g. have a different colour or shade. This will make it easy to indicate the clamping strength. It will also be convenient if the first leg 111 has a different shape than the second leg 112. With a known shape, it is easy to insert either the first legs 111, 111' or 20 the second legs 112, 112' into the nostrils 303, 304, depending on the desired strength with which the bodies 101, 102 repel each other.

In the embodiment of the first body 101 in Fig. 4, the magnets have been introduced in the distal portions of the legs via slits 312.

The invention can be modified in various ways within the scope of 25 the appending claims. For example, the magnets may have a hole and the legs may have a section with a reduction such that a magnet is held at the reduction. To prevent the magnet from rotating, the hole is preferably not round.

Fig. 5 corresponds to Fig. 3, except that the magnets have a 30 magnetic field at an angle to the main surface of the respective magnet, in particular an angle a of 10' to the normal of the plane of the alae nasi 301, 302 and in a plane defined by the hinging bridge 113. As a result, the magnetic fields of the first bodies 101 and second body 102 are parallel and directly opposed (solid arrows). If 35 the bodies are mounted with the second magnets at the outside of the nose, then magnetic fields (dotted arrows) are at an angle, and hence the first body 101 and the second body 102 do not repel each other as strongly.

10

Fig. 6 shows a frontal, cut-out view of the nose 201, corresponding to Fig. 3. A third body 601 has been clamped to septum 305, said third body 601 corresponding to the first body 101. The third body 601 comprises a first magnet 114" and a second magnet 115". Arrows 5 indicate the way the bodies repel each other. In comparison to Fig. 3, the second body 102 has now been clamped to ala nasi 302 in the reverse orientation. Because the septum 305 is rather sensitive, the first magnet 114" and the second magnet 115" magnet may be weaker than the first and second magnets of the first body 101 and the second body 102.

Fig. 7 shows a bridging body 701 that corresponds to the first body 101 of Fig. 1 but differs from said first body 101 by the presence of an elongated resilient member 702, in itself known from bandaid-like nasal dilators. The bridging body 701 comprises magnet-attractable 15 elements, such as a first magnet 114''' and a second magnet 115'''.

The elongated resilient member 702 is straight, but when applied to the nose 201 as shown in Fig. 8 the elongated resilient member 702 is bent. It is stuck to the first body 101 and second body 102 (not visible) with the first magnet 114''' and the second magnet 115'''. The 20 bent elongated resilient member 702 wants to regain its straight shape, thus exerting a force on the alae nasi, bringing them further apart.

The use of a third body 601 and/or bridging body 701 have been disclosed as possibilities, but the use of more than two bodies is 25 recognised as being more cumbersome for users. They do, however, allow for the use of weaker magnets, which may result in increased wearing comfort and/or the use of cheaper magnets.

1039166

Claims (11)

A nose remover (100) comprising magnets, characterized in that the nose remover (100) is a set comprising two bodies (101, 102), wherein each of the two bodies (101, 102) - a first leg ( 111) with a magnet (114) at a distal portion thereof; and - a second leg (112) connected to the first leg (111) via a bridge (113) comprising flexible material, each of said two bodies (101, 102) attached to a nose of a human nose (201) can be clamped between the distal portions of said first leg (111) and said second leg (112). The nose remover (100) of claim 1, wherein the set comprises a third body (601) that - has a first leg (111) with a magnet (1141 ') at a distal portion thereof; and - a second leg (112) connected to the first leg (111) via a bridge (113) comprising flexible material, said third body (601) being designed to connect said third body (601) to able to clamp the nasal septum (305) of a human nose (201) between the distal portions of said first leg (111) and said second leg (112). 25 The nose remover (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second leg (112) has a magnetically attractable element (115) at a distal part thereof. The nose remover (100) of claim 3, wherein the magnetically attractable element is a magnetic element. The nose remover (100) of claim 4, wherein the magnetic strength of the magnet in the second leg (112) is at least 25% more than the magnetic strength of the magnet in the first leg (111). The nose remover (100) according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the bridge (113) comprises a hinge through which a body of the 1039166 nose remover (100) can clamp to a plate with a uniform thickness of 4 mm - in a first position wherein sections of a first side (401) of the body face each other and in a second position where sections of a second side (402) of the body face each other, the second side (402) facing the first side (401), wherein the difference in distance between i) the magnet of the first leg (111), and ii) the magnetically attractable element (702) in the second leg (112), in the first position and at least 0.1 mm in the second position. The nose remover (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnet of a body is a planar magnet. 15 The nose remover (100) of claim 7, wherein the magnet of a body is aligned such that the magnetic field is oriented with an angle α relative to the plane defined by the nose wing area sandwiched between two distal portions, The angle a being between 5 and 15 °. A nose remover (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the legs and bridge (113) are made of flexible material, and the distal portion of at least one of the legs comprises a chamber 25 for holding / receiving of the magnet. The nose remover (100) of claim 9, wherein the flexible material is selected from silicone and polyurethane. The nose remover (100) of any preceding claim, wherein the nose remover (100) comprises a connecting body (701) comprising an elongated resilient element (702), the connecting body (701) having a first distal part and a second distal part and has a magnetically attractable element (114 '' ', 1151' ') at each of the first distal and second distal portion. 1039166