Dispensing – Resilient wall – Internally extending outlet pipe
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-14
2004-02-10
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Dispensing
Resilient wall
Internally extending outlet pipe
C222S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06688497
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for rinsing tissues.
BACKGROUND
A body includes a number of sensitive tissues, for example, eye tissue, mucous membranes of the nasal passages and sinuses, and the interior of the mouth. These tissues are subject to bacterial growth, ulcers, irritation and disease.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucosa of various sinuses, which are located around the nasal passages. Rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucosa of a nasal passage. Sinusitis and rhinitis can be caused by cold viruses, allergies to various allergens, smoking, bacterial or fungal infections, nasal polyps, deviated nasal septums and non-allergic hypersensitivities. Symptoms of rhinitis include: stuffy nose, runny or drippy nose, scratchy throat and dry cough. Symptoms of sinusitis are more severe than the symptoms of rhinitis. Acute and chronic sinusitis occurs when the sinuses are inflamed and the ostia, or passages, are blocked. Symptoms include: nasal congestion; runny or stuffy nose; white, yellow or green discharge; headache; night time cough; pain in the upper jaw or teeth; persistent fatigue; fever; loss of sense of smell or taste; and sometimes serious infections like meningitis, brain abscess or ear infections.
As indicated above, allergies can cause rhinitis and sinusitis. Allergens are organic particles that attach to the nasal mucosa or respiratory mucosa and lead to the development of an antibody, which subsequently creates a series of chemical reactions leading to symptoms. Every individual's reaction to allergen exposure is different. Indoor allergens include dust mites, mold, pet dander and cockroaches. Outdoor allergens include pollens, grass and mold. Other substances such as cigarette smoke, perfumes and aerosol sprays are irritants that can worsen allergy and sinus symptoms. Allergens can also irritate the eyes and cause itching, tearing, redness, and swelling of the eyelids.
There are various methods to treat the symptoms of, or to cure, sinus and ocular disease, including surgery. An effective nasal rinse can significantly reduce or permanently cure the symptoms of nasal allergies and sinus disease. Saline nasal irrigations have been used and mentioned in medical textbooks going back many years. A wide variety of techniques have been described, including swimming in salt water, which often results in some degree of inadvertent nasal salt water irrigation. For persons suffering from allergies irritating the eye, a saline solution can flush the allergens out of the eye.
Nasal rinsing or lavage is a treatment for rhinitis and sinusitis that uses a saline solution dispensed into the nasal passage to cleanse and wash away mucus and allergy creating particles and irritants. Lavaging allows the sinuses to drain normally and reduces the inflammation of the mucus membrane.
Oral rinsing with a saline solution can be used for therapeutic purposes. Similarly, a saline solution can also be used to relieve dry eyes, conjunctivitis, or flush foreign materials out of the eye, and can be used on a daily basis.
Prepared saline solution is available for uses including nasal lavage, oral rinse, and ocular drops, however a bottle filled with saline solution can be quite expensive. Alternatively, saline solution can be prepared at home using household ingredients. However, there is a concern for cleanliness and contamination, and for ensuring that the proper concentration level and acidity is achieved. Thus, there is a need for a method for preparing a saline solution having a consistent and appropriate concentration that is simple, inexpensive and not easily contaminated.
Nasal rinsing equipment currently available includes various types of dispensers that can be filled with a saline solution and which are then injected into the user's nasal passage. Conventional nasal rinsing equipment can be crude and may only be suitable for users having a certain size nostril. For proper use, the dispensing tip should comfortably seal against a user's nostril. Equipment having a dispenser tip designed for a certain size nostril can be useless for someone with a smaller nostril, in particular children, such as the nasal rinse equipment described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,723 for a DEVICE FOR LAVAGING. Thus, there is a need for equipment having a dispenser tip that effectively and comfortably seals against human nostrils of varying sizes, including nostrils of children.
Another problem with current nasal lavaging equipment is that the configuration of the dispensing tip can cause the saline solution to be dispensed into the nasal passage without sufficiently dispersing before reaching the back of the nasal passage, resulting in an uncomfortable or painful sensation for the user. There is a need for a dispenser tip configured to allow the saline solution to disperse sufficiently before reaching the back of the nasal passage.
Conventional lavaging equipment includes dispenser tips that are compatible with power operated oral irrigators. The dispenser tip and oral irrigator can be used to direct the irrigation solution to the mucus membrane of the mouth or throat. However, the dispenser tips are typically only compatible with a certain model of oral irrigator, such as the dispenser tip described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,145 for a NASAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an apparatus and system for preparing and dispensing a saline solution that is simple to use, capable of being prepared and administered in most any location, relatively inexpensive and suitable for use by persons having nostrils of varying sizes, and that is compatible with most commercially available oral irrigators.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for rinsing tissue with a saline solution. In general, in one aspect, the invention features a system for rinsing tissue that includes an iodine-free saline solution for rinsing tissue and an apparatus for dispensing the saline solution. The saline solution includes approximately 39 parts sodium chloride and approximately 1 to 2 parts sodium bicarbonate dissolved in water. The apparatus includes a cap and a container for holding the saline solution. The cap has a cylindrical lower portion; a rounded convex upper portion curving away from an axially aligned opening, from which a liquid is dispensed, located in the uppermost surface of the upper portion and curving downwardly to join the cylindrical lower portion; an open lower end; and a tubular conduit connected to the uppermost interior surface of the upper portion, the conduit having a hollow center axially aligned with the opening located in the upper portion. The container has flexible sidewalls and an axially aligned neck having an open end. The lower portion of the cap and the neck of the container are configured to join together with a liquid tight connection.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a system for rinsing tissue, including a mixture for preparing a saline solution and an apparatus for dispensing the saline solution onto the tissue. The mixture includes approximately 39 parts sodium chloride and approximately 1 to 2 parts sodium bicarbonate, and is dissolved in water to form a pH balanced, iodine-free saline solution. The saline solution has a pH in the range of approximately 7.3 to 7.7.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method for rinsing tissue. The method includes preparing an iodine-free saline solution having a concentration in the range of approximately 0.9% to 1% by dissolving a measured amount of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, the amount being approximately 39 parts sodium chloride and approximately 1 to 2 parts sodium bicarbonate, into a measured amount of water in a container with flexible sidewalls. The method further includes connecting a cap to the container. The cap has a cylindrical lower portion, a rounded convex upper portion curving away from an axially aligned opening from which a liquid is dispensed located in the uppermost surface of the upper portio
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Jacyna J. Casimer
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