Surgery – Instruments – Internal pressure applicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-03-20
Dawson, Glenn K. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Instruments
Internal pressure applicator
C128S200240
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203560
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to facilitating the inspiration of air in a domestic mammal. Specifically, the invention provides a device and method for supporting the size of the nasal passages of a domestic animal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Portions of the following discussion of the nasal anatomy of domestic mammals are excerpted from R. Nickel et al.,
The Viscera of Domestic Animals
, (2nd revised ed.), Springer-Verlag, New York, Hiedelberg, Berlin (1979), pp. 211-221. This is an excellent text on the comparative visceral anatomy of domestic mammals. As used herein, the terms “mammal” and “animal” are synonymous and refer to non-human mammals.
Unlike the human nose that projects distinctly from the face, in domestic animals, the nose is incorporated into the face and forms the large dorsal and lateral areas rostral to the eyes. The nostrils at the apex of the nose are the entry to the respiratory system of domestic mammals. Once passing through the nostrils, inspired air moves into the nasal cavities and continues through the nasopharynx, larynx, trachea and lungs.
At the apical entrance to the nose the nostrils are partitioned by the nasal septum to divide the nasal cavity into right and left halves. The caudal portion of the septum is bony, while rostrally the septum consists of cartilage and becomes progressively more flexible towards the apex.
The wall of the nose consists of skin externally and a middle supporting layer of bone caudally and cartilage rostrally. The nasal cavity is lined by a mucous membrane. The rostral bones forming the wall of the nose include the nasal, maxillary and incisive bones. The free borders of the nasal and incisive bone provide attachment for the cartilages which support the nostrils. The supporting bones and cartilages of the nose are associated with the nasal muscles that regulate the width of the nostrils.
The dorsal and ventral lateral nasal cartilages are formed by the widening of the rostral part of the nasal septum along its dorsal and ventral margins. In the horse, the ventral lateral nasal cartilage is small and may be absent. In many domestic animals, there is no lateral support for the soft tissue over the rostral nasal passage caudal to the nostril.
A further difference in the anatomical support of the nasal passages of the horse is the presence of alar cartilages in the formation of the nasal cartilages. The alar cartilages consist of a ventral comu and a dorsal lamina and support the nostrils dorsally, medially and ventrally. The lamina of the alar cartilage and the medial accessory cartilage support the nasal diverticulum, a blind pouch in the dorsal aspect of the nostril.
The muscles of the nose and upper lip act to dilate the nostrils. This is particularly noticeable during labored breathing. In the horse, these muscles are well developed and can operate to cause the normally semilunar nostrils to become circular.
The dorsal lateral area of the rostral nasal cavity that is caudal to the alar cartilages in the nostrils of the horse includes a region of unsupported soft tissue which can be drawn into the nasal cavity during inspiration of air into the nasal passages. When the skin is drawn in, it can narrow the nasal cavity and reduce the area for the intake of air, thus reducing the air movement into the nasal passages and ultimately to the lungs where the oxygen is transferred in the pulmonary aveoli. The physiological effects of reduced oxygen transfer at rest and during physical exertion are known.
Devices for dilating the outer wall tissue of the nasal passages in humans have been described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,533,503; 5,546,929; 5,553,605; and RE 35,408. Most of these devices, however, do not address the unique aspects and structural problems of supporting the nasal tissues of non-human mammals, especially large performance mammals such as the horse and camel.
Accordingly, there is a need to reduce the detrimental effects of reduced air intake, or to enhance the physiological benefit of increased air intake, during physical exertion of domestic mammals. Specifically, there is a need to increase, or reduce the decrease of, nasal passage narrowing that can occur during breathing in domestic mammals, especially performance animals such as the horse, camel, and dog.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device and method for supporting the unsupported nasal tissues of a domestic animal. The invention addresses the structural and physiological characteristics unique to the nose of an animal.
In one embodiment the invention provides a nasal support device (NSD) for securing to the nose of a domestic animal. The NSD provides support to the right and left lateral vestibular walls of a domestic animal. The device includes a support layer and a right and left side piece which when secured to the nose of the animal are positioned to provide structural support to the right and left vestibular walls. The side pieces of the device meet at the midline region of the device. When the NSD is secured to a domestic animal according to the invention, the midline region straddles the left and right nasal bones of the animal. The side pieces and midline region of an NSD each have a rostral end, a caudal end and a rostral-poll dimension. In one embodiment, the rostral-poll dimension of the midline region is at least as great as either of the rostral-poll dimensions of the side pieces. In an alternative embodiment, the rostral-poll dimension of the midline region is greater than either of the rostral-poll dimensions of the side pieces. In some embodiments, the rostral end of the NSD can extend rostrally between the nostrils in the form of a “tongue” to provide externalizing support to the soft tissues between the nostrils.
AN NSD configured according the invention can be used on many different animals. In one embodiment an NSD is sized to fit a member of the Equidae family, including the domestic horse. The device is suitable for adult and young animals. In general, the functional aspects of a device of the invention can be configured and sized to fit the nose of, for example, a dog, human, horse, camel, etc.
An NSD includes a support layer and preferably an engaging layer and a surface layer. The support layer of an NSD can include one or more lift members to support the vestibular wall. The lift members can traverse the nose and extend ventrally along the vestibular wall, or beyond the ventral border of the vestibular wall to the lateral aspect of the incisive bone.
Preferably. an NSD includes an engaging layer providing for securing the NSD to the nose of an animal. Preferably, an NSD includes a surface layer and in some embodiments, a pad layer.
The invention further provides a method for supporting a right and left vestibular free wall of a domestic animal. According to the method, a device for supporting the first and second vestibular free wall is secured to the nose of the animal. In one embodiment, the device is an NSD according to the invention.
The method of the invention provides for facilitating air flow in the nasal passages of a domestic animal. The method of the invention is particularly advantageous for use in the horse and camel and is beneficial both for facilitating athletic performance or for treating disease, for example, as a palliative therapy for upper respiratory disease in an adult or young animal.
A device and method according to the invention can be used on an animal that is running freely in a pasture, or wearing saddlery, harnesses or other equipment that can be attached to the nose of the animal.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5533499 (1996-07-01), Johnson
patent: 5533503 (1996-07-01), Doubek et al.
patent: 5546929 (1996-08-01), Muchin
patent: 5549103 (1996-08-01), Johnson
patent: 5553605 (1996-09-01), Muchin
patent: 5611333 (1997-03-01), Johnson
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patent: 5653224 (1997-08-01), Johnson
patent: 5669377 (1997-0
Blach Edward L.
Chiapetta James R.
Dawson Glenn K.
Merchant & Gould. P.C.
WinEase LLC
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