Surgery – Instruments – Means for cleaning eye – ear or nose
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2001-02-13
Buiz, Michael (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Means for cleaning eye, ear or nose
C606S161000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06187021
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The instant invention relates generally to human and animal body tubular passage cleaning devices and more specifically it relates to a portable ear-cleaning device.
2. Description of Prior Art
Wax build up in an ear canal prevents hinders hearing and reduces the ability to provide an adequate examination of the eardrum. Conventionally, earwax has been removed with a cotton swab, which tends to act as a plunger causes impaction or injury to the eardrum. Alternatively, doctors in the specialty frequently use water squeezed into the ear to loosen the wax and thereby assist in the removal of the offending material. To help prevent injury earwax cleaners (ear curette) were provided with depth control as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,334,212 and 5,509,921 to Karell, 1994 and 1996. U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,276 to Lay, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,756 to Kruglick, 1997, show ear cleaners combined with a swab.
Typical ear cleaning devices include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,756 a bulbous device or in U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,757, which describes an illuminated ear-cleaning device. Additionally, a conventional ear-cleaning device having a flexible part is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5888199. None of these devices teach a rotary ear-cleaning device using soft hairs, which hang limp when not in use and extend outwardly when in use. The present invention utilizes the soft hair concept, much like the novel car wash brushes, solving different problems then these conventional ear cleaners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An important goal of an ear cleaner is to prevent eardrum injury while providing ease of use for laypersons and professionals. What is needed and is presented in the instant invention is a means for making the device safer while increasing the ability to remove the wax.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an ear-cleaning device that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. Prior devices required a doctor's visit for irrigation of an ear canal. Prior devices were not depth sensitive, and penetration of and eardrum could occur. Prior devices did not have removable, disposable brushes engagable with a portable device, and caused additional ear infections.
Normal ear swabs have limitations in that bits of cotton could be left in the ear canal. Alternatively, as a swab is inserted in the ear, bits of dead skin cells could be pushed up against the ear drum and cause hearing problems or puncture an eardrum.
An object of the present invention is to overcome these problems and provide a device, which a normal lay person can use, which is depth controlled, and has disposable hair on the brush and is capable of cleaning out earwax safely and hygienically.
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5209757 (1993-05-01), Krug et al.
patent: 5374276 (1994-12-01), Lay
patent: 5496338 (1996-03-01), Miyagi et al.
patent: 5632756 (1997-05-01), Kruglick
patent: 5888199 (1999-03-01), Karell et al.
patent: 5931845 (1999-08-01), Amyette
Buiz Michael
Buskop Wendy K.
Buskop Law Group
Ngo Lien
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