US 7,351,232 B2
Nasal rinser and outlet portion therefor
Peter Ahnblad, Stockholm (Sweden); and Susanne Lagerqvist, Bromma (Sweden)
Assigned to ENTpro HB, Stockholm (Sweden)
Appl. No. 10/69,595
PCT Filed May 14, 2001, PCT No. PCT/SE01/01055
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jun. 04, 2002,
PCT Pub. No. WO02/07665, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 31, 2002.
Claims priority of application No. 0002761 (SE), filed on Jul. 25, 2000.
Prior Publication US 2002/0169422 A1, Nov. 14, 2002
Int. Cl. A61M 31/00 (2006.01); A61M 5/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 604—275  [604/514; 604/187] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An outlet portion (1) for a nasal rinser, comprising:
an outlet end (2), a connection end (3) and a nozzle shaped channel (4) between the outlet and connection ends configured for use as an outlet portion of a nasal rinser,
the outlet end, the connection end, and the nozzle shaped channel being a unitary structure of one material,
the nozzle shaped channel (4) having an internal hourglass shape comprising a channel restriction section (5) and an expanded channel outlet section (6), wherein,
the outlet end terminates with a distal end of the expanded channel outlet section,
the expanded channel outlet section expands toward the outlet end with a maximum interior diameter of the expanded channel outlet section being located at the distal end of the outlet end,
in use, when a liquid entering the connection end is pressed through the restriction section, a pressure will increase when the liquid passes through the restriction section and a velocity increase when the liquid reaches the expanded channel outlet section so that the liquid leaves the outlet end under turbulent flow so that the liquid fills out a nasal cavity while avoiding a jet spraying directly on a mucous membrane of the nasal cavity,
the nozzle shaped channel is housed in an enlarged circumferential portion (12) shaped to seal against edges of an interior of a user's nostril,
an exterior of the enlarged circumference portion (12) is droplet or balloon shaped,
an inner diameter of the expanded channel outlet section (6) is greater than an inner diameter of the channel restriction section (5),
the connection end comprises an interior portion shaped to fit onto a conical tip,
the connection end, the nozzle shaped channel, and the outlet end together define a straight passageway extending through a longitudinal axis from the outlet end to the connection end, and
a largest cross-sectional exterior diameter of the connection end being less than a largest cross-sectional exterior diameter of the enlarged circumferential portion (12).