Patent ID: 7563271
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A universal breathing aid device for insertion into nasal passages of a user to compress the nasal septum while dilating the nostrils to assist in maintaining the nasal passages open and to reduce the incidence of obstructed nasal passage-induced snoring, comprising in operative combination: a) a clip assembly for engaging and gripping the nasal septum that is generally symmetric along a longitudinal center line, said longitudinal center line defining a proximal exterior end and a distal interior end with respect to said nasal passages when said clip assembly is inserted in the nasal passages comprising: b) a pair of curved, flexible, springy nostril-expanding arms, one each mounted to and oriented medially of the length of a septum-engaging arm, each of said nostril-expanding arms having a base segment, said base segment having a first and a second end, said first end of said base segment being secured to said septum-engaging arm, and said base segment extending laterally from said septum-engaging arm to said second end, and a curved arm segment secured to said second end of said nostril-extending arm base segment, and said cureved arm segment extending distally to a free end that constitutes the distal interior end of said clip assembly, said curved arm segments are free and the curve of each is oriented concave toward said center line, and said nostril-expanding arms extend distally beyond the distal end of said septum-engaging arms; and c) said base assembly bottom segment providing a handle for manual insertion of said clip in a user's nasal passage, said living hinge permitting said assembly to be sprung open to assist in insertion beyond the external web of said septum, and placed in said nasal passages with said septum-engaging arms gripping and gently compressing the septum, and the spring force of said nostril-expanding arms reisting compressive force of said nostrils while engaging the inner surfaces of said nostrils thereby to maintain the nasal passages open without having structures that extend across and obstruct said nasal passages at said distal interior end.