Combined nasal spray and aspirator device

A combined nasal spray and aspirator device includes an air pump disposed within a housing and comprises a spray and aspirator assembly. The air pump, at which an air suction connector and an air discharge connector are disposed, is driven by a driving component to perform air suction and discharge actions. The spray and aspirator assembly, mounted to the air suction connector and the air discharge connector, comprises a spray conduit and a first aspiration conduit; the spray conduit connects to an atomizer which is provided with liquids from a liquid storage container, and the first aspiration conduit connects to a mucus collector so that when some air carrying mucus enters the mucus collector, the mucus is left behind and the air enters the air pump through a second aspiration conduit. The device of the present invention integrates the operations of a nasal spray and a nasal aspirator, sucking the mucus away right after it sprays and liquefies the mucus, with said actions occurring almost simultaneously. The present invention is physically more favorable for users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a combined nasal spray and aspirator device, and more particularly to a combined nasal spray and aspirator device that requires detachment of neither a spray unit nor an aspirator unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are many nasal spray or nasal aspirator products on the market, as cleansing needs and medical care of nasal cavities are clinically important. Concerning personal health care, it is particularly necessary to provide simple and fast nasal care equipments that help suction nasal mucus or phlegm for patients. Preferably, such nasal care equipments can further provide nasal cavities, even throats or other wounds, with cleansing actions by spray or other means. Among the nasal care products, there are many designed for certain specific aim only. For example, a nasal aspirator is generally designed for suction of the patient's mucus, and a nasal spray is generally for delivering drugs into the nasal cavity. While some products try to combine an aspirator device and a spray device on the same instrument, these products still require the user to detach a spray device first in order to attach an aspirator device onto the instrument. Or the user may need to detach a connecting tube between the pump and the aspirator device in order to connect the pump and the spray unit. Some other products contain a wristband connected to the pump, which connects to the aspirator or the spray by a flexible tube. Generally, a conventional nasal care equipment integrating an aspirator and a spray performs the spray action first. However, it takes time to change the operable sub-units and may cause the mucus to flow out of the nasal cavity. It is inconvenient, therefore, for the user to operate the nasal spray and the nasal aspirator separately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a device that combines the operations of a nasal spray and a nasal aspirator. By spraying on the nasal cavity first, the device liquefies the mucus within, and almost simultaneously, it sucks the mucus away. The design of the present invention is physically more favorable for users.

The nasal spray and aspirator device comprises a housing and a spray and aspirator assembly. The housing includes an air pump, at which an air suction connector and an air discharge connector are disposed. The air pump is driven by a driving component to complete the air suction and discharge operations. The spray and aspirator assembly is coupled to the air suction connector and the air discharge connector, comprising a spray conduit and a first aspiration conduit. The spray conduit connects to an atomizer, and some liquid is provided for the atomizer from a liquid storage container, wherein the liquid can be some water or therapeutic drug. The aspiration conduit connects to a mucus collector. When some aspirated air carrying mucus enters the mucus collector through the first aspiration conduit, the mucus will be left in the collector, with the air continuing its progression into the air pump through a second aspiration conduit.

The air pump comprises a valve, a cover portion, a joint portion, and a base portion. The valve includes an air suction hole having a first valve and an air discharge hole having a second valve, wherein the first valve is parallel to the second valve. An air suction connector and an air discharge connector are disposed at the cover portion, which further includes a connection socket for connecting with the valve so that the first valve spatially corresponds to the air suction connector, and the second valve spatially corresponds to the air discharge connector. The joint portion includes an air hole which links to a channel; the air hole spatially corresponds to the second valve, and one end of the channel spatially corresponds to the first valve. At the opposite side of the joint portion, a recess chamber is formed corresponding to the channel. A flexible plate is located at the base portion, which forms an air chamber altogether with the recess chamber.

The spray conduit and the first aspiration conduit of the present invention are arranged in parallel so as to have the nasal spray and the nasal aspirator operate almost simultaneously. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the spray conduit and the first aspiration conduit are disposed concentrically. The device of the present invention integrates the operations of a nasal spray and a nasal aspirator, sucking the mucus away right after it sprays and liquefies the mucus, with said actions occurring almost simultaneously, or alternately and continually, or alternately and uninterruptedly. The present invention is physically more favorable for users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an exploded pictorial view of the combined nasal spray and aspirator device of the present invention is shown. The combined nasal spray and aspirator device comprises a housing10and a spray and aspirator assembly20. An air pump30that can carry out air suction and discharge actions simultaneously is provided within the housing10. An air suction connector31and an air discharge connector32are disposed at the air pump30, which is driven by a driving component33to generate a suction and discharge force. When the air is drawn into the air chamber34within the air pump30, through the air suction connector31, the driving component33then forces the air pump30to expel the air, through the air discharge connector32. The driving component33is a motor.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, an exploded pictorial view of the combined nasal spray and aspirator device, a schematic view of the air pump, and a cross-sectional view of the air pump in the present invention are shown respectively. The air pump30comprises a valve35, a cover portion36, a joint portion37, and a base portion38. The valve35includes an air suction hole351having a first valve353, and an air discharge hole352having a second valve354, wherein the first valve353and the second valve354are disposed in parallel. The cover portion36includes a first surface361and a second surface362, the first surface361containing the air suction connector31and the air discharge connector32. The second surface362has a connection socket363corresponding to the air suction connector31and the air discharge connector32for attaching the valve35so that the valve35can be fixed in the connection socket363. As a result, the first valve353spatially corresponds to the air suction connector31, and the second valve354spatially corresponds to the air discharge connector32. The air is under control in this manner, entering the air suction connector31in one direction and going out of the air discharge connector32in the other direction.

The joint portion37has an air hole371, which spatially corresponds to the second valve354and links to a channel372disposed on the joint portion37, and therefore, one end of the channel372corresponds to the first valve353. This disposition enables the air to pass through the air hole371. At the opposite side of the joint portion37, a recess chamber373is located on the other end of the channel372. The base portion38is fastened to the recess chamber373and altogether they form an air chamber34; more specifically, a flexible plate381on the base portion38and the recess chamber373form the air chamber34. The flexible plate381connects to a pivot joint382which, at the same time, pivotally connects to an eccentric shaft331linking to the driving component33. When the driving component33drives the shaft331to compress the flexible plate381, the air can be sucked in and then expelled out through the air hole371.

In sum, the air enters the suction connector31, passes through the first valve353and the channel372, and comes into the air chamber34through the air hole371. Subsequently, the air is compressed by the flexible plate381, goes out from the air hole371, passes through the second valve354, and is then discharged by the air discharge connector32.

Referring toFIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of the combined nasal spray and aspirator device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The spray and aspirator assembly20, comprising a spray conduit21and a first aspiration conduit22, is attached to the air suction connector31and the air discharge connector32. The spray conduit21connects to an atomizer23, and liquid241is provided for the atomizer23from a liquid storage container24. The first aspiration conduit22connects to a mucus collector25so that when the air carrying mucus passes through the mucus collector25, it is left within the collector and the air continues its progression into the pump30through a second aspiration conduit26. The liquid241within the liquid storage container24can be some water or therapeutic drug. The liquid storage container24has a filling inlet242for filling therapeutic drug or liquid at any time.

A power chamber11for placing a battery12is located within the housing10and is covered with a lid13.

The spray conduit21and the first aspiration conduit22are positioned alongside. When the driving component33drives the flexible plate381, the flexible plate381begins performing the air suction and discharge actions. When a suction action is generated, external air with or without mucus enters the mucus collector25through the first aspiration conduit22. Then, the mucus251, which is the dirty liquid part, is left behind, and the clean air keeps going through the second aspiration conduit26, the first valve353, and the air hole371in order to enter the air chamber34. The air sucked in generally contains mucus or other unclean substances, and thus, it is necessary to treat the air first.

After being compressed by the flexible plate381and discharged from the air hole371, the air enters the spray conduit21through the second valve354. Subsequently, the air passes through the atomizer23, causing the therapeutic drug or liquid to enter the spray conduit21; then, the therapeutic drug or liquid is sprayed out into the nasal cavity and treatment is achieved. In fact, the air suction and discharge actions occur almost at the same time. The operation of the spray occurs right after that of the aspirator, spraying liquid into the nasal cavity almost simultaneously when the mucus is liquefied and sucked into the device and vice versa. The problem with a prior art device that the mucus flows out of the nasal cavity after the spray of liquid is then solved. The nearly simultaneous operation, or alternately and continually, or alternately and uninterruptedly of spray and aspiration, thus, is physically more favorable for users. Meanwhile, the mucus collector25in this embodiment is detachable for cleaning at any time.

A passage231is disposed between the atomizer23and the liquid storage container24. With the application of Venturi principle, the therapeutic drug or liquid can be drawn into the spray conduit21through the passage231and can be sprayed out with the air. The atomizer23and the passage231are disposed at the front end of the spray conduit21. The atomizer23has a liquid spray channel232within, wherein the internal diameter of the channel232is less than that of the spray conduit21and the liquid spray channel232communicates vertically with the passage231.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, a cross-sectional view of the combined nasal spray and aspirator device and a schematic view of the air pump according to a second embodiment of the present invention are shown. The spray conduit21surrounds the first aspiration conduit22, which means the air suction connector311is surrounded by the air discharge connector321, as shown inFIG. 6. The first aspiration conduit22extends into the mucus collector25, and the second aspiration conduit26extending from the mucus collector25connects to the air suction connector311. When the driving component33drives the flexible plate381, it begins the air suction and discharge actions. As air suction occurs, external air enters the mucus collector25through the first aspiration conduit22. After leaving the mucus behind in the collector25, the clean part of the air enters the second aspiration conduit26and goes into the air chamber34through the first valve353and the air hole371.

After being compressed by the flexible plate381and discharged from the air hole371, the air enters the spray conduit21through the second valve354. Subsequently, the air passes through the atomizer23, causing the therapeutic drug or liquid to enter the spray conduit21; then, the therapeutic drug or liquid is sprayed out into the nasal cavity and treatment is achieved. In fact, the air suction and discharge actions occur almost at the same time. The operation of the spray occurs right after that of the aspirator, spraying liquid into the nasal cavity almost simultaneously when the mucus is sucked into the device.

The actions performed in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment and are not to be repeated here.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, cross-sectional views of a spray and aspirator nozzle of the combined nasal spray and aspirator device respectively according to a first and a second embodiment of the present invention are shown. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 7, the spray and aspirator assembly20comprises a spray and aspirator nozzle27mounted at the front end of both the spray conduit21and the first aspiration conduit22. The spray and aspirator nozzle27is separated by a partition plate271so as to form a spray outlet272of the spray conduit21, and to form an aspiration inlet221of the first aspiration conduit22. Since the spray conduit21and the first aspiration conduit22are positioned alongside within the spray and aspirator nozzle27, it is convenient for the user to insert the nozzle27of the spray and aspirator assembly20into the nasal cavity. It is convenient for the user to complete spray and aspiration operations almost simultaneously by spraying liquid into the nasal cavity and suctioning the cleansed liquid at the same time, as shown inFIG. 7. The spray and aspirator nozzle27has a spray outlet272that communicates with the liquid spray channel232of the atomizer23by means of a tube233. This avoids spraying most of the liquid onto the inner wall of the spray and aspirator nozzle27during operation.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 8, the spray and aspirator assembly20further comprises a spray and aspirator nozzle28mounted at the front end of both the spray conduit21and the first aspiration conduit22which are concentrically positioned, i.e., the spray conduit21surrounds the first aspiration conduit22. Therefore, the spray and aspirator nozzle28is also of a concentric design, including an inner duct281and an outer duct282. The ducts are concentrically positioned, the duct281serving as the inlet of the first aspiration conduit22and the duct282serving as the outlet of the spray conduit21. Since the spray conduit21and the first aspiration conduit22are positioned concentrically, it is convenient for the user to insert the spray and aspirator nozzle28into the nasal cavity. Liquid is sprayed from the outer surrounding spray conduit21into the nasal cavity, and almost simultaneously, or alternately and continually, or alternately and uninterruptedly, the liquid is suctioned back into the inner surrounded first aspiration conduit22, as indicated inFIG. 8.

In conclusion, the present invention integrates the functions of a nasal spray and a nasal aspirator. By spraying on the nasal cavity first, the device liquefies the mucus within, and almost simultaneously, it sucks the mucus away. The design of the present invention is physically more favorable for users, and therefore a patent application is brought out in accordance with the law.