Nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon

Abstract: Nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon including an elongated core (2), with aspiration holes (7), around which there is a shaped body (3) made of elastic spongy material covered by a thin deformable membrane (4) made of impermeable material; the core has a stem (5) for connection to an aspiration unit (6) suitable to make the body assume an insertion or extraction configuration having a limited volume in a vacuum state; the flow of air through the stem into the shaped body is suitable to make the body resume an active configuration having a large volume at atmospheric pressure.

Description: The present invention relates to a nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon. In order to control intranasal and rhinopharyngeal bleeding after surgery, traumas or epistaxis of any kind, it is known to resort to tampons constituted by a long strip of sterile gauze which is forced into the affected cavity after widening the nostril with appropriate divaricators: this is highly traumatic both due to the truly conspicuous amount of material inserted, which often considerably alarms the patient, and during the removal of the tampon, due to the unpleasant bleeding which often occurs. Tampons made of spongy material are also used; these tampons, due to their large volume, have some difficulty in insertion and in any case are unable to effectively compress the upper regions of the nasal septum. Tampons made of gelatinous material are also used; they become impregnated with blood and slightly increase in volume, but even these are unable to effectively compress the internal structure of the nose, and their removal can often cause bleeding. As an alternative to these tampons, bags are currently used which are inserted in the nostril in deflated condition and are inflated, and subsequently sealed, in place: these bags, usually made of silicone resins or rubber latex, do not have the drawbacks of gauze tampons but have problems, since they are unable to effectively and uniformly compress the cavity in which they are inserted, said cavity having convoluted and non-uniform shape and dimensions. US-A-4 338 941 discloses a posterior nasal pack provided with inflatable bags molded to conform to the posterior one-third of the nasopharynx and covered exteriorly with a foamed elastomer. Flexible tubes project forward from each of the inflatable bags and have a length sufficient to project from the nostrils when the pack is placed in position. The tubes may be attached to a source of fluid pressure to inflate the bags, which expand to fill the posterior one-third of the nasopharynx and apply hemostatic pressure to the posterior portion of both sides of the nasal cavity. A principal object of the present invention is to obviate the above described drawbacks of known devices, i.e. to provide a nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon which is non-traumatic during insertion and removal, effectively compresses in all regions the cavity in which it is inserted and can possibly allow the patient to breathe. Within the scope of this object, another object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure which is relatively easy to manufacture, safe in use, can be installed quickly, is effective in operation, and has a relatively low cost. With these and other objects in view, there is provided, according to the present invention, a nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon, as defined in the appended claim 1. Further features of the present invention will become apparent and evident from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figures 1a and 1b are sectional schematic side views of a nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon according to one aspect of the present invention, respectively in insertion configuration and in active configuration; figures 2a and 2b are sectional schematic side views of a nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon according to a further aspect, with variated shape, of the present invention, respectively in insertion configuration and in active configuration; figures 3a and 3b are sectional schematic side views of a nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon according to a further aspect, with variated shape, of the present invention, respectively in insertion configuration and in active configuration; figures 4a and 4b are sectional schematic side views of a nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon according to a further aspect, with variated shape, of the present invention, respectively in insertion configuration and in active configuration; figures 5a and 5b, 6a and 6b, 7a and 7b, and 8a and 8b are views similar to the preceding ones according to a further aspect of the present invention, in which a breathing tube is provided; figures 9a and 9b are schematic sectional side views of the tampon from figures 1a and 1b inserted in the nasal and rhinopharyngeal cavities, respectively in insertion configuration and in active configuration; figures 10a and 10b are schematic sectional side views of the tampon from figures 2a and 2b inserted in the nasal cavity, respectively in insertion configuration and in active configuration; figures 11a and 11b are schematic sectional side views of the tampon from figures 3a and 3b inserted in the nasal and rhinopharyngeal cavities, respectively in insertion configuration and in active configuration; figures 12a and 12b are schematic sectional side views of the tampon from figures 4a and 4b inserted in the rhinopharyngeal cavity, respectively in insertion configuration and in active configuration; and figures 13a and 13b are schematic sectional side views of the tampon according to a further aspect of the invention, in a version ready for use, respectively in an insertion configuration initially under vacuum and in an active configuration at atmospheric pressure after removal of the closed end. With particular reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates the nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon according to the present invention: in particular, from figures 9a and 9b, the letter A designates the nasal region and the letter B designates the rhinopharyngeal region: nasal and rhinopharyngeal tampons having slightly different shapes are shown in figures 1 and 3, 5 and 7, and 9 and 11, while figures 2, 6 and 10 show nasal tampons, and figures 4, 8 and 12 show rhinopharyngeal tampons. The tampon 1 comprises a slightly curved elongated core 2 made of semirigid material and around which there is a shaped body 3, made of elastic spongy material, which is covered by a thin deformable membrane 4 made of impermeable material: the elongated core 2 can be tubular and provided with a parallel through hollow tubular core 8 to allow breathing (examples shown in figures 5-8). Advantageously, the membrane 4 is made of a material such as silicone, which can adhere to the intranasal mucous membranes without sticking. The membrane 4 is also obtainable by surface treatment of said body 3. The membrane 4 is provided with a stem 5 for connection to an aspiration unit 6 (which can be a simple syringe, as shown in the figures, but can also be of any other kind) which is suitable to make the body assume an insertion or extraction configuration (on the left in figures 1 and 2 and on the right in figure 3) having a limited volume; the inflow of air through the stem into the shaped body (on the right in figures 1 and 2 and on the left in figure 3) is suitable to make said body resume an active configuration having a high volume at atmospheric pressure. The shaped body is substantially equal in shape to the cavity which it must tampon and is slightly larger, so that when it resumes its large-volume conditions inside the nasal cavity due to the inflow of air into the membrane, it gently presses against the walls of the cavity, thus stopping the flow of blood; it is to be noted that the pressure against the walls of the cavity is gentle and uniform in order to avoid the occurrence of ischemic phenomena in some regions due to excessive compression. The various components of the tampon are made of materials suitable for medical use. The figures schematically illustrate tampons in which the core 2 is tubular and is crossed by holes 7, to allow uniform air inflow throughout the body 3, and the stem for connection to the aspiration unit is constituted by the core itself, which is elongated. Figure 13 schematically illustrates a tampon which, when inactive, is subject to a negative pressure and has a stem which, after inserting the deflated tampon into the nasal cavity, is cut in order to allow the expansion of the body 2. The operation of the tampon according to the invention is as follows: by means of a syringe 6 or the like, the tampon is subjected to negative pressure, so as to assume a configuration having a limited lateral bulk: by virtue of the relative consistency of the core 2 and of its slightly curved shape, the deflated tampon is inserted through the nostrils into the nasal cavity without requiring particular instruments; once the tampon has been positioned, the syringe is removed (or the stem is cut in the version shown in figure 13), and the body 3 made of elastic spongy material tends to return, by inflating with air, to its natural condition of maximum bulk; by means of this return to its natural dimensions, the elastic spongy body applies uniform pressure in all the regions of the nasal cavity, stopping the flow of blood. When the tampon is removed, in order to facilitate its removal, it is possible to again connect the stem 5 to the syringe and, by aspirating, the body 3 is made to resume its minimum-bulk configuration in order to achieve non-traumatic extraction. It is to be noted that the patient is allowed to breathe in the embodiments shown in figure 2, provided with a further through hollow core 8 for breathing, separated from the core 2, and extending entirely through the body 3. The tampons shown in figures 9 and 12 can also be effectively applied in paranasal sinuses (maxillary, frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid). The tampon according to the invention can be associated with any tube which passes through the nasal cavities (for example a nasogastric tube) in order to reach the stomach, the trachea or other parts; by keeping its tip motionless, the possibilities of traumas are limited. It has thus been observed that the invention achieves the intended objects. In practice, the materials employed, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements without thereby abandoning the protective scope of the following claims. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: Nasal and/or rhinopharyngeal tampon, comprising: a shaped body (3) made of elastic spongy material and covered at its outer surface by a thin deformable membrane (4) made of impermeable material; an elongated core (2) accommodated inside said shaped body; a stem (5) having passage means for allowing air flow between the inside of said body and the outside of said body and membrane, said stem being connectable to an aspiration unit (6) suitable to make the body assume an insertion or extraction configuration having a limited volume, while the flow of air through the stem into the shaped body being suitable to make said body resume an active configuration having a large volume at atmospheric pressure. Tampon according to claim 1 wherein said membrane (4) is made of a material such as silicone. Tampon according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein it is made of materials suitable for medical use. Tampon according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said elongated core (2) is slightly curved. Tampon according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said elongated core (2) is tubular so as to allow breathing. Tampon according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said elongated core (2) is crossed by holes (7). Tampon according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said elongated core (2) constitutes said stem (5). Tampon according to one or more of the preceding claims comprising a through hollow tubular core (8) to allow breathing.

Inventors: MEZZOLI GIORGIO, MEZZOLI, GIORGIO
Applicants: MEZZOLI GIORGIO, MEZZOLI, GIORGIO
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17, A61F13