Abstract:
The lacrimal duct therapy device includes a frame assembly and an actuator assembly mounted on the frame assembly. The actuator assembly includes a contact assembly and a motor assembly configured to drive the contact assembly. The contact assembly includes at least one cam member having a base portion and a lobe portion and at least one arm member. The at least one cam member is mounted on a rod member attached to the motor assembly for rotation therewith. The at least one cam member bears against a leg member pivotally attached to the frame assembly, the leg member terminating in a knob bearing against the user&#39;s lacrimal duct region. Actuation of the motor periodically pivots the leg member so that the knob massages the lacrimal duct.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to medical devices, and more particularly to a lacrimal duct therapy device for providing therapy to alleviate pain and/or pressure in the user&#39;s lacrimal duct. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The lacrimal duct (“nasolacrimal duct”) facilitates the movement of tears from a lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity. The opening of the nasolacrimal duct into the inferior nasal meatus is partially covered by a mucosal fold. Excess tears flow through the lacrimal duct, which drains into the inferior nasal meatus. The lacrimal duct is lined by stratified columnar epithelium containing mucus-secreting goblet cells and is surrounded by connective tissue. 
     Occasionally, a user may suffer blockage and/or pain in the lacrimal duct. Because the lacrimal duct is located above the nasal cavity, it can be difficult for the user to alleviate the blockage without forcing an evasive tool through the nose. Such a procedure may force the blockage further into the lacrimal duct, causing more pain or damage, instead of alleviating the pressure or blockage. Thus, a lacrimal duct therapy device solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The lacrimal duct therapy device includes a frame assembly and an actuator assembly mounted on the frame assembly. The actuator assembly includes a contact assembly and a motor assembly configured for driving the contact assembly. The contact assembly includes at least one cam member having, a base portion and a lobe portion. The cam member is connected to the motor assembly via a rod member. The contact assembly also includes at least one arm member positioned in operative engagement with the at least one cam member. The arm member is configured to engage a region on the user&#39;s face to selectively provide therapeutic massaging pressure to the lacrimal duct. Activation of the motor assembly rotates the rod member connected to the at least one cam member. Rotation of the cam member engages the arm member so that the lobe portion of the cam member forces the arm member outward into a protracted position, thereby exerting a force on the user&#39;s face at the selected region. As the cam member continues to rotate, the base portion of the cam member allows the arm member to retract, disengaging the facial region. 
     The frame assembly may include a first arm member and a second arm member configured to attach the lacrimal duct therapy device to the user&#39;s ears and a bridge member positioned central to the first and second arm members and connected to the actuator assembly so that in a mounted position on the head of the user, the actuator assembly is positioned proximate to the user&#39;s nose. 
     The at least one arm member may have a planar first surface positioned in engagement with the at least one cam member and an opposing second surface having a knob member positioned to engage the surface of the user&#39;s face. 
     The contact assembly may include dual leg members provided at opposing ends of the rod member in aligned engagement with dual cam members so that rotational movement of the rod member rotates the dual cam members, forcing the dual leg members to pivot, providing a force on two regions of the user&#39;s face proximate to the lacrimal duct. 
     A biasing member may be connected to the leg member, providing a force that pulls the leg member inward, disengaging the arm member from the user&#39;s face. 
     The dual cam members, when so equipped, are configured in an alternating manner on the rod member so that rotation of the rod member by the motor forces the lobe portion of one of the cam members to force one of the arm members outward in an engaging protracted position to engage the user&#39;s face, while the other cam member engages a base portion of a respective cam member, positioning the respective arm member in a non-engaging retracted position. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a lacrimal duct therapy device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of dual knob covers for covering engagement portions of the lacrimal duct therapy device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is bottom perspective view of the lacrimal duct therapy device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an environmental side view of the lacrimal duct therapy device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an actuator assembly of a lacrimal duct therapy device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a partial side view of a lacrimal duct therapy device according to the present invention, showing the device in a retracted, non-engaging position. 
         FIG. 6B  is a partial side view of a lacrimal duct therapy device according to the present invention, showing the device in a protracted engaging position. 
         FIG. 7A  is a side view of a thermoheating device attachable to a lacrimal duct therapy device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is a rear view of the thermoheating device of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial side view of a lacrimal duct therapy device according to the present invention, showing the thermoheating device of  FIG. 7A  exploded from a leg member. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The lacrimal duct therapy device is configured to provide therapeutic massaging pressure to an external region of a user&#39;s face proximate to the lacrimal duct. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the lacrimal duct therapy device  100  includes a frame assembly  116  and an actuator assembly  108  for providing a massaging and/or vibrational therapy to the lacrimal duct. 
     The frame assembly  116  may have a conventional eyeglass frame configuration, including dual arm members or support members  102   a ,  102   b  configured to engage temporal regions on opposing sides of the user&#39;s head, thereby permitting the device  100  to be removably affixed to the user&#39;s head. The frame assembly  116  further includes a bridge member  106  extending between the respective support members  102   a ,  102   b  and configured for engagement with the user&#39;s forehead region. Each support member  102   a ,  102   b  includes a respective ear latch member  104   a ,  104   b , which are adaptable for latching engagement with the user&#39;s ears. 
     The actuator assembly  108  is powered by a power source  110 , which may be a rechargeable ion battery, for example. The bridge member  106  provides a cavity for containing and supporting a portion of the actuator assembly  108  therein. The bridge member  106  also provides a cavity for containing the power source  110 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the lacrimal duct therapy device attached to the user&#39;s head. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the actuator assembly  108  includes a motor assembly  122 , which is powered by the power source  110 , and a contact assembly  136 , which is configured to provide massaging and/or vibrational pressure to selected exterior regions on the user&#39;s face proximate to a region exterior to the lacrimal duct. Massaging pressure applied to the exterior region of the lacrimal duct on the face has a therapeutic effect on the lacrimal duct. 
     The motor assembly  122  includes a motor  138  and a shaft member  140  extending from the motor  138 . The shaft member  140  is rotated when the motor  138  is activated by the user. Activation of the motor assembly  122  may be achieved remotely using wireless methods generally known, or by depression of a manual switch. 
     The contact assembly  136  includes a rod member  134  and dual cam members  132   a ,  132   b  disposed on opposing ends of the rod member  134 . The rod member  134  is operatively connected to the shaft member  140  of the motor assembly  142 , such that rotational movement of the actuator assembly  108  in a selected direction forces the shaft member  140  to rotate in the same direction. The rod member  134  may be hollow and fixed over the free end of the motor shaft  140 . The cam members  132   a ,  132   b  are rigidly attached to the rod member  134  for rotation therewith. 
     The contact assembly  136  further includes dual leg members  112   a ,  112   b , which are provided at opposing ends of a pivot pin  126 , which supports an end portion of the leg members  112   a ,  112   b . The dual leg members  112   a ,  112   b  each have a generally elongated shape, extending in a generally downward direction from the pivot pin  126  for engagement with a region on the user&#39;s face proximate to the lacrimal duct. At the end of each respective leg member  112   a ,  112   b  is a head or knob member  114   a ,  114   b  having a rounded or a partially circular configuration. Each leg member  112   a ,  112   b  has a planar first surface positioned for operative engagement with the cam members  132   a ,  132   b  and an opposing second surface having a knob member  114   a ,  114   b  protruding therefrom to engage the surface of the user&#39;s face. 
     The cam members  132   a ,  132   b  may have a conventional lobe shape, so that rotational movement of the cam member  132   a ,  132   b  periodically applies a displacing force on the surface of the respective leg members  112   a ,  112   b . As shown, the cam members  132   a ,  132   b  each have a generally circular base portion and a lobe portion that extends generally outward from the base portion, forming an oblong shape. The respective lobe portions of the cam members  132   a .  132   b  are configured to apply a force that pushes or displaces the respective leg members  112   a ,  112   b  in a protracted outward direction. Movement of the leg members  112   a ,  112   b  is controlled according to which portion (lobe portion or base portion) of the cam member  132   a ,  132   b  is engaging the respective leg member  112   a ,  112   b . Thus, rotational movement of the cam member  132  dictates whether the leg member  112   a  or  112   b  protracts so that the knob  114   a  or  114   b  engages or massages the user&#39;s face, or retracts, so that the knob  114   a  or  114   b  disengages from the user&#39;s face. 
     As the leg member  112   a  or  112   b  protracts, it pivots about the axis of the pivot pin  126 , extending outward towards the user&#39;s lacrimal region, exerting a force on the facial region of the users face proximate to the lacrimal duct region. Repeated engagement of the lacrimal duct region by the respective knobs  114   a ,  114   b  provides a therapeutic effect to the user. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a biasing member  128  or spring may be positioned to engage each of the respective leg members  112   a ,  112   b  opposite side the cam members  132   a ,  132   b , thereby providing a resilient force to assist retracting movement of the respective leg members  112   a ,  112   b  when moving from a protracted position to a retracted position. The spring  128  is anchored at a stop member  130 .  FIG. 6A  shows the spring  128  in its extended position with the corresponding leg member  112  oriented vertically, and  FIG. 6B  shows the spring  128  compressed when the cam  132  rotates to extend the leg member  112  to a protracted position. 
     The cam members  132   a ,  132   b  may be positioned with lobe portions in an aligned configuration so that the leg members  112   a ,  112   b  simultaneously apply an engaging force to the user&#39;s facial region. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the lobe portions of the cam members  132   a ,  132   b  may be offset from each other radially so that the leg members  112   a ,  112   b  exert an alternating force on the user&#39;s facial region. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cover assembly  146  including dual covers  118   a ,  118   b  for optionally covering and cushioning the knob members  114   a ,  114   b . The covers  118   a ,  118   b  each have a generally circular configuration, may be connected with a tether  122 , and have openings  120   a ,  120   b , which are configured to receive the knob members  114   a ,  114   b  therein. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8 , a thermoheating device  150  is connectable to the knob members  114  or directly to the leg members  112   a ,  112   b  to provide therapeutic heat to the user&#39;s face when engaged with the leg member  112  and knob member  114 . The thermoheating device  150  includes a tongue  152 , which is configured to snap into a groove  160  in the leg member  112 , or into a groove  124  on the knob member  114 . The covers  118   a ,  118   b  may have an opening  124   a  defined therein through which the tongue  152  may extend, as shown in cover  118   b  in  FIG. 2 . 
     In operation, the user places the lacrimal duct therapy device  100  on his head with the leg members  112   a ,  112   b  and knob members  114   a ,  114   b  engaged with a region on the face proximate to the lacrimal duct region. The user activates the motor assembly  122 , either using a switch or remotely using a wireless device. Once the motor assembly  142  is activated, the motor  138  rotates the shaft member  140 , and consequently the rod member  134 . The cam members  132   a ,  132   b  rotate, applying a protracting displacement force on the leg members  112   a ,  112   b , forcing the leg members  112   a ,  112   b  and respective knob members  114   a ,  114   b  into massaging therapeutic engagement with the lacrimal duct region on the user&#39;s face. Rotation of the cam members  132   a ,  132   b  alternately protracts the leg member  112   a ,  112   b  into engagement with the face and retracts the leg member  112   a ,  112   b  from engagement with the face. This process is repeated, providing therapy to the user&#39;s lacrimal duct. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.