Abstract:
A nasal bulb aspirator that can be sized to fit the needs of infants through adults and is designed to ensure that the tip remains hygienically intact by a one-way valve and a counterbalance system that prevents the tip from touching surrounding surfaces, thereby limiting cross contamination from possibly resistant pathogens.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/314,507 filed Mar. 29, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to medical bulb suction devices, and more specifically to a bulb aspirator designed to remain hygienically intact and limit cross contamination. 
       II. Description of the Prior Art 
       [0003]    Parents and their children are often frustrated by, and unsure how, to deal with the common build up of nasal congestion of different viscosities. Indeed, at times, infants and small children are admitted to hospitals because of the great difficulty they have with breathing and potentially interfering with their ability to stay hydrated. On a daily basis, health care providers hear countless stories of sleepless nights, poor eating habits, and behavior changes attributed to simple nasal discharge. Most commonly this nasal mucus drainage makes it extremely difficult to eat, drink, and most importantly to tired parents, sleep. More importantly, if this drainage is not removed in a timely manner, it may result in sinusitis as well as ear and chest infections. 
         [0004]    At the present time, there are not too many options available for parents and health care providers alike. Cold medications and some holistic care are not Food and Drug Administration approved for infants and toddlers, and in any event are of questionable efficacy. 
         [0005]    It is common practice for medical practitioners to find themselves repeating to parents that they need to apply saline and then manual suction as the main regimen for the common cold. For lack of a simple, effective, and more hygienic solutions in the market, medical practitioners may even recommend solutions that they know to be less hygienic and driven by desperation and immediate need of the patents. One such concept is the mechanical aspiration device using parental inspiratory force to aspirate a nose of a child. In addition to being repugnant in concept, as is often mentioned in consumer polls, the nature of these devices can lead to inadvertent contamination of the parents and eventually others in the household. 
         [0006]    The most commonly used option is the basic hospital bulb suction device. Unfortunately, this device has many inadequacies. For example, this method of bulb suctioning passages commonly result in physical struggles between the parent and the child, often exacerbated by the nasal discomfort that the bulb causes, in addition to the natural urge of infants to resist restraint, further complicating the procedure. During that struggle, the person attempting to apply the suction may find themselves putting the device down to better control the infant or child, potentially contaminating the suction device with restraint bacteria such as a community acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus infection (MRSA) or other secondary pathogens. Additionally, it is well known that the basic bulbs can build up pathogens internally in the bulb. Whether internal or secondary, such pathogens are routinely introduced into the nasal passages by the user. Furthermore, if the bulb is not used correctly, whether clean or not, damaged nasal passages are a common outcome. 
         [0007]    The present disclosure overcomes these and other problems associated with the current state of the art of nasal aspirators. Accordingly, it is a general object of this disclosure to provide an improved bulb aspirator for aspirating and removing mucus from the nasal and sinus cavities. 
         [0008]    It is another general object of the present disclosure to provide a simple, hygienic device for quick and easy mucus removal. 
         [0009]    It is a more specific object of the present disclosure to provide a flexible nasal bulb aspirator that provides suction and hygienic collection of mucus without reintroducing the mucus into the child or adult upon repeat suctioning. 
         [0010]    It is another more specific object of the present disclosure to provide an ergonomic silicon nozzle that is appropriate for a nose of an infant or child and is transparent enough to visualize the suctioning of secretions. 
         [0011]    It is another more specific object of the present disclosure to provide a nasal bulb aspirator having a neck containing a one-way valve and a body containing a one-way valve that in combination permits air to be expelled from the bulb body to create suction to allow the mucus to be drawn in through the nozzle. 
         [0012]    It is yet another more specific object of the present disclosure to provide a bulb that is shaped and weighted so as to balance it in a state of equilibrium, keeping the tip upright and away from other surfaces. 
         [0013]    Yet another more specific object of the present disclosure is to provide a bulb constructed of three separable pieces and of a material that can be safely placed in a dishwasher and/or boiled for easy hygienic cleaning. 
         [0014]    These and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a nasal aspirator that is supported on an underlying support surface including a bulb, a nozzle with a tip, a one-way valve for permitting air to pass from the tip to the bulb and a one-way valve permitting air to escape from the bulb. A support member balances the bulb aspirator upon the support surface keeping the tip away from the surface. 
         [0016]    According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided counterbalanced nasal bulb aspirator oriented on an underlying support surface including a resilient bulb, a nozzle with a tip for suction of liquids by a vacuum created from compressing and then releasing the bulb, a one-way valve for permitting air to pass from the tip to the bulb and a one-way valve permitting air to escape from the bulb. A support member balances the bulb aspirator upon the support surface keeping the tip away from the surface. 
         [0017]    According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a bulb aspirator supported on an underlying support surface including a resilient bulb, a nozzle having a tip for suction of liquids by a vacuum created by compressing and then releasing the bulb, and a support member for balancing the bulb aspirator upon the surface to keep the tip away therefrom. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present disclosure will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views and in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a counterbalanced nasal bulb aspirator according to the principles of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the aspirator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the aspirator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a frontal view of the aspirator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the aspirator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of the aspirator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side exploded and cross-sectional view of the component parts of the aspirator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a perspective exploded view of the component parts of the aspirator of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    One or more embodiments of the subject disclosure will now be described with the aid of numerous drawings. Unless otherwise indicated, use of specific terms will be understood to include multiple versions and forms thereof. 
         [0028]    In any event, turning now to the Figures, and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the counterbalanced nasal bulb aspirator  10  of the present disclosure is shown. The main component parts include the bulb  12 , the nozzle  14  and the aspirator support member  16 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  better illustrate additional component parts, including the bulb valve cover  18 , the nozzle tip  20  and the legs  22  of the support member  16 . While  FIG. 5  best shows the contact points of the aspirator with a support surface, and specifically the flattened contact surface  24  on the underside of the bulb  12  and the contact surface  26  of the support member  16  legs  22 . 
         [0029]    The bulb  12  is made of a resilient, compressible and elastic material that will tend to return to its original shape and produce suction after it has been collapsed. The nozzle tip  20  is made of a pliable material to avoid damaging the mucosal membrane inside the nose. The nozzle may also be conical  28  or have a stepwise widening (see  FIG. 2 ) of the outer diameter to avoid the stem being inserted too deep into the nostril. 
         [0030]    During use, the bulb  12  is compressed and the nozzle tip  20  is inserted into a nostril or mouth. The nozzle  14  and the bulb  12  may be made of a single piece or they may be separable for cleaning and maintenance purposes. In any event, there remains an air-tight connection therebetween so that the vacuum created therein by the suction bulb  12  will be transmitted to the hollow tip  20  and produce the desired suction in the tip  20 . The compressed bulb  12  is then gradually released to withdraw mucus and secretions from the nostril or mouth. The sucking force is controlled by the user by simply controlling the compressive forces at the bulb. 
         [0031]    Turning now to the cross-sectional and exploded views of  FIGS. 6-8 , additional particular features of the present disclosure can now be better described. First, and in order to prevent any positive or forward pressure being created in the tip  20 , the bulb  12  is fitted with a first one-way valve  30  (so-called duckbill valve) which permits air to pass from the air passage assembly  32  within the nozzle into the bulb  12 , but positively prevents any reverse flow from the bulb  12  into the assembly  32  and ultimately out of the tip  20  and into a nostril or mouth. 
         [0032]    Similarly, the rear of the bulb  12  includes a second one-way valve  34  for permitting air to escape from the bulb  12  when the bulb  12  is collapsed. This valve  34  includes an aperture  36  in the bulb  12  which is covered by a thin rubber flap  18  of preferably silicon. The flap  18  is attached at one side to the valve insert  38  while the other side of the flap is left free so as to permit a flap valve action to obtain this so-called umbrella valve. 
         [0033]    Accordingly, and during use, the bulb  12  is compressed and the first one-way valve  30  is tightly closed to prevent positive pressure from being built up within the air passage assembly while the aperture  36  is uncovered by the flap  18  to permit the air in the bulb to be expelled therefrom as the bulb is compressed. When the pressure on the bulb  12  is relaxed, the flap  18  will tightly close the aperture  36  and air will be drawn into the bulb  12  through the first one-way valve  30 , thereby creating a suction in the bulb collection chamber  40 . This suction will be transmitted to the tip  20  of the nozzle  14  and cause any mucus or other secretions in the nostril or mouth to be drawn into the collecting chamber  40 . The bulb and/or nozzle may be of a viewable clear, blow molded acrylic with flanges at either end to create an airtight seal to both the tip and the bulb. 
         [0034]    The counterbalance system of the present disclosure includes the support member  16  as well as the flattened contact surface  24  of the bulb. As such, the system of the nasal bulb aspirator  10  prevents the tip  20  from touching surrounding surfaces, thereby limiting cross contamination from possibly resistant pathogens. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the bulb aspirator  10  is properly oriented upon a support surface  42  when the contact surfaces  26  of the weighted support legs  22  and the flattened contact surface  24  of the underside of the bulb  12  rest upon the underlying support surface  42 . This keeps the tip isolated and remote from the support surface. 
         [0035]    The bulb aspirator  10  is preferably injection molded to maintain the necessary geometry in the design and to add the proper weight to the feet  22  with a more condensed silicone. The bulb is molded from medical grade silicone that is lightweight with release recoil to assist in creating the negative pressure that is optimal for suctioning. The aspirator tip  20  is injection molded medical grade silicone for a softer touch, durability and machine-washability. In that regard, all components may be separable for cleaning and maintenance purposes. All components may be dishwasher safe and capable of sustaining boiling temperatures. The valves are preferably removable or replaceable if damaged or overused. 
         [0036]    The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom. Accordingly, while one or more particular embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention if its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.