Patent Publication Number: US-2019175202-A1

Title: Electronic aspirator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/369,078 filed Jul. 30, 2016, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference, and to application no. PCT/US17/44084 filed Jul. 27, 2017 under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the entirety of which is also incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to aspirators, and, more particularly, relates to electronic aspirators for removing bodily fluids and other bodily wastes from patients. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Nasal congestion is a common problem newborns and young children have causing obstruction of their upper airways and preventing them from breathing normally Nasal congestion, if left untreated, can affect their sleep, hearing, and speech development, and can even cause problems such as respiratory distress and sleep apnea. Due to the child&#39;s inability to remove the mucous themselves, aspirators are used to assist the child. 
     One of the oldest and most common types of mechanical aspirators is a bulb syringe. These bulb syringes require manual pumping and are typically small and limited in the amount of bodily fluids they can suck/draw in per manual pumping action. Accordingly, multiple pumps are generally needed to remove the obstruction. In addition, due to their small size, the suction created by such bulb syringes is also much weaker than other aspirators, creating issues in completely clearing the child&#39;s nostril of mucous. 
     Along with the different variations of bulb syringes in existence, another common mechanical aspirator requires an operator to use his/her own suction to draw out mucous from the child&#39;s nose. Stated another way, the operator in such mechanical aspirators physically suck in mucous with his/her mouth through a long tube, from the child&#39;s nostrils. A filter is placed within the tube to prevent the operator from sucking the child&#39;s mucous into the operator&#39;s mouth. Such aspirators are generally considered more powerful than the bulb syringe because they utilize the much larger and more powerful human lungs to create suction. With that being said, some of the drawbacks of such devices are that they require replacement filters and present a potential hazard in contracting viral and/or bacterial infections if the filter is not functioning properly and/or if the operator did not install the filter properly. In addition, many operators (e.g., parents) find such a method of removing mucous using the operator&#39;s own mouth to be undesirable and distasteful. 
     Yet other types of known aspirators are electronic aspirators that utilize a pump system in which a diaphragm is pushed in and out to suck in mucous. The diaphragm used in these pump system aspirators are significantly smaller than the bulb syringes and simply do not create a strong enough suction force to suck in bodily fluids. It is generally effective only if there is a complete seal between the tip of the device and the nostril and/or if the tip is fully submersed in the bodily fluid/waste. 
     One drawback that all these known devices have in common is that they all require cleaning after use, which, if not properly cleaned, can cause the devices to become contaminated, and/or can become unusable as the waste storing chambers will eventually become full. 
     Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides an electronic aspirator that overcomes the hereinbefore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an aspirator including a housing having a suction inlet; an impeller disposed within the housing, the impeller being driven by a driving component to create a suction through the suction inlet; and a disposable tip. The disposable tip may be removeably couplable to the housing at the suction inlet, define a fluid intake port in fluid communication with an outside environment and the suction inlet, and may have an aspirated bodily fluid collection region that collects aspirated bodily fluids drawn into the disposable tip by the impeller&#39;s suction and retains the aspirated bodily fluids by changing a direction of a flow of the aspirated bodily fluids within the aspirated bodily fluid collection region. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the disposable tip is formed as a nasal insertion tip, the nasal insertion tip being dimensioned and configured for insertion with a nostril. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the aspirated bodily fluid collection region includes barriers disposed to direct a flow of the aspirated bodily fluids to reverse direction within the disposable tip. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the aspirated bodily fluid collection region includes barriers disposed to direct a flow of the aspirated bodily fluids in a zig-zag pattern within the disposable tip. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the aspirated bodily fluid collection region includes a multidirectional chamber defining a multidirectional bodily fluid passageway within the disposable tip, the multidirectional bodily fluid passageway having at least two separate portions along a length of the passageway that at least partially overlap one another within the disposable tip. 
     In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention further includes a plurality of blades and is fixedly coupled to a rotation shaft of the driving component. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the impeller defines a center inlet and includes a plurality of blades disposed around the center inlet, the plurality of blades being operably configured to push air in a radially outward direction during a rotary motion of the impeller. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the housing at least partially defines an airflow discharge passage fluidly coupling the impeller to at least one exhaust port disposed at a distal end of the housing opposite a proximal end of the housing at which the impeller is disposed; and the impeller includes a plurality of blades operable to direct airflow created by the impeller through the airflow discharge passage and to the outside environment via the at least one exhaust port. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the driving component is formed as a motor; and the housing includes at least one exhaust port at a distal end of the housing, the at least one exhaust port disposed a sufficient distance from the impeller and the motor such that noise from the impeller and the motor is below 85 decibels. 
     In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention further includes a vibration-dampening material disposed around the driving component and configured to absorb vibrations created by the driving component. 
     In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention further includes a decorative body removeably couplable to the housing at the suction inlet and defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of the disposable tip through the opening into the outside environment. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the decorative body includes an animal face surface disposed to face away from the housing such that the animal face surface is viewable by a patient in a nasal aspiration use-configuration. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the housing includes an exterior surface, at least a portion of the exterior surface formed as a handle portion with a user gripping surface disposed to receive an operator&#39;s hand grip to guide and hold at least a portion of the disposal tip into a patient&#39;s nostril. 
     In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention further includes an actuator button disposed on the housing and operable to selectively rotate the impeller to create the suction. 
     In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus with a disposable nasal tip, the disposable nasal tip being removeably couplable to an aspirator at a suction inlet of the aspirator; defining a fluid intake port in fluid communication with an outside environment and the suction inlet; and having an aspirated bodily fluid collection region with non-filter barriers disposed to collect and retain aspirated bodily fluids drawn into the disposable nasal tip by a suction force from the aspirator, the non-filter barriers retaining the aspirated bodily fluids by changing a direction of a flow of the aspirated bodily fluids within the disposable nasal tip. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the non-filter barriers are disposed to direct a flow of the aspirated bodily fluids to reverse direction within the disposable tip. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the non-filter barriers are disposed to direct a flow of the aspirated bodily fluids in a zig-zag pattern within the disposable tip. 
     In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes an aspirator kit with an aspirator device and at least one disposable tip. The aspirate device may include a suction inlet, an impeller driven by a driving component to create a suction through the suction inlet, and a housing surrounding the impeller and the driving component. The disposable tip may be removeably couplable to the housing at the suction inlet, define a fluid intake port in fluid communication with an outside environment and the suction inlet, and have an aspirated bodily fluid collection region that collects and retains aspirated bodily fluids drawn into the disposable tip by the impeller&#39;s suction by changing a direction of a flow of the aspirated bodily fluids within the disposable tip. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the aspirator kit may further include at least one decorative body, each of the decorative bodies being removeably couplable to the aspirator device and defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of the disposable tip through the opening into the outside environment. In yet a further feature of the present invention, each of the decorative bodies includes an animal face surface facing away from the housing and each of the least one decorative body having a different animal face surface from the other ones of the decorative bodies. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an electronic aspirator, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. 
     Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale. 
     Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. 
     In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, azimuth or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “inside”, “outside”, “front”, “back”, “head”, “tail” and so on, are azimuth or positional relationships based on the drawings, which are only to facilitate description of the embodiments of the present invention and simplify the description, but not to indicate or imply that the devices or components must have a specific azimuth, or be constructed or operated in the specific azimuth, which thus cannot be understood as a limitation to the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. 
     As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the housing. The terms “program,” “software application,” and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A “program,” “computer program,” or “software application” may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of an electronic aspirator in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a disposable tip removeably couplable to the electronic aspirator of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an assembled aspirator assembly with the disposable tip of  FIG. 2  coupled to the electronic aspirator of  FIG. 1  and a decorative head portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of the assembled aspirator assembly shown in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective rear view of the assembled aspirator assembly shown in  FIG. 3  in use with a child, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of at least a portion of the electronic components within the electronic aspirator of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method of using the aspirator of  FIG. 1  to remove mucous from a nasal cavity, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a downward-looking perspective view of an alternative impeller that may be used in the electronic aspirator of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. 
     The present invention provides a novel and efficient electronic aspirator. Embodiments of the invention provide an electronic portable aspirator that includes an impeller, which provides a suction force that is stronger than conventional bulb syringes, diagram-pump aspirators, and other known aspirators. In addition, embodiments of the invention provide an aspirator with a disposable tip removeably couplable to the housing of the aspirator and designed to trap bodily fluids, such as mucous, within the disposable tip for easy clean-up and so that such bodily fluids do not enter the aspirator housing. Additional embodiments of the invention provide for a removable and interchangeable decorative face that can comfort patients (e.g., children) and/or an audio system that can selectively upload and play music files to further comfort/distract the patient from the bodily fluid removal process. Yet other embodiments of the invention provide for noise reduction and vibration dampening features. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the present invention is shown in a cross-sectional side view.  FIG. 1  shows several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components. The first example of an electronic portable aspirator  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a housing  102  and an impeller  104  disposed within the housing  102 . 
     The housing  102  may be considered an aspirator housing that substantially surrounds the impeller  104 . In the exemplary embodiment, the housing  102  is cylindrical in shape. In other embodiments, the housing  102  may be other shapes and sizes, such as, for example, L-shaped. The housing  102  is preferably formed as a waterproof, hermetically sealed housing so as to protect the electrical components housed therein from the outside environment. In a further embodiment, the electronic components may be coated with a hydrophobic coating. In another embodiment, the housing  102  may not be waterproof. In yet another embodiment, the aspirator  100  may be considered splash proof, meeting at least an IPX4 level of protection. 
     The housing  102  may include walls that are made of a plastic or other polymer-based material. In other embodiments, the housing  102  may be made of other materials. In one embodiment, the housing  102  may have an exterior wall  103  that is about 0.050″ to 0.100″ thick and may be 5.000″ to 7.000″ in length. In other embodiments, the housing  102  may have other dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, the housing  102  is sized and shaped to provide a portable hand-held aspirator that can be used on-the-go and stored and transported easily (e.g., being small and light enough to be conveniently storable within, for example, a diaper bag). 
     The housing  102  may include a suction inlet  106 . The suction inlet  106  may be considered a relatively narrow passageway fluidically coupled to the impeller  104 , through which a suction force  108  created by the impeller  104  draws-in/sucks-in air from the outside environment  110 . In other words, the impeller  104  creates a negative pressure that draws-in air from the outside/ambient environment  110  through the suction inlet  106 . Stated yet another way, the impeller  104  may have a suction side  106  opposite a discharge side through which air can be discharged back into the outside environment  110 , as will be discussed in more detail herein below. The suction inlet  106  may be formed as a neck portion of the housing  102  and may be sized and shaped to couple to a bodily fluid removal element, such as, a disposable nasal tip  200  ( FIG. 2 ). In one embodiment, the suction inlet  106  may have a 0.250″ diameter and may be about 1.000″ in length. In other embodiments, the suction inlet  106  may have other dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, the suction inlet  106  is configured to draw-in air only, and not bodily fluids (for easy clean-up and to prevent moisture exposure of the electrical components with the housing  102 ). As will be discussed with reference to  FIG. 2 , the bodily fluid removal element  200  is preferably configured to collect and retain bodily fluids within the bodily fluid removal element  200  such that bodily fluids do not enter the housing  102 . 
     The impeller  104  preferably creates a suction force  108  that is greater than a typical force of a bulb syringe, diaphragm-pump aspirators, and other known aspirators. The impeller  104  is driven by a driving component, such as a DC motor  122 , to create the suction  108  through the suction inlet  106 . In one embodiment, the impeller  104  is fixedly coupled to a rotation shaft  130  of the motor  122 . In one embodiment, rotation of the motor  122  may rotate the rotation shaft  130  and the impeller  104  to create the suction  108  through the suction inlet  106 . 
     In one embodiment, the aspirator  100  operates at  12  volts, spinning the motor  122  at 30,000 revolutions-per-minute (RPMs), as measured at 0.500″ from its center. In other embodiments, the motor  122  may spin the impeller  104  at a rate of between 25,000-40,000 RPMs. Such high RPMs should create a suction force that is much stronger than a typical bulb syringe, diaphragm-pump aspirators, and other known aspirators. In yet other embodiments, the motor  122  may rotate the impeller  104  at RPMs outside of these ranges, but should generally rotate quickly enough to generate a strong suction force  108 , as compared to known nasal aspirators, such as, for example, the bulb syringe and diaphragm-pump aspirators. 
     In one embodiment, the impeller  104  may be formed as a centrifugal compressor impeller  800 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , for example. In other embodiments, the impeller  104  may be formed as another known type of impeller. In one embodiment, the impeller  104  may be made of a plastic resin or other polymer-based compound. The impeller  104  may be about 1.25″ in diameter and have a height that is within a range of 0.200″-0.500″. In other embodiments, the impeller  104  may have other dimensions, or be made of other known materials, but is preferably sized to provide a portable aspirator. 
     The impeller  104  may define an impeller inlet  112  disposed at a center of the impeller  104  (sometimes referred to in the art as an impeller&#39;s “eye”) and may also include a plurality of blades  114  disposed around the impeller inlet  112 . The number of blades  114  may be any number. In one embodiment, the number of blades  114  is between 5-30 blades  114 . In another embodiment, a thickness of the blades  114  may be within a range of 0.025″-0.050″. In other embodiments, the thickness of the blades  114  may be outside of this range. 
     The plurality of blades  114  may be operably configured to push air in a radially outward direction during a rotary motion of the impeller  104 . Stated another way, the plurality of blades  114  may be operable to direct an airflow  116  (as indicated by the dotted lines shown in  FIG. 1 ) created by the impeller  104  through an airflow discharge passage  118  and out to the outside environment  110 , via at least one exhaust port  120 . In the exemplary embodiment, the housing  102  defines two exhaust ports  120   a - b.  In other embodiments, the housing  102  may define more or less than two exhaust ports  120 . The housing  102  may at least partially define the airflow discharge passage  118 . Exterior housing walls and internal housing walls may define the airflow discharge passage  118 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, a width  119  of the airflow discharge passage  118  may be at least 0.025″ substantially along the length of the passage  118 . The airflow discharge passage  118  fluidically couples the impeller  104  to the exhaust port  120  to discharge the airflow from the impeller  104  to the outside environment  110 . 
     The rotary motion of the impeller  104  and the motor  122 , while generating a stronger suction force  108  than many known aspirators, may also tend to create undesirable noise and vibration effects. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the position of the impeller  104  relative to the exhaust port  120  may be configured to reduce noise. For example, the impeller  104  may be disposed at a proximal end  124  of the housing  102  and the exhaust port  120  may be disposed at a distal end  126  of the housing  102 , opposite the proximal end  124 . The exhaust port(s)  120  should preferably be positioned a distance away from the impeller  104 , without negatively affecting the suction  108 . This is possible because air flows from high-pressure to low-pressure. To elaborate, the exhaust ports  120  should be areas of low-pressure, as compared to the high-pressure created by the impeller  104  sucking-in air at the proximal end  124  of the housing  102 . Due to the position of the exhaust ports  120  a sufficient distance downstream of the impeller  104 , the air flowing through the airflow discharge passage  118  should slow down by the time the air reaches the exhaust ports  120  downstream. This reduces the noise level of sound created by the high-speed movement of the impeller  104 . Further, a thickness and/or material properties of the housing  102  walls may also be selected to further reduce the noise level for the patient. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the exhaust port  120  is disposed a sufficient distance from the impeller  104  and the motor  122  such that a noise from the impeller  104  and the motor  122  is below 85 decibels (as measured from a sound level meter that is less than 4 inches away from the aspirator  100 ). In a more preferred embodiment, the exhaust port  120  is disposed a sufficient distance from the impeller  104  and the motor  122  such that a noise from the impeller  104  and the motor  122  is within a range of 60-75 decibels. In yet other embodiments, the noise may be outside of this range, but should be generally below 85 decibels. 
     In another embodiment, vibration caused by the motor  122  may be reduced by the inclusion of vibration-dampening material  128  disposed around the motor  122 . Vibration from the motor  122  may cause a tickling or other undesirable agitation of a patient&#39;s body part (e.g., nose). The vibration-dampening material  128  may be any known material operable to absorb vibrations, such as, for example, sorbothane, polyurethane foams, and other like materials. In other embodiment, the aspirator  100  may not include vibration-dampening material  128 . 
     The portable electronic aspirator  100  further includes a power source  132 . In one embodiment, the power source  132  is a rechargeable battery (e.g., Li-Ion 14500 cell) disposed within the housing  102 . The power source  132  is electrically coupled to the motor  122  to drive rotation of the impeller  104 . The power source  132  may be rechargeable via, for example, a power connector  134  (e.g., 2.1 mm jack, USB connector, etc.) disposed to couple to, for example, a wall charger. In one embodiment, the rechargeable batteries  132  may output 12 Vac, when fully charged, to provide the motor  122  with the power to reach the RPMs required for optimal suction. In a further embodiment, the aspirator  100  may further include a protection circuit  136  operably configured to prevent over-charging the power source  132  and prevent electrical damage due to current spikes. In one embodiment, the protection circuit  136  may be configured with a shut-off voltage that prevents the power source  132  from dropping below the optimal suction voltage. In one embodiment, the protection circuit  136  is configured with a shut-off voltage of, for example, 9 Vac. In certain embodiments, RPMs of the motor  122  significantly drop when power drops below 9 Vac (resulting in a less than optimal suction force at the suction inlet  106 ). In yet a further embodiment, one or more resistors may be included in the circuit between the power source  132  and the motor  122  to limit an in-rush current. 
     Referring now primarily to  FIG. 2 , with reference also to  FIG. 1 , the disposable tip  200  will now be described. Advantageously, the disposable tip  200  may be configured to collect and retain viscous bodily fluids (e.g., mucous) sucked-in to the aspirator  100  by the impeller  104  so that such bodily fluids do not enter the housing  102 . This provides a benefit over the existing art of easy clean-up, as well as, isolation and protection of the electrical components from aspirated bodily fluids. Inventively, the disposable tip  200  may collect and retain aspirated bodily fluids (without requiring the use of known replacement filters) by changing a direction of a flow of the aspirated bodily fluids  202 , as will be described in more detail herein below. 
     As used herein, the term “disposable” is intended broadly to indicate an article or device that is configured to be used once, or a few times, or until no longer useful, and then thrown away. In one embodiment, the disposable tip  200  may be more narrowly configured for single-use application. In yet further embodiments, the disposable tip  200  may be made of a biodegradable material, such as, for example, a PLA or HDPE with biodegradable additives. The term “tip,” as used herein, is intended to indicate a pointed, rounded, tapered, or otherwise narrow (as compared to the housing  102 ) end or attachment that is configured and dimensioned for insertion, of at least a portion thereof, within a human body orifice (e.g., nose).  FIG. 5  illustrates one example of this feature, showing an absolute end of the disposable tip  200  inserted within a child&#39;s nasal opening. 
     The disposable tip  200  may be dimensioned and configured to couple to the housing  102  at the suction inlet  106 . In one embodiment, the disposable tip  200  may include a coupling element  204 . The coupling element  204  may be dimensioned and configured to matingly engage the suction inlet  106  by, for example, a press fit coupling. For example, a diameter of the coupling element  204  may be sized to be the same, or slightly larger than a diameter of the suction inlet  106  to couple the housing  102  to the tip  200  by a friction fit. In other embodiments, the disposable tip  200  may be removeably couplable to the housing  102  in other known ways and using other known fastening devices. The disposable tip  200  may, in an alternative embodiment, be fixedly coupled to the housing  102  at the suction inlet  106 . 
     The disposable tip  200  defines a fluid intake port  206  that, when coupled to the housing  102 , is configured to be in fluid communication with both the outside environment  110  and the suction inlet  106 . More specifically, the suction force  106  from the impeller  104  draws-in air from the outside environment  110  through the fluid intake port  206  of the tip  200  and through the suction inlet  106  of the housing  102 . The design of the disposable tip  200  should include fluid passageways that permit the free flow of air from the outside environment  110  (i.e., not materially inhibiting the suction force) to the impeller  104 ; yet be simultaneously configured to trap and retain viscous bodily fluids within the tip  200 . 
     In one embodiment, the disposable tip  200  may define a single fluid intake port  206 . In other embodiments, the disposable tip  200  may define more than one fluid intake port  206 . For example, in some embodiments, the disposable tip  200  may define a distal central intake port at a nasal insertion portion of the tip  200  to draw-in mucous, as well as, a plurality of side intake ports disposed to draw-in additional ambient air from the outside environment  200 . 
     In one embodiment, each fluid intake port  206  may define at least one entrance aperture  207 . The entrance aperture  207  may have a diameter that is about 0.150″. In other embodiments, the entrance aperture  207  may be larger or smaller than 0.150″ in diameter. The disposable tip  200  may also include a fluid exit port  208  that may be disposed opposite to and/or concentric with the fluid intake port  206 . Between the fluid intake port  206  and the fluid exit port  208 , an aspirated bodily fluid collection region  210  may be disposed to collect and retain aspirated bodily fluids within the tip  200 , while simultaneously permitting air from the outside environment  110  to flow through to the impeller  104  within the housing  102 . Preferably, the design of the disposable tip  200  should trap viscous bodily fluids therein, without substantially obstructing the suction air flow. 
     In one embodiment, the disposable tip  200  retains the aspirated bodily fluids by changing the direction of the flow of the aspirated bodily fluids  202 . As used herein, the phrase “changing the direction of the flow of the aspirated bodily fluids” is intended to indicate that the flow continues to move, but in a different direction. Stated another way, the phrase “changing the direction of the flow of the aspirated bodily fluids” is not intended to encompass sponge-type filters that merely stop the movement of mucous through a tube. 
     In one embodiment, the aspirated bodily fluids collection region  210  may include at least one barrier  212  that changes or redirects the flow of aspirated bodily fluids  202 . In a further embodiment, the barrier  212  may be formed as a U-shaped wall, with the “U” curving towards the fluid exit port  208 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Stated another way, the barrier  212  may be a concave-shaped wall, opening toward the fluid intake port  206 . In yet a further embodiment, the barrier  212  may be formed as one or more “X”-shaped walls disposed in a center of the collection region  210  to split the fluid flow into at least two separate, divergent paths, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, each of the barriers  212  may be about 0.300″ in length, with the diameter of the collection region  210  being about 0.500″. In other embodiments, the dimensions of the barriers  212  and the collection region  210  may be outside of this range. 
     In yet a further embodiment, a second set of barriers  214  may be disposed downstream of the barrier  212  and may be disposed to reverse a direction of the flow of fluids  202 . In other words, the barrier(s)  214  may reverse the direction of the flow of aspirated bodily fluids  202  such that the flow becomes directed towards the entrance aperture  207  (or fluid intake port  206 ), rather than away from it. This concept of reversing the direction of fluid flow may be illustrated by a comparison of the arrows  216  (illustrating an initial direction away from the entrance aperture  207 ) and  218  (illustrating a reversal direction towards the entrance aperture  207 ). By reversing the direction of the flow of aspirated bodily fluids  202  within the collection region  210 , such fluids are retained within the disposable tip  200 , rather than entering the housing  102 . In one embodiment, the barrier(s)  214  may be considered to be walls that are angled toward the entrance aperture  207 . Such barrier walls  214  may, for example, be angled between 5 degrees to 85 degrees generally toward the entrance aperture  207 . 
     The barrier walls  214  may be substantially flat, smooth, and/or planar. In other embodiments, the barrier walls  214  or  212  may be slightly curved, or rectilinear in shape. In other embodiments, such shapes and dimensions may vary, but should generally be configured to change the direction of flow of viscous bodily fluids within the disposable tip  200  thereby retaining or trapping such bodily fluids therein. 
     In one embodiment, the aspirated bodily fluids collection region  210  may be dimensioned and configured to direct the flow of aspirated bodily fluids  202  in a zig-zag pattern within the disposable tip  200 , as shown in the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 . As used herein, the term “zig-zag” is intended to indicate a path of fluid movement having abrupt alternative generally left and right turns. In another embodiment, the aspirated bodily fluids collection region  210  may be considered a multi-directional chamber that defines a multidirectional bodily fluid passageway  220  (as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 2 ). The multidirectional bodily fluid passageway  220  may be a continuous passageway with multiple, separate portions along its length. Each such portion may direct the fluid flow in a different direction than the immediately previous portion. In one embodiment, the multidirectional bodily fluid passageway  220  may have at least two separate portions along its length that at least partially overlaps within one another within the disposable tip  200 . For example, a first portion  222   a  overlaps with a second portion  222   b  within the disposable tip  200 . Such embodiments of the collection region  210  discussed herein inventively retain the bodily fluids within the disposable tip  200 , without requiring a replacement filter, by changing a direction of the fluid flow  202 . Accordingly, the wall barriers  212  and  214  may also be considered non-filter barriers  212 ,  214 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the disposable tip  200  is dimensioned and configured for insertion with a human nostril, preferably being small enough for insertion with a human infant&#39;s nostril. Thus, in preferred embodiments, at least a portion of the disposable tip  200  may be formed as a nasal insertion tip portion. For example, an absolute end  224  (opposite the coupling element  204 ) of the disposable tip  200  may have a diameter or width that is smaller than a diameter or width of an average-sized human infant&#39;s nostril. It is contemplated that in alternative embodiments, the disposable tip  200  may be configured and dimensioned for insertion within other human orifices, within which it may be desirable to remove other bodily fluids. 
     Referring now primarily to  FIGS. 3-5 , with brief reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , other features of embodiments of the aspirator  100  are described. In one embodiment, the aspirator  100  may include a decorative body  300 . The decorative body  300  may be removeably couplable to the housing  102  at, for example, the suction inlet  106 . The decorative body  300  may define an opening  400  sized to slideably receive at least a portion of the disposable tip  200  through the opening  400  into the outside environment  110 . The decorative body  300  may provide a welcome distraction for a patient  500  (e.g., child). Accordingly, in one embodiment, the decorative body  300  may include an animal face surface  402  that, when coupled to the housing  102 , is disposed to face in a direction away from the housing  102  and toward the patient  500 . In other words, the animal face surface  402 , when coupled to the housing  102 , should be viewable by the patient  500  during a nasal aspiration use-configuration, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The word “animal,” as used in the phrase “animal face surface,” is intended broadly to encompass human characters as well as non-human faces (e.g., non-human and human character faces). Advantageously, the patient  500  may be emotionally comforted, or at least momentarily distracted, by the view of the animal face surface  402  as bodily fluids are being extracted. In another embodiment, the surface  402  may be a generally decorative surface (e.g., flowers, or multi-colored patterns), rather than an animal face surface  402 . 
     In one embodiment, the portable electronic aspirator  100  may be provided in the form of an aspirator kit. The aspirator kit may include the housing  102  surrounding the impeller  104 , the motor  122 , and the other electronic components and fluid passageways, as described herein above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The aspirator kit may further include at least one disposable tip  200 . In a further embodiment, the aspirator kit may further include two or more disposable single-use tips  200 . In yet a further embodiment, the aspirator kit may further include one or more interchangeable decorative bodies  300   a - n.  For example, a first decorative body  300   a  within the aspirator kit may have an animal face surface  402  resembling a first cartoon character and a second decorative body  300   b  within the aspirator kit may have an animal face surface  402  resembling a second cartoon character, different from the first. Accordingly, a child-friendly aspirator kit may be provided with a very strong suction force and interchangeable decorative bodies  300   a - n.  Further, the aspirator kit may be operator-friendly in that after a single-use, the disposable single-use tip  200  may be thrown away, eliminating the need for clean-up. 
     The housing  102  may also be dimensioned and configured as an operator handle portion. Stated another way, an exterior surface  502  of the housing  102  may be formed as a user gripping surface disposed to receive an operator&#39;s hand grip. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the housing  102  may double as a handle for a parent to hold the aspirator  100  up to a child&#39;s nose during extraction. Children may squirm during use. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to shape the housing  102  so as to provide a handle portion for the parent to grip the aspirator  100  with one hand (easily guiding and holding the tip  200  in the nostril) while holding the child still with the other hand. 
     The aspirator  100  may also include an actuator button  504  disposed on the housing  102 . The actuator button  504  may be coupled to the electronic components within the housing  102  and may be operable to selectively rotate the motor  122  and the impeller  104  to create the suction force  108  at the suction inlet  106 . The actuator button  504  may be preferably disposed on the handle portion of the housing  102  at a position that provides for convenient pressing of the button  504  while the operator is gripping the handle portion of the housing  102 . 
     Referring now primarily to  FIG. 6 , with brief reference to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , yet another embodiment of the portable electronic aspirator  100  is illustrated in a block diagram view.  FIG. 6  depicts a portion of electronic components that may be disposed within the housing  102  in one embodiment of the present invention. In such embodiment, the aspirator  100  may include a speaker  600 , an audio data port  602 , a memory  604 , and a processor  606 . The processor  606  may be operably configured to receive one or more music files via the audio data port  602  and cause the music files to be played, i.e., emitting audio signals corresponding to the music files through the speaker  600 . The memory  604  may store the music files in a non-transitory memory. The memory  604  may be separate from the processor  606 , or may be memory within the processor  606 . In one embodiment, there may also be a user input interface that allows the user to select one from among a plurality of music files that may be played for the patient  500 . Accordingly, the patient  500  may further be distracted and/or comforted by the music being played through the speakers  600 . 
     The process flow chart of  FIG. 7 , illustrating exemplary use of the aspirator  100 , will now be described with reference also to  FIGS. 1-6 . Although  FIG. 7  shows a specific order of executing the process steps, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted in  FIG. 7  for the sake of brevity. 
     The process may begin in step  700  and may immediately proceed to step  702 , where the operator (e.g., a parent or a medical professional) may be provided with the impeller  104  disposed with the housing  102 . In step  704 , the operator may attach the disposable tip  200  to the housing  102 . In step  706 , the operator may insert at least a portion of the disposable tip  200  within the patient&#39;s  500  nostril. In step  708 , the operator may turn-on the impeller  104 , thereby rotating the impeller  104  to create the suction force  108  sufficient to draw-out mucous from the nasal cavity into the disposable tip  200 . In step  710 , after the mucous has been drawn-out of the nasal cavity, the operator may turn-off the impeller  104  and remove and discard the disposable tip  200 . In step  712 , the operator may decide whether to use the aspirator  100  at a subsequent instance/time. If the answer is “yes,” the process may proceed back to step  704 , where the operator may attach another (unused) disposable tip  200 . The process may repeat steps  704  through  712  again. If the answer is “no,” the process may proceed to step  714 , where the process may immediately end. 
     A novel and efficient electronic aspirator has been disclosed that increases the suction strength over existing aspirators, while also providing for easy and efficient clean-up. Embodiments of the invention provide an electronic portable aspirator that includes an impeller, which provides a suction force that is stronger than conventional bulb syringes, diaphragm-pump aspirators, and other known aspirators. In addition, embodiments of the invention provide an aspirator with a disposable tip removeably couplable to the housing of the aspirator and designed to trap bodily fluids, such as mucous, within the disposable tip for easy clean-up and so that such bodily fluids do not enter the aspirator housing. Additional embodiments of the invention provide for a removable and interchangeable decorative face that can comfort patients (e.g., children) and/or an audio system that can selectively upload and play music files to further comfort the patient during the bodily fluid removal process. Yet other embodiments of the invention provide for noise reduction and vibration dampening features.