Patent ID: 7114495

Claim:
A nasal dilator capable of introducing separating stresses in nasal outer wall tissues comprising: a truss of a single body with a resilient member secured therein having a pair of spaced-apart end surfaces which, if forced toward one another from initial positions to substantially reduce direct spacing therebetween by a spacing reducing force external to said truss, results in restoring forces in said truss tending to restore said direct spacing between said end surfaces; the resilient member being symmetrical with respect to a centerline of the resilient member, the resilient member having longitudinal sides which converge from the centerline to respective ends of the resilient member for a constantly varying spring rate which diminishes from the centerline to said ends; and engagement means adhered to said end surfaces and capable of engaging exposed surfaces of nasal outer wall tissues sufficiently to remain so engaged against said restoring forces.