Patent ID: 8062329

Claim:
A nasal dilator, comprising: a) a laminate of vertical layers which form a unitary, single body truss having first and second end regions adapted to engage outer wall tissues of first and second nasal passages, respectively, of a human nose, and an intermediate region interconnecting the first and second end regions, the vertical layers including: b) at least one of a base layer or a cover layer laminated to a resilient layer, the at least one base or cover layer substantially defining a periphery of the dilator; c) the resilient layer comprising a first resilient member extending from a first end edge of the truss adjacent the first end region through the intermediate region to a second end edge of the truss adjacent the second end region, the first resilient member further having a width, long edges, and a thickness along its length, there being thus a dimensional relationship between the width, thickness and length, the resilient layer having resilient properties so as to stabilize or expand the nasal outer wall tissues and prevent said tissues from drawing inward during breathing, and, d) at least one relief cut located in at least one end region of the truss, the relief cut having an outside edge extending across the width of said first resilient member from one long edge to an opposite long edge and through the entire thickness of the truss, thereby severing the resilient member, the outside edge further extending past the first resilient member long edge and connecting with upper and lower relief cut long edges, said upper and lower relief cut long edges extending vertically through said at least one of a base layer or a cover layer, outboard and adjacent the first resilient member long edge, generally parallel thereto, and generally directed toward the intermediate region.