Patent ID: 8529594

Claim:
A support device sized and configured for supporting tissues overlying first and second nasal passages, the support device comprising: a nasal support structure having a midline, the nasal support structure being symmetric about the midline; the nasal support structure including a surface layer defining first and second lateral boundaries positioned on opposite sides of the midline, each of the first and second lateral boundaries having a first rounded section, a second rounded section and a third rounded section; the surface layer defining a first transverse dimension that extends between the first rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, a second transverse dimension that extends between the second rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, and a third transverse dimension that extends between the third rounded sections of the first and second lateral boundaries, the second transverse dimension being positioned at an intermediate location between the first and third transverse dimensions; the first transverse dimension being larger than the second transverse dimension, and the second transverse dimension being larger than the third transverse dimension; the nasal support structure including a support layer configured to reduce the draw of the supporting tissues inward toward the nasal passages during respiration, the support layer including at least a first lift member having a length that extends across the midline, the first lift member having first and second lateral extents extending away from the midline; and the nasal support structure including an engaging layer having portions that extend beyond the lateral extents of the first lift member, the engaging layer being configured for attaching the nasal support device to a nose, and the nasal support device being configured such that the first, second and third transverse dimensions overlie the nose when the nasal support device is attached to the nose.