Patent ID: 7727252

Claim:
A method of improving passage of air through a nasal cavity comprising: (a) providing an adjustable nasal cavity dilation device, said device including: a first deformable body, the body having a shape corresponding to the nasal cavity so as to enable insertion of the device within the nasal cavity; the body further including: top and bottom frame ends interconnected by a flexible wall structure, wherein the flexible wall structure undergoes lateral deformation in response to movement of one frame end toward and away from the other; and wherein the first deformable body has a hollow central member that is mounted on the top frame end and extending longitudinally within the body towards the bottom frame end; and a releasable holding member adapted to adjustably maintain the top and bottom frame ends at a desired distance in a holding condition, said holding member including a ring that engages an upstanding central member, the upstanding central member being able to extend into the first deformable body with the ring engaging the bottom frame end of the first deformable body, and the upstanding central member of the releasable holding member and the hollow central member of the first deformable body having complementary engagement means allowing engagement which causes the ring of the releasable holding member to act against the bottom frame end in response to an external force so that the ribs are deflected outwardly of the body to a desired size for dilating the nasal cavity; (b) inserting the device within a nasal cavity and engaging the upstanding central member with the hollow central member of the first deformable body; (c) adjusting the distance between the top and bottom frame ends by application of an external force to the top and bottom frame ends such that deformation of the flexible wall structure is effective for urging against nasal cavity walls to substantially increase air flow through the nasal passage, and (d) adjusting the device in-situ to alter the extent of deformation of the flexible wall structure to facilitate withdrawal from the nasal cavity.