Patent ID: 8088120

Claim:
A method for alleviating nasal congestion in a patient, the method comprising: providing an instrument for insertion into the nostril of a patient for probing the nasal mucosa of a patient, the instrument having: a handle portion for gripping the instrument; a work tip portion carried on the handle portion, the work tip portion provided with a tuft of bristles; and a stop associated with one of the work tip portion and the handle portion, the stop being configured to limit insertion of the work tip portion into the nasal passages of the patient to thereby mitigate the risk of impalement injury; while the head of the patient is bent forward, inserting the tuft of bristles into the nostril of the patient no further than the stop; probing the nasal mucosa of the patient with the at least one filament to stimulate in the patient the sneeze reflex; and causing the patient to sneeze with the patient's mouth closed to urge at least one of mucus, fluid and debris in the nasal passages of the patient to be forcibly expelled through the nostrils of the patient thereby draining the nasal cavity of the patient.