Skin stabilization and nasal dilation system

Abstract

A skin stabilization system is formed from lamination elements consisting of fabric layers bonded to plastic layers which in turn are laminated to the outer surface of the user's skin by adhesively attaching them thereto. The lamination elements resist tension, compression and bending forces and are used to strengthen or stabilize the skin to reduce deformation. The lamination elements can be applied as a single unit or interconnected to other lamination elements by extending the fabric portions of the laminate. The skin stabilization system can be used as a nasal dilator. As a nasal dilator, a lamination element is applied to each side of the nose between the bridge and the cheek, which in turn causes the center of the lamination element to lift the soft outer skin of the nasal passage and prevent any deflection that restricts breathing through the nasal passages. The fabric portions of the lamination element can be extended over the bridge of the nose to interconnect the two nasal dilator lamination elements and assist the user in properly positioning the elements.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A structure capable of stabilizing soft skin tissue to prevent deformation comprising: a lamination structure adapted to incorporate skin into the structure by attaching the structure to the skin, the structure including spaced-apart peripheral surfaces adapted to be attached to the skin in proximity to relatively rigid supports beneath the skin and a center of the structure between the peripheral surfaces and adapted to be attached to a portion of the skin which is relatively soft and movable and disposed between the rigid supports for stabilizing the soft and movable portion of the skin, whereby the center of the structure limits deflections of the skin portion when the structure is applied to the skin.  
     
     
         2 . A structure according to  claim 1  wherein one of the peripheral surfaces is adapted for attachment to skin proximate a bridge of a nose, the other one of the peripheral surfaces is attached to skin overlying a cheekbone, and the center of the structure is adapted to be attached to a soft lateral wall external to an associated nasal passage, whereby the structure acts as a nasal dilator.  
     
     
         3 . A structure according to  claim 1  including attachment means for attaching the laminated structure to skin.  
     
     
         4 . A nasal dilator as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the lamination structure is configured to fit the contour of the nose by correspondingly deflecting the structure, and wherein the structure, when deflected and applied to the nose, causes compressive forces between the peripheral surfaces and skin overlying the bridge of the nose and skin overlying the cheekbone, thereby causing a lifting force on the lateral wall external to the nasal passage which is equal and opposite to the compressive forces, thereby causing the dilation of the nasal passage.  
     
     
         5 . A method of stabilizing skin tissue comprising the steps of providing a stabilizer having first and second end portions separated from each other in a longitudinal direction of the stabilizer; positioning the stabilizer over a skin tissue; resiliently deforming the stabilizer so that each of the end portions applies a first force directed towards the skin tissue and a section of the stabilizer intermediate the end portions applies a second force to the skin tissue in a direction away from the skin tissue; and attaching the resiliently deformed stabilizer to the skin tissue.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the step of deforming comprises deforming the stabilizer so that a side thereof facing the skin tissue is convexly shaped.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the step of attaching comprises positioning the center section over skin tissue comprising a nasal wall.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein one of the end portions is attached to skin tissue proximate a cheekbone and another one of the end portions is attached to skin tissue proximate nasal cartilage on a side of a nose bridge.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 5  including the step of giving the stabilizer a curvature in the longitudinal direction prior to the step of positioning to thereby increase the forces generated by the stabilizer following the step of attaching it to the skin tissue.  
     
     
         10 . A nasal dilator for dilating a first nasal passage extending along a nasal wall located between nasal cartilage extending from a bridge of a nose along a side of the nose and a cheekbone, the dilator comprising a resiliently deformable sheet having a length so that it extends along the nasal wall from proximate the nasal cartilage to proximate the cheekbone, and an adhesive layer applied to a side of the sheet which faces the nasal wall when the dilator is applied to the nasal wall, whereby the sheet, upon adhesively attaching the dilator to the nasal wall so that its ends are proximate the nasal cartilage and the cheekbone, generates first forces which urge the end portions towards the skin tissue and a second force generated in a mid-section of the sheet intermediate the end portions thereof which urges the nasal wall away from the nasal passage.  
     
     
         11 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 10  comprising a laminate formed by the sheet, a top cover overlying and adhesively attached to a side of the sheet opposite the side thereof which carries the adhesive layer, and a cushion layer disposed between the sheet and the adhesive layer and adhesively secured to the other side of the sheet.  
     
     
         12 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 11  wherein the top cover and the cushion layer extend beyond a periphery of the sheet.  
     
     
         13 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 12  wherein portions of the top layer and the cushion layer extending beyond the periphery of the sheet include adhesive securing them to each other.  
     
     
         14 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 13  wherein the top cover, the sheet, the cushion layer and the adhesive layer are translucent.  
     
     
         15 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 13  wherein the top cover, the sheet, the cushion layer and the adhesive layer are transparent.  
     
     
         16 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 10  for additionally dilating a second nasal passage in addition to dilating the first nasal passage, the dilator comprising an additional resiliently deformable sheet for adhesively attaching it to a nasal wall proximate the second nasal passage, and including a connector attaching the sheets to each other.  
     
     
         17 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 16  wherein the connector is elongated and formed to extend over the bridge of the nose when the sheets are adhesively attached to the respective nasal walls.  
     
     
         18 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 17  wherein the connector is constructed of a readily deformable material.  
     
     
         19 . A nasal dilator according to  claim 18  including an adhesive on a side of the connector facing the nose.