Therapeutic device for treatment of conditions relating to the sinuses, nasal cavities, ear, nose and throat

Abstract

A therapeutic device for treating one or more conditions associated with a user's nasal cavities, sinuses, and/or ear canals. The therapeutic device includes a vibration generator that includes an acoustic device configured to provide a sound. The therapeutic device further includes a seal that may be applied to a nasal interface of the user, the nasal interface being located around the nose and/or mouth of the user. The therapeutic device further includes a housing that the user may hold and that is connected to the vibration generator and the seal. The sound may be applied to the nasal interface of the user when the seal is applied to the nasal interface of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A therapeutic device for treating one or more conditions associated with a user's nasal cavities, sinuses, and/or ear canals, the therapeutic device comprising:
 a vibration generator that includes an acoustic device configured to provide a sound;   a seal that may be applied to a nasal interface of the user, the nasal interface being located around the nose and/or mouth of the user; and   a housing which the user may hold and which is connected to the vibration generator and the seal;   whereby, the vibration generator may provide the sound to the nasal interface of the user when the seal is applied to the nasal interface of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1  further including:
 an air-tight chamber formed within the housing when the seal is applied to the nasal interface of the user; and 
 a gas module connected to the housing and configured to provide a positive pressure in the chamber. 
 
     
     
         3 . The therapeutic device of  claim 2  where the positive pressure is generated bye an exhaled breath of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The therapeutic device of  claim 3  further including a poppet valve that limits the positive pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The therapeutic device of  claim 3  further including a check valve that prevents a vacuum from being created in the air-tight chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1  further including a user interface operable by the user to control one or more of the following functions of the therapeutic device:
 turn the sound on; 
 turn the sound off; 
 increase a sound level produced by the vibration generator; 
 decrease the sound level produced by the vibration generator; 
 increase a frequency of the sound; or 
 decrease the frequency of the sound. 
 
     
     
         7 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1  further including a power module. 
     
     
         8 . The therapeutic device of  claim 7 , where the power module is located within the vibration generator. 
     
     
         9 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1  where the vibration generator includes a signal source. 
     
     
         10 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1  where the vibration generator receives a signal from an external source, the signal being used by the acoustic device to generate the sound. 
     
     
         11 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , where the acoustic device corresponds to at least one of:
 a speaker,   an electroacoustic transducer,   a tone generator,   a tone module,   an ultrasonic generator,   an ultra-low frequency generator, or   a buzzer.   
     
     
         12 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , where the sound resembles humming. 
     
     
         13 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , where the sound has a frequency of from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz. 
     
     
         14 . The therapeutic device of  claim 1 , where the sound has a sound level of from about 20 decibels to about 100 decibels. 
     
     
         15 . The therapeutic device of  claim 2 , where the gas module produces a vibration. 
     
     
         16 . A therapeutic device for treating one or more conditions associated with a user's nasal cavities, sinuses, and/or ear canals, the therapeutic device comprising:
 a vibration generator that includes an acoustic device that converts a signal to a sound, the signal being generated by the vibration generator or an external device; and   a housing that the user may hold and that is connected to the vibration generator, the housing being connectable to a nasal interface of the user to provide the sound to the nasal cavities, sinuses and/or ear canals of the user.   
     
     
         17 . The therapeutic device of  claim 16  further including a gas module that is connected to the housing and powered by the exhaled breath of the user to provide a positive pressure to the user or to provide a vibration to the user. 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating one or more conditions associated with a user's nasal cavities, sinuses, and/or ear canals, the method comprising:
 providing a therapeutic device including a vibration generator configured to provide a sound,   applying the therapeutic device to a nasal interface of the user; and   operating the therapeutic device to apply the sound to the nasal interface of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further including exhaling by the user to provide a positive pressure to the nasal interface of the user or to provide a vibration to the nasal interface of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  where the sound has a frequency of from about 100 hertz to about 150 hertz.