Sino-Nasal Rinse Delivery Device with Agitation, Flow-Control and Integrated Medication Management System

Abstract

A device, a system and a method are provided to accurately apply a medically beneficial substance directly to a laterally or superiorly located paranasal sinus cavity. When the device is assembled with a solution in a reservoir, and inverted such that the reservoir is above an input apparatus and a housing, weight of the solution pushes down on a diaphragm creating a negative pressure on the diaphragm, which prevents air from entering the reservoir and prevents a liquid from flowing out of the reservoir. Applying a positive pressure to a bottom of the diaphragm causes the diaphragm to open and allows air to flow into the reservoir. When a user creates the positive pressure by exhaling air into the device the act of exhaling causes the user's choana to close. Thereby any solution introduced into the user's sino-nasal cavity will remain contained within the user's sino-nasal cavity increasing effectiveness of treatment and decreasing user discomfort including gagging, choking, and inner ear disturbance. When the positive pressure on the bottom of the diaphragm is removed, the flow of the liquid from the reservoir stops.

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         21 . An input device for use with a sino-nasal treatment device comprising:
 a housing with a tube having a first end and a second end that is connected to the housing wherein a diaphragm is interposed at the second end of the tube;   the diaphragm has a top side proximate the housing and a bottom side proximate the tube;   wherein the diaphragm has a first closed position that prevents flow through the tube when a first pressure is asserted on the top side of the diaphragm and a second open position that permits flow through the tube when a second pressure is asserted on the bottom side of the diaphragm and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.   
     
     
         22 . The input device for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 21  wherein the second end of the tube frictionally connects to the chamber. 
     
     
         23 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 21  wherein the second end of the tube is connected to the housing substantially opposite to where the housing is adapted to attach to the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         24 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 21  wherein the housing is adapted to threadingly connect to the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         25 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 21  wherein the diaphragm is biased to the first closed position and only moves to the second open position when the second pressure is asserted on the bottom side of the diaphragm that is greater than the first pressure on the top side of the diaphragm. 
     
     
         26 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 21  wherein the first pressure is the weight of water in the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         27 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 21  wherein the second pressure is the pressure of air in the tube. 
     
     
         28 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 27  wherein the second pressure is caused by a user exhaling into the first end of the tube. 
     
     
         29 . An input apparatus for use with a sino-nasal treatment device comprising:
 a housing adapted to attach to the sino-nasal treatment device and having a tube with a first end and a second end that is connected to the housing wherein a diaphragm is interposed at the second end of the tube;   the diaphragm has a top side proximate the input apparatus and a bottom side proximate the tube; and,   wherein the diaphragm has a first closed position that prevents flow through the tube when a first pressure is asserted on the top side of the diaphragm and a second open position that permits flow through the tube when a second pressure is asserted on the bottom side of the diaphragm and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.   
     
     
         30 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 29  wherein the second end of the tube is connected to the housing substantially opposite to where the housing is adapted to attach to the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         31 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 29  wherein the first pressure is the weight of water in the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         32 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 29  wherein the second pressure is the pressure of air in the tube. 
     
     
         33 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 32  wherein the second pressure is caused by a user exhaling into the first end of the tube. 
     
     
         34 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 29  wherein the housing is adapted to threadingly connect to the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         35 . An input apparatus for use with a sino-nasal treatment device comprising:
 a housing adapted to attach to the sino-nasal treatment device and having an L-connector with a first end attached to the house and a second end attached to a tube;   wherein the tube has a first end and a second end that is connected to the second end of the L-connector;   a diaphragm is interposed at the first end of the L-connector connected to the housing wherein the diaphragm has a top side proximate the housing and a bottom side proximate the L-connector; and,   wherein the diaphragm has a first closed position that prevents flow through the L-connector when a first pressure is asserted on the top side of the diaphragm and a second open position that permits flow through the L-connector when a second pressure is asserted on the bottom side of the diaphragm and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.   
     
     
         36 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 35  wherein the first end of the L-connector is connected to the housing substantially opposite to where the housing is adapted to attach to the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         37 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 35  wherein the diaphragm is biased to the first closed position and only moves to the second open position when the second pressure asserted on the bottom side of the diaphragm is greater than the first pressure asserted on the top of the diaphragm. 
     
     
         38 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 35  wherein the first pressure is the weight of water in the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         39 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 35  wherein the second pressure is the pressure of air in the tube. 
     
     
         40 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 39  wherein the second pressure is caused by a user exhaling into the first end of the tube. 
     
     
         41 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 35  wherein the housing is adapted to threadingly connect to the sino-nasal treatment device. 
     
     
         42 . An input apparatus for use with the sino-nasal treatment device of  claim 35  wherein the second end of the tube that is frictionally connected to the second end of the L-connector.