Nasal drip pad

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a nasal drip pad includes selecting an estimation element, selecting an absorbent element, selecting a positioning element, selecting one or more formable members, attaching the one or more formable members to the positioning element, attaching a first end of the positioning element to a first end of the absorbent element at a first attachment point and a second end of the positioning element to a second end of the absorbent element at a second attachment point, and attaching the estimation element to the absorbent element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a nasal drip pad, the method comprising:
 selecting an estimation element;   selecting an absorbent element, wherein
 the absorbent element comprises an absorbent material, and 
 the absorbent element comprises a first end and a second end; 
   selecting a positioning element, wherein
 the positioning element comprises a first end and a second end, and 
 the positioning element comprises one or more straps; 
   selecting one or more formable members;   attaching the one or more formable members to the positioning element;   attaching the first end of the positioning element to the first end of the absorbent element at a first attachment point and the second end of the positioning element to the second end of the absorbent element at a second attachment point, wherein
 the positioning element is configured to position the absorbent element below a nose of a user, such that, when the positioning element is used to position the absorbent element,
 the absorbent element and the face of the user describe a volume therebetween, 
 the volume is maintained by maintaining a shape of the absorbent element, and 
 the shape of the absorbent element is maintained by the one or more formable members; and 
 
   attaching the estimation element to the absorbent element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the absorbent element further comprises a bottom edge,   the bottom edge is between the first end and the second end, and   the nasal drip pad comprises an adhesive material disposed along the bottom edge.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first attachment point comprises a first fastener,   the second attachment point comprises a second fastener,   the first fastener removably attaches the first end of the positioning element and the first end of the absorbent element to one another, and   the second fastener removably attaches the second end of the positioning element and the second end of the absorbent element to one another.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the estimation element comprises a plurality of layers,   the plurality of layers is assembled such that each layer of the plurality of layers is removably attached to another layer of the plurality of layers, and   the estimation element is attached to the absorbent element such that the each layer is removable from the another layer without removing the estimation element from the absorbent element.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining one or more procedure parameters of a sinus surgery procedure to be performed; and   determining one or more patient parameters of a patient on which the sinus surgery procedure is to be performed, wherein
 the selecting the absorbent element comprises
 selecting an absorbent material, 
 
 the absorbent material is selected based, at least in part, on at least one of the one or more procedure parameters or the one or more patient parameters, and 
 the estimation element is selected based, at least in part, on at least one of the one or more procedure parameters and/or the one or more patient parameters. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 the one or more procedure parameters comprises at least one of
 a type of procedure, 
 a scope of the medical procedure, 
 an expected recovery time, or 
 a potential complicating factor. 
   
     
     
         7 . The manufacturing process of  claim 6 , wherein
 the selecting the absorbent material is also based, at least in part, on an absorbency determined by the type of procedure.   
     
     
         8 . The manufacturing process of  claim 5 , wherein
 the one or more patient parameters comprises at least one of
 an age of the patient, 
 a size of the patient, 
 a physical structure of the patient, 
 an age of the patient, 
 a medical condition of the patient, or 
 a sensitivity of the patient. 
   
     
     
         9 . The manufacturing process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 attaching a non-absorbent shield to an exterior surface of the absorbent element, wherein
 the non-absorbent shield is configured to prevent spillage from the nasal drip pad. 
   
     
     
         10 . The manufacturing process of  claim 1 , wherein
 the positioning element comprises an adjuster configured to adjust a length of the positioning element   the first point is proximal to the first end of the absorbent element,   the second point is proximal to the second end of the absorbent element,   the positioning element is configured to position the absorbent element below the nose of the user, such that
 a bottom edge of the interior surface is positioned against a face of the user below the nose of the user, such that the bottom edge maintains contact with the face of the user below the nose of the user, so as to form a seal between the bottom edge and the face of the user, and 
 a top edge of the interior surface is positioned against the nose of the user, and 
   the one or more formable members maintain the shape of the absorbent element by virtue of the one or more formable members comprising
 a first formable member located proximal to the top edge, and fastened between a first upper location proximal to the first end of the absorbent element and a second upper location proximal to the second end of the absorbent element, and 
 a second formable member located proximal to the bottom edge, and fastened at a first lower location proximal to the first end of the absorbent element and a second lower location proximal to the second end of the absorbent element. 
   
     
     
         11 . The manufacturing process of  claim 1 , wherein
 the absorbent element comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface,   the estimation element is coupled to the exterior surface of the absorbent element,   the positioning element is configured to position the absorbent element and the estimation element below the nose in a horizontal position, such that the absorbent element is positioned to receive drainage from the nose,   the estimation element comprises a plurality of markings,   the plurality of markings are graduated in a vertical direction,   each of the plurality of markings indicates a corresponding estimated amount of a plurality of estimated amounts, and   each corresponding estimated amount of the plurality of estimated amounts represents an estimated amount of drainage from the nose of a plurality of estimated amounts of drainage from the nose into the volume.   
     
     
         12 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 11 , wherein
 the plurality of markings provide an estimate of an amount of fluid absorbed by the absorbent element, wherein
 the drainage comprises the fluid absorbed by the absorbent element, 
 a distance between each marking of the plurality of markings and a next marking of the plurality of markings corresponds to an absorbency of a portion of the absorbent material between the each marking and the next marking of the plurality of markings, 
 each marking of the markings corresponds to an estimation element value of a plurality of estimation element values, and 
 each of the plurality of estimation element values corresponds to the absorbency of the portion of the absorbent material between the each marking and a previous marking of the plurality of markings. 
   
     
     
         13 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 12 , wherein
 the absorbent material increases in absorbency from the top edge to the bottom edge by virtue of a thickness of the absorbent material becoming progressively thicker towards the bottom edge.   
     
     
         14 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 12 , wherein
 the portion is one of a plurality of portions,   a thickness of the absorbent element in each portion of the plurality of portions is described by a thickness value,   the estimation element describes an area of a surface of the each portion,   an absorbency of the each portion is described by an absorbency coefficient,   an estimate of an amount of fluid absorbed by the each portion is the area of the each portion multiplied by the thickness value of the each portion multiplied by the absorbency of the each portion, and   the estimate of the amount of fluid absorbed by the absorbent element is a sum of the estimate of the amount of fluid absorbed by the each portion, for each of one or more portions of the plurality of portions that have absorbed the fluid.   
     
     
         15 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 14 , wherein
 the estimated amount of drainage is also based, at least in part, on the amount of fluid absorbed by the absorbent element.   
     
     
         16 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 15 , wherein
 a rate of fluid loss is determined by dividing the estimate of the amount of fluid absorbed by the absorbent element by a time value,   a current estimated amount of drainage is determined based, at least in part, on the rate of fluid loss and the time value,   the current estimated amount of drainage in one of the plurality of estimated amounts of drainage, and   the time value is an amount of time the nasal drip pad has been worn by the user.   
     
     
         17 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 12 , wherein
 a variable amount of material is included in the absorbent element, which results in the absorbent element having a variable thickness, and   a spacing between one of the plurality of markings and a next one of the plurality of markings varies according to the variable thickness.   
     
     
         18 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 11 , wherein
 the estimation element is vertically divided into a plurality of horizontal regions by the markings,   each horizontal region of the plurality of horizontal regions is defined by a marking of the plurality of markings and a next marking of the plurality of markings,   the marking is at a vertically lower position on the estimation element than a vertical position of the next marking,   each horizontal region of the plurality of horizontal regions is designated by a color of the each horizontal region, and   a vertically lowest horizontal region of the plurality of regions is shaded green to indicate a safe level of drainage.   
     
     
         19 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 18 , wherein
 another horizontal region of the plurality of horizontal regions is shaded with a color that indicates an unsafe level of drainage, and   the another horizontal region is at a vertically higher position on the estimation element than a vertical position of the vertically lowest horizontal region.   
     
     
         20 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 10 , wherein
 the one or more straps are configured to be placed around a head of the user such that the shape of the absorbent element is maintained by a positioning of each of the one or more straps around the head of the user.   
     
     
         21 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first point is proximal to a top-right area of the absorbent element,   the second point that is proximal to a top-left area of the absorbent element,   the positioning element is further coupled to the absorbent element at
 a third point that is proximal to a bottom-right area of the absorbent element, and 
 a fourth point that is proximal to a bottom-left area of the absorbent element, and 
   the shape of the absorbent element is further maintained by
 the first formable member being attached between the first point and the second point, and 
 the second formable member being attached between the third point and the fourth point. 
   
     
     
         22 . The nasal drip pad of  claim 10 , wherein
 the one or more straps comprise a plurality of straps   the plurality of straps comprise a first strap and a second strap, wherein
 each of the first strap and the second strap are configured to be placed around a head of the user, and 
 the first strap is attached at a first end of the first strap to a first end of the first formable member and at a second end of the first strap to a second end of the first formable member, and 
 the second strap is attached at a first end of the second strap to a first end of the second formable member and at a second end of the second strap to a second end of the second formable member, and 
 the first strap and the second strap are configured to be positioned such that the shape of the absorbent element is maintained by a position of the first strap and a position of the second strap.