3-DIMENSIONAL NASAL FILTER POD

Abstract

A 3-dimensional (3D) nasal pod structure is described having a filter that fits in the nasal cavity to capture particles such as pollen, allergens, pollution particles present in air when breathing through the nose.

Claims

1. A device for preventing the inhalation of airborne particles through a user's nose, said device comprising a porous continuous membrane disposed over a support structure defining a three-dimensional hollow shape configured to be inserted into a user's nostril.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a porous continuous membrane disposed over a support structure defining a three-dimensional hollow shape configured to be inserted into a user's nostril.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane is continuous.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises pores having a diameter of about 1-25 microns.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises pores having a diameter of about 50-500 microns.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises pores having a diameter of about 50-300 nanometers.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises pores having a diameter of about 0.1-5 mm.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the inhaled air comprises particles allergens, dust particles, viruses, pollution particles and/or airborne particles resulting from a fire.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the support structure defines a cylindrical shape.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises natural fibers and/or synthetic fibers, said synthetic fibers comprising at least one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon), polyamide (nylon), carbon fibers, activated carbon, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate (collodion), mixed-cellulose esters (MCE), i.e., a mixture of cellulose nitrate/acetate fibers, polycarbonate, polypropylene (PP), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyurethane (PU) and polyvinylchloride (PVC)

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane has electrostatic properties.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane has antimicrobial properties.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane is fabricated by electrospin blowing, fiber weaving, foam casting, injection molding, compression molding or vacuum forming.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane is produced or replaced by utilizing hydrogel and aqueous gels that have filtering capacity based on ion-exchange properties of the gels.

13. A method for preventing the inhalation of airborne particles through a user's nose comprising; inserting the device of claim 1 into each of a user's nostril.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIGS. 1A and 1B show exemplary perspective views of certain embodiments of a 3-dimensional nasal filter pod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0033] As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the, are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0034] The phrase and/or, as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean either or both of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to A and/or B, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as comprising can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

[0035] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase at least one, in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase at least one refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, at least one of A and B (or, equivalently, at least one of A or B, or, equivalently at least one of A and/or B) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

[0036] When the term about is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below those numerical values. In general, the term about is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 20%, 10%, 5%, or 1%. In certain embodiments, the term about is used to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 10%. In certain embodiments, the term about is used to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 5%. In certain embodiments, the term about is used to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 1%.

[0037] When a range of values is listed herein, it is intended to encompass each value and sub-range within that range. For example, 1-5 ng is intended to encompass 1 ng, 2 ng, 3 ng, 4 ng, 5 ng, 1-2 ng, 1-3 ng, 1-4 ng, 1-5 ng, 2-3 ng, 2-4 ng, 2-5 ng, 3-4 ng, 3-5 ng, and 4-5 ng.

[0038] It will be further understood that the terms comprises, comprising, includes, and/or including, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0039] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0040] FIG. 1A depicts an exemplary perspective view of a 3-dimensional nasal filter pod 8 having a top 1, side 2, bottom entrance 10 and an interior cavity 9. The porous membrane 7 can have a flange 3 that attaches to a circular support base 5. Protrusions 4 at the periphery of the circular support base 5 help to keep the nasal filter pod in place after insertion into the nasal cavity.

[0041] FIG. 1B shows an exemplary perspective view of a 3-dimensional nasal filter pod 8 showing the support structure 6 beneath the porous membrane 7.

[0042] In certain embodiments, attachment of the porous membrane 7 to the support base 5 may include, but is not limited to, press fit, slip fit, adhesive, threading or magnetic attachment.

[0043] In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 can be manufactured with an electro spin blowing manufacturing process to form a flat 2D membrane that can be molded into a 3-dimensional structure.

[0044] In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 can be manufactured by fiber weaving, foam casting, injection molding, compression molding, clamps, double-sided tape, heat-seal, high-frequency welding or vacuum forming.

[0045] In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 comprises natural and/or synthetic fibers. In certain embodiments, the synthetic fibers may comprise, for example, at least one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon), mixed-cellulose esters (MCE), polyamide (nylon), natural fibers, carbon fibers, or activated carbon, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate (collodion), mixed-cellulose esters (MCE, i.e., a mixture of cellulose nitrate/acetate fibers), polycarbonate, polypropylene (PP), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyurethane (PU) and polyvinylchloride (PVC). In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 may comprise chitosan, collagen, polylactic acid (PLA) and/or Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA).

[0046] In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 can include activated carbon conferring electrostatic charge to the membrane.

[0047] In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 can include silver ions and silver nanoparticles to increase the antimicrobial effect of the overall filtration against bacteria and viruses.

[0048] In certain embodiments, the inhaled air comprises allergens, dust particles, viruses, pollution particles such as the ones classified under the particulate matter, pm2.5 denomination, and/or airborne particles resulting of combustion such as the ones resulting from forest fires.

[0049] In certain embodiments of the first or second aspect, the membrane is produced or replaced by utilizing hydrogel and aqueous gels that have filtering capacity based on ion-exchange properties of the gels.

[0050] In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 can have a 3-dimensional (3D) structure, in that it is not limited to a single shape that is cut-out, formed or created as part of or from a two (2) dimensional substrate, such as sheet of paper or a sheet of foam.

[0051] In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 can have a 3-dimensional shape that creates a maximum surface area for air to flow through, thus decreasing the pressure drop between the air pressure at the entrance of the nasal filter 10 and the pressure at the top 1 of the nasal filter pod 8.

[0052] In certain embodiments, the 3-dimensional shape defines a hollow cavity.

[0053] In certain embodiments, the nasal filter pod 8 does not contain a filler material such as a sponge or cotton wool.

[0054] In certain embodiments, the structural integrity of the nasal filter pod 8 can be re-enforced by a support structure 6 on which the porous membrane 7 can be seated or inserted, stuffed, trapped, encapsulated, merged, woven, or other any means of attachment.

[0055] In certain embodiments, methods of attaching the porous membrane 7 to the support structure 6 and/or support 5 include, but are not limited to, gluing, bonding, heat staking, melting, friction welding, vibration welding, sonic welding or insert molding (also referred to as over molding).

[0056] In certain embodiment, the porous membrane 7 has pores with an average diameter of about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20 or 25 microns.

[0057] In certain embodiment, the porous membrane 7 has pores with an average diameter ranging from 50 to 300 nm.

[0058] In certain embodiment, the porous membrane 7 has pores with an average diameter ranging 0.1 to 5 mm.

[0059] In certain embodiment, the porous membrane 7 can have a thickness of about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm.

[0060] In certain embodiments, the porous membrane 7 is continuous, e.g., made from a single piece of material. Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.