Nasal inhalation device

0001The present invention relates to an inhalation device of nasally substances with activity, including anti-stress, anti allergic, or capable promote respiration

0002An object of the invention to provide a device which can be hung on a part of the nose, so as to restore the form of volatile emanations localized in the vicinity of nostrils, one or more assets through inhalable nasal.

0003Inhalation devices have been described in patents FR-A 945 897, GB-A-520 491 or US-A-3788296 CH-A-492 458. In all these devices, the medium containing assets is still placed inside the nostrils, or contact the nasal mucosa, either directly opposite the nostrils. Some of these devices are intended to be used on animals. One of the problems resulting from the use of these devices is that the fumes directed directly inside the nostrils, or directly opposite the nostrils, can attack the nasal mucosa, and inconveniencing the person who door. The problem is particularly sensitive when the device contains aromatic substances whose scent can be very powerful. In addition, may be problems of allergic or inflammatory reactions due to the presence of these assets, too close to the nasal mucosa.

0004This is in particular an object of the invention to provide a device reduced size, which can be worn substantially causing no gene for the wearer, particularly at night, in the extended position.

0005It is another object of the invention to provide a device capable to allow a "Aromatherapy" using substances, in particular oil-based core, containing in particular camphor, eucalyptus, thyme, lavender, lily of the valley, may have an anti-stress, anti allergic, a Action on breathing, or any other action to improve the comfort of the wearer.

0006It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device forming a Rechargeable structure.

0007It is yet another object of the invention to provide a simple device and economical to produce, and allowing a controlled flow of inhaled fumes.

0008Other objects of the invention will appear in detail in the description following.

0009According to the invention, these objects are achieved by an inhalation device formed from at least one support containing a product comprising at least one active, said support being able to restore the form of emanations, a volatile phase said (or said) active (s), said device comprising means for fastening the device at least one point in the vicinity of nostrils so as to permit nasal inhalation, said fumes, the support and the attachment means being arranged so that said fumes are not directed directly to the contact or opposite the nostrils, characterized in that it comprises means for varying the flow rate of the inhalations returned by the support.

0010Thus, a device that automatically takes up the nose, which allows the user to simultaneously engage in other activities. The device is a remarkable comfort. No part of the support capable of restoring directly fumes, is disposed inside the nostrils the user. In practice, the support is disposed close enough to nostrils so that the nasal breathing may, by its heat, promote disengagement of said fumes. However, the fumes are not direct contact of the nostrils or nasal mucosa, or directed directly opposite the nostrils so as not to inconvenience the user. Good results have been obtained with the "émanatrice" of the localized carrier about 1 to 2 cm of the nostrils. This is particularly advantageous when the support contains essential oils, the perfume is relatively aggressive, or other assets, including contact with the nasal mucosa or nostrils could cause allergic or inflammatory reactions.

0011For the purposes of the present invention, the term "active" defines a compound having either therapeutic activity (stress, allergy, breathing, sleep) or action comfort (including through scents or perfumes).

0012As mentioned previously, the support is maintained in the vicinity of nostrils, particularly above or below, so that the hot blow from the breathing, besides the normal temperature of the person's body which carries it, allows to promote harmful emissions which are then inhaled nasally. Inhalation is permanent, and once the device is in place on the nose, requires no special gesture.

0013Advantageously, said hooking means are formed by at least one a body portion adapted to receive said support. This version offers many opportunities in terms of comfort, accept charge the device, reuse of the device, etc.

0014According to an advantageous embodiment, the device comprises two portions arms forming a clamp, a first end is integral with the device, a second end being free, said second ends being located in opposite one another and delimiting a space able to permit attachment of the device on the nasal bridge, on the nasal cartilage, or on one or the other of side walls delimiting the nostrils, the said arm portions being adapted to deviate elastically during attachment of the device. The clamp is of preferably formed by a portion of the body inside which is mounted the support. Profile, and the surfaces of the parts of the clamp in the engaged contact, are selected to provide maximum comfort to the user.

0015According to an advantageous embodiment, the device has substantially opposite a median point of the space delimited by said second ends, a notch capable of imparting more elasticity to said arm portions. We This increases the strength of the device on the nose, ease of installation and removal the device, and the comfort it provides.

0016Preferably, said body forms a recess able to receive said support, said body being made of a waterproof material to said fumes, and comprising at least one opening suitable for passing said fumes. Thus, it can locate very precisely fumes, so as not to interfere the user. especially avoids fumes being inhaled directly from the support, which, especially with substances strongly aromatic, can be particularly uncomfortable.

0017The carrier can be detachably mounted in the recess so as to form a refillable structure. The body can thus be reusable many times, changing only the cartridge formed by the support. We may especially commercialize the device in the form of a kit comprising a refill body, and a plurality of refills containing e.g. several scents at the same or different actions. Advantageously, in this assumption, said body is made of a washable material.

0018By way of indication, the body is made of a material selected from polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyvinyl chlorides, elastomers natural, synthetic or thermoplastic.

0019In a particular embodiment, the device forms a structure substantially flat having two main faces and an edge, said opening being formed in one and / or the other of said main faces and / or in the slice. Several openings can be provided so as to allow such a greater diffusion of the product, or a satisfactory diffusion, regardless of the attachment position of the device on the nose, one of these openings can be used specifically for the insertion of a charging. Alternatively, the device comprises two superposed supports, one carriers diffusing through a first opening located on a first face of the device, the other diffusing through a second opening disposed on the other face of the device. One can thus produce "cocktails" fumes in combined actions or scents.

0020According to an advantageous embodiment, the position of the support in the recess is adjustable so as to modify the output rate of said fumes. As For example, the wafer has an opening to allow insertion variable depth of the support in the recess.

0021According to a variant, the support is in a fixed position in the recess, the size of the least one opening being variable so as to change the output rate said fumes. For example, the support forms a structure of comprising a bottom and a rotating cover mounted on the bottom, the position angular background with respect to determining cover the size of an opening formed either on the edge or on at least one of the main faces of the device.

0022According to another variant, the carrier comprises an element forming a structure defining an enclosed volume adapted to contain the product, said element being obtained by blowing a material permeable to said fumes. As For example, said material is selected from low density polyethylenes, flexible polyvinyl chlorides, copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA), etc. Advantageously, after blowing, the volume is closed at a localized area using gripping means of the device.

0023Advantageously, the support consists of a porous material capable of absorbing the product in depth.

0024The material may be saturated with product, by saturation under vacuum, by inflating, by pressure, or by capillarity, and may be selected from NBR foams (Natural butadiene rubber), SBR (synthetic butadiene rubber) foams of elastomer, in particular of polyether block amide, polyurethane, or PEBAX®, felt, wool, cellulose, wood, terracotta, plaster, ceramics, etc ..

0025The support may also consist of a matrix of a material selected from silicones, latex, polyurethanes, gums, etc ..

0026According to some embodiments, at least one side of the support is covered with a sheet of a material chosen from polyethylenes, felt, etc .. In this configuration, at least one sheet may be impervious said emanations, and be strippable, so as to allow the passage of emanations through the corresponding face of the support.

0027As an indication, the device forms a substantially flat structure and present a thickness between 0.5 mm and 10 mm thickness, preferably between 1 mm and 8 mm and more preferably between 1.5 mm and 5 mm. The support may be consisting of a cut or molded part.

0028For example, said product contains an aromatic substance having a activity or therapeutic comfort, including anti-stress and anti-allergic, or promoting sleeping or breathing.

0029the product can be selected from essential oils, particularly based on camphor, eucalyptus, lavender, thyme, or thrush.

0030The invention consists, apart from the provisions disclosed above, in a number of other provisions which will be explained below, about of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments described with reference to Figures accompanying drawings wherein: <ul><li>Figure 1A shows a inhalation device;</li><li>1B illustrates a variant of Figure 1A;</li><li>2 illustrates a user gripping the device;</li><li>3A, 3B, and 6 show three variants of the method of embodiment of the device according to the invention;</li><li>4 illustrates a second variant of Figure 1A; and</li><li>5A-5B illustrate a sectional view of two embodiments a support used in the device according to the present invention.</li></ul>

0031Examples corresponding to Figures 1A, B, 2 and 4 do not form part of the present invention.

00321A and 1B illustrate an inhalation device. The device 1 forms a structure substantially flat, consists of a support 2, obtained cutting or molding. The carrier forms a substantially closed loop having two arms 3, 4, of which the free ends 5, 6 are located opposite one another and serve to for fastening the device on the nose 14. The portion of the support forming the arms hooking 3, 4, is disposed within a thermoformed shell 20 made of a waterproof material to fumes, so that when the device is mounted on the nose as shown in Figure 2 the fumes are not directed directly facing or in contact nostrils. Moreover, the support 2 is not disposed directly within the nostrils, and does not directly affect the nasal mucosa.

0033The support 2 consists of an elastically deformable material, so as to allow assembly of the device, as illustrated in Figure 2, ie by hooking on the central cartilage between the two nostrils. Alternately, the support may be mounted by hooking onto the side wall of either nostrils. During assembly, the free ends 5, 6 of the arms 3, 4, diverge elastically and return by spring return in the hooking position. The profile the free ends of arms 3, 4 is selected so as to provide a maximum comfort during use. In practice, even a very elastic low enough.

0034The device is made of a porous material able to absorb the product depth. Said material can be saturated with product, by saturation under vacuum, by inflation, by pressure, or by capillarity. For example, the material is chosen from NBR foam (natural butadiene rubber), SBR (synthetic butadiene rubber), the elastomer foams, in particular of polyether block amide, polyurethane, or PEBAX®.

0035The elasticity may result from the structure of the thermoformed shell 20, the material forming the support 2, or result from the elasticity of layers or sheets covering the two faces of the support 2. For example, in Figure 5A, the support 2 is covered on each of its faces 7, 8, sheet 10, 11 a material such as a polyethylene or a rubber, or felt. Furthermore elasticity they may confer on the support structure, such sheets 10, 11, when sealed to the product contained in the support 2, allow limit the diffusion of the product only by the edge of the support 9, which can be desirable for certain highly aromatic products, so as to not bother the user. Furthermore, these sheets facilitates handling of Support soaked liquid product. In this configuration, in addition to materials mentioned above, other materials can be used to realize the medium containing the substance to be inhaled. For example, one may use a silicone matrix. The matrix may be stiffened by including a frame, in particular in cotton.

0036In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5B, each of the faces 7, 8, the support 2 is covered with a peelable polyethylene sheet 12, 13. The leaves 12, 13 are removed before the first use. Alternatively, both sheets are removed after a certain period of use, the product originally broadcast by the slice. The leaves are removed prior to insertion in the shell 20 simultaneously, or one in first and then the other after a further a certain period of use, when the broadcast via the edge 9, followed by the first face, becomes insufficient.

0037In Figure 1B, the support 2 has substantially opposite a median point of the space delimited by said second ends available 5, 6, a notch 15 adapted to give more elasticity to said portions arms 3, 4.

0038In Figure 4, the support 2 is formed of a member 16 defining an enclosed volume, obtained in particular by blowing, and containing in liquid form, the substance to be inhaled. After filling, the element 16 is closed at a zone 17 located opposite the free end 5.6 of the arms 3, 4, in particular by high frequency welding. The arms 3, 4 are each arranged to within a thermoformed portion 20 made of a tight material fumes, so as to avoid any emanation directly opposite the nostrils. In the same way as for Figures 1A and 1B, the bonding is causing, during assembly of the device, a slight spacing of the arms 3, 4, which arms returned by elastic return initial position, so as to achieve attachment of the device is on the edge nasal, or on the central cartilage defining the two nostrils, or on one of the side edges of the one and / or the other of the nostrils. Advantageously, the area is 17 gripping means office for the device 1. The material used for realize the element 16 is chosen from materials permeable to the volatile phase the product contained in the element 16. By way of example, a polyethylene, a soft polyvinyl chloride, or a copolymer of ethylene and acetate vinyl acetate (EVA). Before use, the surface of the element 16 may be covered with a waterproof adhesive element to said volatile phase.

0039In the embodiment of Figure 3A, the support is contained within a body 20 made of a sealing material to the volatile product phase to inhale. For example, using a washable material, such as polypropylene. In this embodiment, the body 20 comprises two parts 21, 22. The first portion 21 is constituted mainly of the arms 3, 4, for the attachment of the device 1 on the nose, identically to other modes of production. The second part 22 mounted for example by snap on first 21, forms a housing made of a bottom 23 and a 24 th Cover is mounted to rotate freely on the bottom, and inside which is arranged a like medium of those discussed with reference to the preceding figures. The housing has two main faces 25, 26 and $ 27. The cover 24 defines with the bottom 23, an opening 28 on the wafer 27, facing away from the nostrils, and whose width varies depending on the angular position of the bottom on the lid, said opening 28 being fully closed in the storage position. It thus plays on the output rate of volatile fumes. Such a device may be in Furthermore, a rechargeable structure by mounting the lid 24 removably from the bottom 23. The support contained within the housing, can be made of a material which, in addition to those already mentioned with reference to Figures 1A, 1B, 5A, 5B, may be selected from wood, felt, wool, cellulose, clay, plaster, ceramic, etc ..

0040In the embodiment of Figure 3B, the device comprises a body 20 consists of two parts 21, 22, formed in one piece. Part 21 essentially comprises the attachment arms 3, 4. The second part 22 forms a recess 30 having two main faces 25, 26 and a wafer 27. The slice, has, opposite the free end 5, 6 of the arms 3, 4, an opening 31 for insertion of a support 2, of the type described with reference the preceding figures, with the difference that it is formed of a bi-layer structure 34, 35, each containing an active or a different scent. Both layers can be mounted one on the other by gluing, or be free, thus defining two separate media. Each of the faces 25, 26 has a opening 32, 33, can before the first use, be closed by a peelable occlusive film. In use, after inserting the support 2 in the recess 30, the user removes one and / or other films occlusive so as to allow diffusion through the one and / or other openings 32, 33, so as to inhale either active or scents, a cocktail or two. Thus, the diffusion takes place either through the opening 31 facing away from the nostrils, or through one and / or the other of openings 32, 33 oriented perpendicularly to the nostrils when the device hangs in the manner shown in Figure 2. Again, no emanation is not directed directly opposite the nostrils.

0041In the embodiment of Figure 6, the recess 30 has a single opening 31 of the wafer 27, of width substantially identical to the width of carrier, so as to allow forcible insertion of the support through said opening. In use, the user presses more or less support 2 within the recess 30 so as to play on the output rate fumes, the latter being even lower that the support is pressed inside the recess 30. In the position of the support illustrated in solid lines, the diffusion of the product is lower than in the position illustrated in phantom interrupted. Again, fumes are not directed directly against the nostrils.

0042In the foregoing detailed description, it was refers to modes of preferred embodiment of the invention. It is obvious that variations may be there made without departing from the invention as hereinafter claimed.