Multi-stage nasal filter and method of tuning the filter to a predetermined most penetrating particle size
View Patent ↗Respiratory devices and methods for their manufacture and use are disclosed. The device features a resiliently deformable element configured to form a perimeter seal with the inner nostril wall and to swab the distal portion of the internal nostril region with a disinfectant during device installation. A first filter stage includes a first filter layer characterized by first geometric convolutions and a first MPPS1 value; and a second filter stage includes a second filter layer characterized by second geometric convolutions and a second MPPS2 value.
1. A method of installing a nasal filter device into a nostril, where the device includes a resiliently deformable component and first filter stage, the method comprising:
manually opening a sealed envelope containing the device in a liquid antiseptic medium;
removing the device from the package;
inserting the device into a distal region of the nostril; and
urging the device from the distal region upwardly into the nostril while simultaneously swabbing the distal region with liquid antiseptic medium present on the perimeter of the deformable component;
wherein the first filter stage includes a first layer comprising a plurality of folded geometric features forming concave, three dimensional finger-like geometric convolutions.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first filter layer is characterized by a most penetrating particle size (MPPS1) value in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 micrometers (um).
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first filter layer is characterized by a most penetrating particle size (MPPS1) value of about 0.125 micrometers (um).
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid medium comprises at least one of an antiseptic and a disinfectant, and wherein swabbing comprises rotating the deformable component against the distal region of the nostril while urging the device upwardly.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first filter layer comprises electrostatic material.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first filter layer comprises an electrospun material.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the nostril is characterized by a cross-sectional area of about K (inches); and
the convolutions are configured to impart an effective cross-sectional surface area to the first filter layer of at least 2k.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
leaving the device within the nostril for a period of time in the range of one to six hours; and
thereafter removing the device from the nostril.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first filter layer is further characterized by two different values MPPS1 and MPPS1.2.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a second filter stage having a second filter layer is characterized by a second MPPS2 value.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second filter layer comprises electrospun fibers having diameters in the submicron range.