Method and structure for nasal dilator
View Patent ↗A nasal dilator and method of making nasal dilators are provided. The dilator may have a composite base element of at least two regions, the base element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon; the base element further including a spring element which imparts return memory into the base element so that the base element returns towards a planar conformation during use. The spring element has elastic memory effected by differential properties in the at least two regions.
1. A nasal dilator comprising:
a composite base element comprising a first material and a second material;
wherein the first material in the composite base element comprises a heat activated polymeric shrink film, wherein heat activation of the polymeric shrink film occurs at a temperature above ambient temperature, and wherein the heat activated polymeric shrink film shrinks at a greater ratio than the second material upon heat activation;
wherein the differential in shrink ratio between the first and second material induces a spring element within the composite base element which imparts resiliency into the composite base element and provides the composite base element with elastic memory properties towards a planar conformation during use;
wherein the elastic memory is not substantially altered upon exposure to ambient temperature;
the composite base element having an outer surface and an inner surface,
the inner surface of the composite base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon suitable for adhering the nasal dilator to a user's nose; and
wherein the spring element is present in the composite base element prior to the adherence of the nasal dilator to the user's nose.
2. The nasal dilator of claim 1 , wherein the first material of the base element is located on the outer surface of the base element.
3. A nasal dilator comprising:
a. a composite base element comprising at least a first material and a second material, wherein at least one of the materials is a polymeric shrink film which contracts in a disproportionate ratio compared to the other material when exposed to heat, wherein the contraction induces a spring element within the composite base element which imparts resiliency into the composite base element and provides the composite base element with elastic memory properties towards a planar conformation during use;
b. the composite base element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the composite base element having a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed thereon suitable for adhering the nasal dilator to a user's nose;
wherein the spring element is present in the composite base element prior to the adherence of the nasal dilator to the user's nose.
4. The nasal dilator of claim 3 , wherein the heat activation occurs above ambient temperature.
5. The nasal dilator of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a polyester.
6. The nasal dilator of claim 5 , wherein the polyester is a polyethylene terephthalate.
7. The nasal dilator of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a polyester.
8. The nasal dilator of claim 7 , wherein the polyester is a polyethylene terephthalate.
9. The nasal dilator of claim 1 , wherein the first material has a longitudinal length and longitudinal width, wherein, upon heat activation, the first material contracts along its longitudinal length.
10. The nasal dilator of claim 1 , wherein the first material has a longitudinal length and longitudinal width, wherein, upon heat activation, the first material contracts along its longitudinal width.
11. The nasal dilator of claim 3 , wherein the polymeric shrink film comprises a polyester.
12. The nasal dilator of claim 11 , wherein the polyester is polyethylene terephthalate.
13. The nasal dilator of claim 11 , wherein both the first material and the second material comprises a polyester.
14. The nasal dilator of claim 13 , wherein the polyester is polyethylene terephthalate.
15. The nasal dilator of claim 3 , wherein the polymeric shrink film has a longitudinal length and a longitudinal width, wherein, upon heat activation, the polymeric shrink film contracts along its longitudinal length.
16. The nasal dilator of claim 3 , wherein the polymeric shrink film has a longitudinal length and a longitudinal width, wherein, upon heat activation, the polymeric shrink film contracts along its longitudinal width.