Nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit
A nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit is provided for stopping posterior epistaxis (nosebleed) in a quick and adjustable manner. The unit can be easily introduced into the bleeding nasal passage of a patient by a health care provider. Once inserted in the patient's nasal passage, the unit operates through inflation of a posterior balloon via a catheter, acting to stop the posterior bleed. In some embodiments, a second (anterior) balloon covers the inside of the nasal passage and is inflated subsequent to the inflation of the posterior balloon. Excess blood coming out of the nasal passage in the front is stopped by an absorbable sponge. If the packing is loose and blood escapes from the back of the nasal passage, a nut is utilized to squeeze the catheter against the nostril, hence more tightly pulling the posterior balloon to stop the blood.
1. A nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit comprising:
a catheter core body comprising an anterior portion and a posterior portion;
a luer lock connected to the catheter core body via a threaded portion attached to an anterior-most portion of the catheter core body;
an inflation port connected to an anterior end of the luer lock;
a posterior balloon surrounding at least a portion of the posterior portion of the catheter core body;
an anterior balloon surrounding at least a portion of the anterior portion of the catheter core body;
an expandable sponge positioned around the anterior-most portion of the catheter core body;
a washer positioned and moveable adjacent and anterior to the sponge on the threaded portion, wherein the washer is sized larger than a nostril of a patient, and is of a substantially round shape with a curved portion at a bottom portion configured to come into contact with the patient; and
an adjustable nut positioned and moveable adjacent and anterior to the washer on the threaded portion;
wherein the catheter core body is insertable into a nasal passage of the patient;
wherein a passageway extends from the inflation port, through the leer lock, through the threaded portion, and through the catheter core body, allowing for a fluid to be introduced through the inflation port and travel through the passageway, exiting at an exit hole located in the posterior portion of the catheter core body to inflate first the posterior balloon and then flow from the posterior balloon into the anterior balloon to inflate the anterior balloon, and
wherein movement of the adjustable nut in a posterior direction along the threaded portion causes corresponding movement of the washer and compression of the expandable sponge in the posterior direction.
2. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 1 , wherein the posterior balloon is of a thinner thickness than the anterior balloon, providing for the posterior balloon to inflate prior to the anterior balloon, with both balloons being inflated by way of fluid which has exited the passageway through the exit hole.
3. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 1 , wherein the expandable sponge comprises a central hole and a hemi-domed shape with its base facing anteriorly; wherein the expandable sponge is configured to conform to an inside portion of a nostril of the patient when the catheter core body is inserted into the nasal passage of the patient.
4. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 3 , wherein the base of the expandable sponge which faces anteriorly is a flat surface which contacts the washer.
5. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 1 , wherein the washer comprises a central hole and a soft material.
6. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 5 , wherein the central hole of the washer removably receives the catheter core body such that the catheter core body is configured to move back and forth with respect to the washer.
7. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable nut is configured to be pushed over the threaded portion to compress the sponge in the posterior direction and apply pressure thereto.
8. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 7 , wherein the adjustable nut is further configured to decrease pressure on the sponge.
9. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable nut is one of a rotating nut or a speed nut.
10. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 1 , wherein the exit hole fluidly connects the passageway to the posterior balloon and the anterior balloon.
11. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 10 , wherein an interior space of the posterior balloon is directly connected to an interior space of the anterior balloon to form a continuous structure which is configured to receive fluid which has exited the exit hole.
12. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 1 , wherein the washer is configured to wedge against a nostril of the patient as a result of the posterior movement of the washer that compresses the expandable sponge.
13. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 12 , wherein the posterior balloon is configured to seal a nasal choana of the patient due at least in part to the posterior movement of the washer.
14. A nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit, comprising:
a catheter core body comprising an anterior portion and a posterior portion:
a luer lock connected to the catheter core body via a threaded portion attached to an anterior-most portion of the catheter core body;
an inflation port connected at an anterior end of the luer lock;
a posterior balloon surrounding at least a portion of the posterior portion of the catheter core body;
an expandable sponge surrounding at least a portion of the anterior portion of the catheter core body, the expandable sponge including a central hole;
a washer positioned and moveable adjacent and anterior to the expandable sponge on the threaded portion, wherein the washer is sized larger than a nostril of a patient, and is of a substantially round shape with a curved portion at a bottom portion configured to come into contact with the patient; and
an adjustable nut positioned and moveable adjacent and anterior to the washer on the threaded portion;
wherein the catheter core body is insertable into a nasal passage of the patient;
wherein a passageway extends from the inflation port, through the luer lock, through the threaded portion, and through the catheter core body, allowing for a fluid to be introduced through the inflation port and travel through the passageway, exiting at an exit hole located in the posterior portion of the catheter core body to inflate the posterior balloon;
wherein the central hole of the expandable sponge removably receives the catheter core body such that the catheter core body is configured to move back and forth with respect to the expandable sponge, and
wherein movement of the adjustable nut in a posterior direction along the threaded portion causes corresponding movement of the washer and compression of the expandable sponge in the posterior direction.
15. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 14 , wherein the expandable sponge is oval shaped, tapering at its ends and expanding anteriorly into a hemi-dome shape at the anterior-most portion of the catheter core body to conform to the inside of a nostril of the patient when the catheter core body is inserted into the nasal passage of the patient.
16. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 15 , wherein the oval shaped portion and the hemi-domed shaped portion of the expandable sponge comprise a single unit.
17. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 8 , wherein the expandable sponge surrounds a majority portion of the anterior portion of the catheter core body.
18. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 14 , wherein the washer comprises a central hole and a soft material.
19. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable nut is configured to be pushed over the threaded portion to compress the sponge in the posterior direction and apply pressure thereto.
20. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 19 , wherein the adjustable nut is further configured to decrease pressure on the sponge.
21. The nasal balloon catheter and sponge unit of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable nut is one of a rotating nut or a speed nut.