A Johns Hopkins student team has devised a simple, discreet device to open obstructed nostrils, a common problem that can cause snoring and other sleep disruptions, as well as exercising difficulties.

The device is inserted to dilate an obstructed nostril.
(Credit: Johns Hopkins University)

The biomedical engineering students learned that one out of every eight people have trouble breathing through their nose due to an obstruction in their nostrils. Some people opt for reconstructive surgery to open their nasal passages, but about a fifth of these patients say this only worsened the condition. Other people used over-the counter adhesive strips and other dilation products to open their airways. But the students say many users complain that these options are ineffective, uncomfortable and too unsightly to wear in public.

The team sought to devise a better tool to address the restricted breathing problem. They designed and began testing a nasal dilator that could open obstructed nostrils while resting unseen within the nose. They also fabricated a tool to safely and easily insert and remove the dilator. The team is continuing to refine its product and hopes to begin testing their device in nasal obstruction patients in the near future.

Source 

Topics:
Anatomy Medical Medical equipment and supplies Medical, health and wellness Medical, health, and wellness Respiratory system

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    This article first appeared in the November, 2017 issue of Medical Design Briefs Magazine (Vol. 7 No. 11).

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