Nasal tampon

Claim 2

A self-retaining nasal tampon comprising an elongated flexible monoaxial tube open at one end and closed at its opposite end, said tube containing a single axial passage, a plurality of independently inflatable members surrounding and sealingly attached to said tube, said members being spaced longitudinally along said tube and each said inflatable member being free to expand and form an inflated bag around said tube, passage means communicating the interior of said tube with each of said inflatable members to permit selective inflation of said respective members by fluid introduced into said tube and said respective members via said passage means, and a plurality of sealing means all positioned within said single axial passage of said tube, said sealing means (being respectively located) each having an inner face in communication with one of said passage means and an exterior face located and arranged to permit communication between each of said inner faces and a source of fluid under pressure, to permit inflation of each of said inflatable members independently, and to prevent deflation of said inflatable members after inflation thereof.

Claim 3

A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 1, a first One of said inflatable members being disposed adjacent and around said closed outer end of said flexible tube, and a second one of said inflatable members being disposed adjacent and around said inner open end of said tube.

Claim 4

A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 2, and including a third one of said inflatable members disposed around said flexible tube intermediate the ends thereof, and including three separate passage means each communicating with a separate one of said three inflatable members.

Claim 5

A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 2, including an insert disposed in said tube adjacent the open end thereof and closing said open end of said tube, a plurality of channels in said insert, one of said channels communicating with said outer end of said tube and with said first inflatable member, and another of said channels communicating with said second inflatable member, said sealing means comprising a soft rubber plug, said plug being capable of being punctured and being resealable, one of said plugs positioned in said one of said channels and another of said plugs positioned in another of said channels.

Claim 6

A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 3, including plug insert disposed in said tube adjacent the open end thereof and sealing said open end of said tube, three separate channels in said insert, a first one of said channels communicating with said outer end of said tube and with said first inflatable member via a first one of said passage means in said tube, a second one of said channels communicating with said second inflatable member via a second one of said passage means in said tube, and a third one of said channels communicating with said third inflatable member via a third one of said passage means in said tube, said sealing means comprising a soft rubber plug, said plug being capable of being punctured and being resealable, one of said plugs positioned in said first channel, a second plug positioned in said second channel and a third plug positioned in said third channel, said first, second and third plugs each sealing communication from the atmosphere outside said tube, with said first, second and third inflatable members, respectively.

Claim 7

A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 1, said plurality of sealing means being spaced axially from each other along said axial passage of said tube, said sealing means each being capable of being selectively punctured by a needle without removal of said needle from said tube.

Claim 8

A self-retaining nasal tampon comprising an elongated flexible tube open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a plurality of independently inflatable members surrounding and sealingly attached to said tube, said members being spaced longitudinally along said tube and each said inflatable member being free to expand and from an inflated bag around said tube, a first one of said inflatable members being disposed adjacent and around said closed outer end of said flexible tube, and a second one of said inflatable members being disposed adjacent and around said inner open end of said tube, passage means communicating the interior of said tube with each of said inflatable members to permit selective inflation of said respective members by fluid introduced into said tube and said respective members via said passage means, and a plurality of sealing means positioned within said tube, said sealing means being respectively located to permit inflation of each of said inflatable members independently, and to prevent deflation of said inflatable members after inflation thereof, said sealing means each comprising a soft rubber plug, said plug being capable of being punctured and being resealable, a first one of said plugs positioned in said tube to seal the outer portion of said tube between said closed end of said tube and said plug, said sealed outer end of said tube communicating with said first inflatable member via a first one of said passage means, a second one of said plugs positioned in said tube and spaced from said first plug, said second plug disposed between said first plug and said open end of said tube and forming another sealed space in said tube between said first and second plugs, said last-mentioned sealed space communicating with said second inflatable member via a second one of said passage means.

Claim 9

A self-retaining nasal tampon comprising an elongated flexible tube open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a plurality of independently inflatable members surrounding and sealingly attached to said tube, said members being spaced longitudinally along said tube and each said inflatable member being free to expand and from an inflated bag around said tube, a first one of said inflatable members being disposed adjacent and around said closed outer end of said flexible tube, and a second one of said inflatable members being disposed adjacent and around said inner open end of said tube, passage means communicating the interior of said tube with each of said inflatable members to permit selective inflation of said respective members by fluid introduced into said tube and said respective members via said passage means, and a plurality of sealing means positioned within said tube, said sealing means being respectively located to permit inflation of each of said inflatable members independently, and to prevent deflation of said inflatable members after inflation thereof, said sealing means each comprising a soft rubber plug, said plug being capable of being punctured and being resealable, a first one of said plugs positioned in said tube to seal the outer portion of said tube between said closed end of said tube and said plug, said sealed outer end of said tube communicating with said first inflatable member via a first one of said passage means, a second one of said plugs positioned in said tube and spaced from said first plug, said second plug disposed between said first plug and said open end of said tube and forming another sealed space in said tube between said first and second plugs, said last-mentioned sealed space communicating with said second inflatable member via a second one of said passage means.

Claim 10

A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 7, including a sleeve positioned in the inner end portion of said tube adjacent said open end thereof, said first and second plugs positioned in said sleeve, said sleeve including a third passage means, said third passage means registering with said second passage means in said tube.

Claim 11

A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 7, including a third one of said inflatable members disposed around said flexible tube intermediate the ends thereof, three separate passage means each communicating the interior of said tube with a separate one of said three inflatable members, three said sealing means, each comprising a soft rubber plug, said plug being capable of being punctured and being resealable, a first one of said plugs positioned in said tube to seal the outer portion of said tube between said closed end of said tube and said first plug, said sealed outer end of said tube communicating with said first inflatable member via a first one of said passage means, a second one of said plugs positioned in said tube and spaced from said first plug, said second plug disposed adjacent said open end of said tube, and a third one of said plugs positioned in said tube intermediate said first and second plugs and forming a second sealed space between said second and third plugs and a third sealed space between said first and third plugs, said second sealed space communicating with said second inflatable member via a second one of said passage means, and said third sealed space communicating with said third inflatable member via a third one of said passage means. 10, A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 9, each of said three passage means comprising a plurality of peripheral apertures in said tube disposed in a plane positioned substantially normal to the axis of said tube.

Claim 12

A self-retaining nasal tampon as defined in claim 10, including a sleeve positioned in the inner end portion of said tube adjacent said open end thereof, said three plugs positioned in said sleeve, said sleeve including a fourth passage means registering with said second passage means in said tube, and a fifth passage means registering with said third passage means in said tube, each of said passage means in said sleeve comprising a plurality of peripheral apertures in said sleeve disposed in a plane positioned substantially normal to the axis of said sleeve.