US3848607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Therapeutic apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-08
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of congestion and infection in the sinuses and surrounding areas of the nose, mouth and eyes is formed from a heat applicator that can be held against the hard palate of the mouth to transfer dry heat through the palate and into the affected area of the head. The apparatus is provided with a heater which heats a fluid within a housing and a pump which circulates the heated fluid through the applicator held manually in the mouth. The applicator includes a ducted handle which is connected by a flexible tubing to the pump in the housing to receive heated fluid and a hollow, pliable pillow through which the heated fluid is circulated. The pliable pillow held in the mouth conforms to the interior shape of the mouth, especially the hard palate, and allows the heat from the circulating fluid to be transferred into the head to bring relief from the congestion and infection in the affected area.
Inventors
- 👤 M Clair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/12; A61F7/123; A61F2007/0001; A61F2007/0002; A61F2007/0017; A61F2007/0054; A61H; A61H13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
Therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of congestion, infection and similar conditions in the mouth, nasal passages, sinuses and regions of the head surrounding the mouth comprising: a base having a fluid chamber for receiving and storing a fluid; pumping means connected with the base and communicating with the fluid chamber for pumping the fluid received by the chamber; heating means to heat the fluid pumped from the chamber in the base by the pumping means; flexible fluid conduit means connected at one end with the base to receive the fluid pumped from the chamber and having another end provided with two fluid passageways; and a hand-held applicator connected to the other end of the flexible fluid conduit means to permit the applicator to be manually manipulated remotely of the base, the applicator including a relatively rigid, elongated handle, a hollow pillow formed from a fluid impervious material and coupled directly to one end of the elongated handle for support within the mouth compressed against and conformed to the hard palate and rigid backing means extending between the one end of the handle and the hollow pillow, the hollow pillow also being connected to the other end of the flexible fluid conduit means with the two fluid passageways communicating with the interior of the pillow to permit the pumped and heated fluid to be circulated in and out of the pillOw, the pillow being of a bulbous configuration suitable for insertion in the mouth and having a pliable surface portion extending at least from one lateral side of the pillow over the upper part of the pillow pressed against the palate to the other lateral side, the pliable surface portion being smooth to permit efficient transfer of dry heat through the pillow material into the hard palate from the fluid circulated through the interior of the pillow, the rigid backing means having a concave contour, diverging from the axis of the handle at the one end and extending under the pillow to provide support for the pillow along the full periphery of the area of contact between the pliable surface and the palate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
Therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of congestion, infection and similar conditions in the mouth, nasal passages, sinuses and regions of the head surrounding the mouth comprising: a base having a fluid chamber for receiving and storing a fluid; pumping means connected with the base and communicating with the fluid chamber for pumping the fluid received by the chamber; heating means to heat the fluid pumped from the chamber in the base by the pumping means; flexible fluid conduit means connected at one end with the base to receive the fluid pumped from the chamber and having another end provided with two fluid passageways; and a hand-held applicator connected to the other end of the flexible fluid conduit means to permit the applicator to be manually manipulated remotely of the base, the applicator including a relatively rigid, elongated handle, a hollow pillow formed from a fluid impervious material and coupled directly to one end of the elongated handle for support within the mouth compressed against and conformed to the hard palate and rigid backing means extending between the one end of the handle and the hollow pillow, the hollow pillow also being connected to the other end of the flexible fluid conduit means with the two fluid passageways communicating with the interior of the pillow to permit the pumped and heated fluid to be circulated in and out of the pillOw, the pillow being of a bulbous configuration suitable for insertion in the mouth and having a pliable surface portion extending at least from one lateral side of the pillow over the upper part of the pillow pressed against the palate to the other lateral side, the pliable surface portion being smooth to permit efficient transfer of dry heat through the pillow material into the hard palate from the fluid circulated through the interior of the pillow, the rigid backing means having a concave contour, diverging from the axis of the handle at the one end and extending under the pillow to provide support for the pillow along the full periphery of the area of contact between the pliable surface and the palate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A therapeutic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the fluid chamber in the base, the pumping means and the hollow pillow are interconnected in a closed fluid circuit by the flexible fluid conduit means whereby the heated fluid may be circulated between the pillow and the base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A therapeutic apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the pumping means comprises a pump having an inlet port through which the fluid in the chamber is ingested and a discharge port through which the fluid is expelled; and the flexible fluid conduit means includes two fluid passageways, one passageway extending from the discharge port Of the pumping means to the interior of the hollow pillow and the other passageway extending from the hollow pillow to the fluid chamber in the base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A therapeutic apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the two fluid passageways of the flexible fluid conduit means are coaxial between the base and the pillow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of congestion and infection as defined in claim 1 wherein the heating means comprises a manually adjustable heater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A therapeutic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the one end of the handle of the applicator includes a releasable coupling connecting the pillow directly to the handle for removal and installation of the pillow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A therapeutic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit means extends from the base through the elongated handle to the hollow pillow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A therapeutic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the pumping means includes a fluid pump providing a pulsating flow of fluid for the hollow pillow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
A therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of afflicted regions of the body surrounding a natural body opening comprised of: an elongated and rigid positioning handle having a distal end and a proximal end and a passageway extending between the ends; a hollow, pliable pillow connected directly to the distal end of the handle for support in a position within the body opening in contact with the afflicted region, the pillow having a bulbous configuration and being formed from a fluid impervious material having a smooth, pliable, surface portion; rigid supporting means departing at an angle to the handle at the distal end and having a contoured configuration matching the bulbous configuration of the pillow to provide support for the pillow against the palate; and flexible fluid conduit means leading from the hollow, pliable pillow at the distal end of the handle through the passageway in the handle and the proximal end for circulating a treatment fluid through the pillow and adjacent the afflicated region without direct contact of the fluid and the body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
A therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of afflicted regions of the body surrounding a natural body opening comprised of: an elongated and rigid positioning handle having a distal end and a proximal end and a passageway extending between the ends; a hollow, pliable pillow connected directly to the distal end of the handle for support in a position within the body opening in contact with the afflicted region, the pillow having a bulbous configuration and being formed from a fluid impervious material having a smooth, pliable, surface portion; rigid supporting means departing at an angle to the handle at the distal end and having a contoured configuration matching the bulbous configuration of the pillow to provide support for the pillow against the palate; and flexible fluid conduit means leading from the hollow, pliable pillow at the distal end of the handle through the passageway in the handle and the proximal end for circulating a treatment fluid through the pillow and adjacent the afflicated region without direct contact of the fluid and the body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
203 words
A therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of congestion, infection and similar conditions in afflicted regions of the body surrounding a natural body opening such as the nasal passages, sinuses and regions of head adjacent the mouth comprised of: an elongated and rigid positioning handle having a distal end and a proximal end; and a hollow bulbous pillow connected directly to the distal end of the handle for insertion through the natural opening and for positioning in the body adjacent the afflicted region and formed from a fluid impervious material, the pillow having a pliable, upper surface portion and a rigid lower surface portion integrally connected in a bulbous configuration; the pliable upper surface portion extending from one lateral side of the pillow over the upper part of the pillow to the opposite lateral side and being smooth and sufficiently pliable to conform to the body shape within the opening and to permit efficient transfer to heat through the pillow to the body; the rigid, lower portion extending under the lower part of the pillow and having a rigidity sufficient to hold the integrally connected pliable portion in a compressed condition against the afflicted body region to further insure the efficient transfer of heat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
203 words
A therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of congestion, infection and similar conditions in afflicted regions of the body surrounding a natural body opening such as the nasal passages, sinuses and regions of head adjacent the mouth comprised of: an elongated and rigid positioning handle having a distal end and a proximal end; and a hollow bulbous pillow connected directly to the distal end of the handle for insertion through the natural opening and for positioning in the body adjacent the afflicted region and formed from a fluid impervious material, the pillow having a pliable, upper surface portion and a rigid lower surface portion integrally connected in a bulbous configuration; the pliable upper surface portion extending from one lateral side of the pillow over the upper part of the pillow to the opposite lateral side and being smooth and sufficiently pliable to conform to the body shape within the opening and to permit efficient transfer to heat through the pillow to the body; the rigid, lower portion extending under the lower part of the pillow and having a rigidity sufficient to hold the integrally connected pliable portion in a compressed condition against the afflicted body region to further insure the efficient transfer of heat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A therapeutic apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein: the elongated positioning handle has a passageway extending between the ends of the handle; and the hollow pillow further includes a sleeve integrally connected to the other portions of the pillow and connecting with the passageway at the distal end of the elongated handle, the sleeve being rigidly interconnected with the rigid portion of the pillow.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |