TISSUE DILATOR DEVICES, METHODS OF FABRICATION OF TISSUE DILATORS, AND METHODS OF USE FOR TISSUE DILATORS

摘要

The present invention encompasses a large variety of discrete structure all intended to be applied externally to a subject for the purpose of dilating, or lifting, tissue adjacent to nasal passageways of the subject, including the vestibule and/or the valve of the subject so as to decrease resistance to inhalation and exhalation of said subject during respiration. The tissue dilators of the present invention include those having at least one resilient member providing a first biasing force, or restoring force, so that when mechanically coupled to dilate adjacent tissue of a subject, the dilator constantly exerts a force developed to return the resilient member to an unbent state. In addition, a second biasing force may be applied to assist in producing a desired dilation of tissue of a subject that acts in concert with the first biasing force to impart an additional amount of force to dilate tissue of a subject.