US 10814058

Here's a concise summary of US patent 10814058:

US Patent 10814058: Nasal aspiration and wash device

• Title: Nasal aspiration and wash device
• Assignee: Avita Corp [cite: US10814058B2]
• Inventors: Hsing Ou Yang, Hsuan Hao Shih, Ta Chieh Yang [cite: US10814058B2]
• Filing Date: 2017-12-26 [cite: US10814058B2]
• Issue Date: 2020-10-27 [cite: US10814058B2]
• Abstract: The patent describes a nasal aspiration and wash device that includes a shell member, a pump, a suction part, and a spray part. The pump is located within the shell member. The suction part is on the shell member and draws external gas into the pump. The spray part is also in the shell member and sprays atomized liquid. A key feature is that the suction part and the spray part are spaced apart from each other. This design allows the device to perform both nasal aspiration and nasal wash functions separately without interference and without needing to replace functional assemblies. [cite: US10814058B2]

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a nasal aspiration and wash device that combines both functions without needing to swap parts. It has a hollow handle-shaped body (shell member), a pump inside that inhales and exhales air, and two main functional parts:
  • A suction part with an inlet that connects to the pump's inhalation port. This part also has an exhaust outlet that connects to the pump's exhaust port.
  • A spray part with an outlet and a liquid storage area. It includes an electrical atomizer that sprays atomized liquid.
  • Crucially, the suction inlet and the spray outlet are physically separated from each other. Also, the exhaust outlet is positioned underneath the suction inlet on the device's outer surface. [cite: US10814058B2]

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

No dockets pertaining to US patent 10814058 were found in the 2026 dockets of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit as of April 26, 2026.

As of April 26, 2026, no litigation specifically involving US patent 10814058 was found in the search results from Unified Patents or general patent litigation searches. Therefore, no known litigation can be listed for this patent.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US patent 10814058. This means the patent's claims have not been challenged at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) through Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) proceedings. This gives a defendant no immediate defensive leverage from PTAB invalidations.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, no claims of US10814058 have been challenged, canceled, or sustained through any AIA trial proceedings at the PTAB. All claims of the patent are currently untested by the PTAB.

The absence of PTAB proceedings means there is no estoppel landscape to consider under § 315(e)(2). Any prior-art grounds that could be used to challenge the patent's validity remain available for a potential petitioner.

The lack of PTAB activity is a notable signal. Well-asserted patents often become targets for IPRs or PGRs. Its absence suggests that the patent may not have been aggressively asserted in a way that would provoke such challenges, or that potential challengers have not yet deemed it worthwhile to pursue a PTAB action.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US10814058, there are no specific FWDs to link or trial-stage milestones to monitor. A defendant facing assertion of this patent would need to conduct their own prior art search and validity analysis to determine potential grounds for an IPR or PGR, should they choose to challenge the patent at the PTAB.

Inventors

• Hsing Ou Yang (Avita Corp) [cite: US10814058B2]
• Hsuan Hao Shih (Avita Corp) [cite: US10814058B2]
• Ta Chieh Yang (Avita Corp) [cite: US10814058B2]

All named inventors were associated with Avita Corp at the time of filing.

Original assignee

The original assignee is Avita Corp. [cite: US10814058B2] Avita Corp (also referred to as AViTA Corporation) engages in the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of home healthcare products, including nasal aspirators, thermometers, and blood pressure monitors. They produce a "Nasal Aspirator" as part of their product line. AViTA Corporation was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan, and is publicly traded on the TPEX stock exchange (4735). It is an operating company.

Assignment timeline

USPTO Assignment Search

As of June 22, 2026, a search of the USPTO Assignment Center for US patent 10814058 reveals the following assignment record:

• 2017-12-21 (executed) / recorded 2017-12-26 — Reel 044487/0011
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: OU YANG, HSING; SHIH, HSUAN HAO; YANG, TA CHIEH
  • Assignee: AVITA CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: PRO-INTELLIGENCE ATTORNEYS AT LAW, L.L.C.
  • Context: Original assignment from inventors to the corporate entity.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10814058
    2017 : Assigned to Avita Corporation
    2020 : Issued to Avita Corporation

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The patent was assigned from the inventors to Avita Corporation, an operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Avita Corporation is an operating company, not a known NPE.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — unclear. Only one assignment is recorded, so no recurrence can be observed.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only one assignment is recorded.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. No litigation has been identified, and only the initial assignment from inventors to the original assignee is recorded.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. No indication of Avita Corporation filing for bankruptcy.
7. Privateering — not present. No evidence suggests a privateering arrangement.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is held by an operating company, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion. The patent was initially assigned from the inventors to Avita Corporation (Reel 044487/0011), which is a manufacturing and sales company for home healthcare products including nasal aspirators. No further assignments indicating a transfer to a shell entity or known NPE are recorded. You can verify this information at the USPTO Assignment Center by searching for patent number 10814058.

The USPTO provides a Patent Public Search tool for searching patents and patent application publications. To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10814058, I will examine the "Cited By" and "Citations" sections of the patent document itself. [cite: US10814058B2]

Here's an analysis of the prior art cited in US patent 10814058:

Prior Art References (Citations by Examiner/Applicant):

1. US1856811A

   • Full Citation: US1856811A, "Nasal irrigator" to Hooichi Sumida. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1932-05-03, Priority Date: 1931-07-11. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a nasal irrigator, which is a device for washing the nasal passages. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: This likely anticipates aspects of the "spray part" and "nasal wash function" broadly, particularly the concept of introducing liquid into the nasal cavity. Specific claims like those detailing the atomization unit (claim 1) or the spaced-apart outlets (claim 1) would need further analysis for direct anticipation.

2. JPS5836563A

   • Full Citation: JPS5836563A, "Ultrasonic inhalator" to ロヴエンタ−ヴエルケ・ゲゼルシヤフト・ミツト・ベシユレンクテル・ハフツング. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1983-03-03, Priority Date: 1981-06-06. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This describes an ultrasonic inhalator, which implies a device for delivering atomized substances, likely for respiratory purposes. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: This could be relevant to the "atomization unit" (claim 1) of US10814058, as it involves atomizing liquid. The specific mechanism of atomization would be key.

3. US6328718B1

   • Full Citation: US6328718B1, "Snivel sucker" to Chien-Li Chen. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2001-12-11, Priority Date: 2000-04-29. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a device for sucking nasal mucus, a "snivel sucker." [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: This directly relates to the "suction part" (claim 1) and its function of inhaling gas and sucking nasal mucus. The detailed structure of the suction part, including the collection cavity and inhalation tubes (claim 2), would need to be compared against this reference.

4. EP1180373A2 (and related EP1180373A3, US6520931B2)

   • Full Citation: EP1180373A2, "Medical instrument" to G-Intek Co., Ltd. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2002-02-20, Priority Date: 2000-08-17. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This broadly describes a medical instrument. [cite: US10814058B2] Further investigation into the specifics of this "medical instrument" would be necessary to determine its relevance to US10814058, particularly if it combines aspiration and washing functions.
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: Without a more specific description, it's difficult to pinpoint exact claims. If this "medical instrument" combines aspiration and irrigation, it could potentially anticipate the overall concept of a combined device, as in claim 1.

5. US20030145849A1

   • Full Citation: US20030145849A1, "Agent delivery and aspiration device" to Darrel Drinan. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2003-08-07, Priority Date: 2002-02-04. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a device that can both deliver an agent and perform aspiration. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: This is highly relevant as it describes a device with both delivery (spray) and aspiration (suction) functions, similar to the core concept of claim 1 of US10814058. The specific arrangement of the delivery and aspiration parts, especially their spacing and independent operation, would be crucial for determining anticipation.

6. WO2008058160A2 (and related WO2008058160A3, JP2010527636A)

   • Full Citation: WO2008058160A2, "Irrigation and aspiration device and method" to Aardvark Medical, Llc. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2008-05-15, Priority Date: 2006-11-06. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This describes an irrigation and aspiration device and a method for using it. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: Similar to US20030145849A1, this reference is highly relevant to claim 1 of US10814058 due to its combined irrigation (wash) and aspiration (suction) functions. The spatial relationship of the irrigation and aspiration components would be a key point of comparison.

7. EP2005981A2 (and related EP2005981A3, US7862536B2)

   • Full Citation: EP2005981A2, "Combined nasal spray and aspirator device" to Avita Corporation. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2008-12-24, Priority Date: 2007-06-15. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a combined nasal spray and aspirator device. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: This reference is particularly important because it is also assigned to Avita Corporation, the same assignee as US10814058B2. [cite: US10814058B2] It directly addresses a "combined nasal spray and aspirator device," making it highly relevant to claim 1. The key differentiator for US10814058, as stated in its abstract and claim 1, is the spaced-apart nature of the suction inlet and spray outlet to prevent interference and avoid replacing functional assemblies. Therefore, the specific arrangement of the spray and aspiration elements in EP2005981A2 would be critical for determining anticipation of claim 1.

8. WO2010126586A1

   • Full Citation: WO2010126586A1, "Irrigation and aspiration devices and methods" to Aardvark Medical, Llc. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2010-11-04, Priority Date: 2009-04-27. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This details irrigation and aspiration devices and methods. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: Similar to WO2008058160A2, this reference from the same applicant would also be highly relevant to claim 1 due to its combined irrigation and aspiration functions.

9. CN202289114U

   • Full Citation: CN202289114U, "Portable atomizer" to 邓以翔. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2012-07-04, Priority Date: 2011-10-19. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Brief Description: This describes a portable atomizer. [cite: US10814058B2]
   • Potentially Anticipated Claims: This directly relates to the "atomization unit" (claim 1) and the "spray part" of US10814058. The specifics of the atomizer's construction and its integration into a portable device would be relevant to the detailed features of the spray part.

10. US20160206835A1

    • Full Citation: US20160206835A1, "Nebulizing device and nebulizer" to Delta Electronics, Inc. [cite: US10814058B2]
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2016-07-21, Priority Date: 2013-09-13. [cite: US10814058B2]
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a nebulizing device and a nebulizer. [cite: US10814058B2]
    • Potentially Anticipated Claims: This is relevant to the "atomization unit" (claim 1) and the broader concept of atomizing liquid for therapeutic purposes.

Key Observations for Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

• Several references (e.g., US20030145849A1, WO2008058160A2, EP2005981A2, WO2010126586A1) explicitly describe combined aspiration and irrigation/spray devices, which is the core inventive concept of US10814058's independent claim 1.
• The novelty of US10814058 largely relies on the "spaced apart" arrangement of the suction inlet and spray outlet, and their ability to function "without interfering with each other" and "without replacing a functional assembly." [cite: US10814058B2] Therefore, a thorough comparison of the physical configuration and operational independence of the cited combined devices against these specific features of claim 1 would be crucial for a § 102 anticipation analysis.
• The fact that EP2005981A2 is also assigned to Avita Corporation suggests it may be a predecessor patent. Examining the differences between EP2005981A2 and US10814058 would be especially important to understand the specific advancements claimed in US10814058.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis assesses whether the claims of US patent 10814058 would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date: 2016-12-23), in light of the prior art. The key distinguishing feature of US10814058, as highlighted in its own background, is the physical separation of the suction inlet and spray outlet to prevent functional interference and eliminate the need for replacing functional assemblies. [cite: US10814058B2]

Independent Claim 1

Claim 1 describes a nasal aspiration and wash device comprising: a shell member; a pump with inhalation and exhaust ports; a suction part with a suction inlet communicated with the inhalation port and an exhaust outlet communicated with the exhaust port; and a spray part with a liquid storage cavity, an electrical atomizer, and a spray outlet. Crucially, "the suction inlet of the suction part and the spray outlet of the spray part are spaced apart from each other a distance, and the exhaust outlet is provided under the suction inlet on the outer surface of the shell member." [cite: US10814058B2]

Combination 1: EP2005981A2 in view of the problem identified in US10814058's background

1. Primary Reference: EP2005981A2 (Avita Corporation) [cite: US10814058B2]

   • This patent, titled "Combined nasal spray and aspirator device," is highly relevant as it teaches the core concept of a single device performing both nasal aspiration and wash functions. [cite: US10814058B2] As it shares the same assignee (Avita Corporation) as US10814058, it represents closely related technology from the same developer. EP2005981A2 would teach a shell member, a pump, a suction part (aspirator), and a spray part (nasal spray) with a liquid storage cavity, thereby encompassing many elements of Claim 1.

2. Motivation to Modify: The background of US10814058 explicitly identifies a problem with prior art combined nasal devices, stating that a "spray port and a nasal aspiration port integrated in a single port structure... causes a problem that the liquid sprayed from the spray port may be sucked by the nasal aspiration port and the nasal aspiration function and nasal wash function interfere with each other." [cite: US10814058B2] This problem, although specifically referencing "Taiwan Patent No. 1345462," describes the very issue that US10814058 aims to solve and is a known deficiency in combined devices. A person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) designing or improving a combined nasal device, such as that taught by EP2005981A2, would be motivated to address this known problem of functional interference between the spray and aspiration actions.

3. Reasonable Expectation of Success/Obvious Solution: The solution of physically separating the suction inlet and spray outlet is a predictable and logical design choice to prevent interference between two closely operating functions within a single device. This is a common engineering principle applied to a known problem to achieve a desired and predictable result (non-interference). Modifying the device of EP2005981A2 to space apart the suction inlet and spray outlet would be a straightforward design decision.

4. Addressing Remaining Features:

   • "Electrical atomizer": The use of an electrical atomizer is a well-known technique for generating fine liquid sprays in medical devices, as evidenced by prior art such as JPS5836563A (ultrasonic inhalator), CN202289114U (portable atomizer), and US20160206835A1 (nebulizing device). [cite: US10814058B2] A PHOSITA would find it obvious to incorporate a suitable electrical atomizer into the spray part of a nasal wash device.
   • "Exhaust outlet is provided under the suction inlet on the outer surface of the shell member": The specific ergonomic placement of the exhaust outlet, such as "under the suction inlet," would be a routine design choice based on factors like internal component layout, airflow considerations, and user comfort, once the primary decision to separate the main functional ports has been made.

Conclusion for Claim 1:
Given the existence of combined nasal aspiration and spray devices in the prior art (e.g., EP2005981A2) and the explicitly recognized problem of functional interference due to integrated or closely positioned ports, a PHOSITA would have been motivated to space the suction inlet and spray outlet apart. This modification, combined with the obvious inclusion of an electrical atomizer and routine ergonomic placement of the exhaust outlet, renders Claim 1 obvious.

Dependent Claims 2-11

The dependent claims further elaborate on structural and functional details:

• Claims 2-5 (Suction Part Details): These claims specify components like a suction part shell, collection cavity, first and second inhalation tubes, a washer, and an O-shaped ring. US6328718B1 ("Snivel sucker") teaches devices for aspirating nasal mucus, which would inherently include such functional parts for fluid collection and transport. [cite: US10814058B2] The use of washers and O-rings for improving seal strength is a fundamental and routine engineering practice in any device handling fluids or gases under suction, making their inclusion obvious to a PHOSITA. The U-shaped path described for gas flow in the collection cavity is a natural outcome of arranging inlet and outlet tubes side by side within the cavity.
• Claim 6 (Liquid type): This claim states that the liquid in the storage cavity can be "medicinal liquid or water." [cite: US10814058B2] This describes the intended content or use, rather than a novel structural limitation, and would be obvious for any nasal wash device.
• Claim 7 (Spray part O-ring): The inclusion of an O-shaped ring between the electrical atomizer and the liquid storage cavity for seal strength is a standard and obvious engineering practice to prevent leaks in liquid-containing assemblies.
• Claim 8 (Opposite outer surfaces): This specifies that the suction inlet and spray outlet are "formed in an opposite outer surface of the shell member." [cite: US10814058B2] If the motivation to space the ports apart (as established for Claim 1) is present, placing them on opposite surfaces is a straightforward and highly effective design choice to maximize separation and prevent interference, thus being an obvious variation to a PHOSITA.
• Claim 9 (Battery): Including a battery to power the pump is a standard and obvious design choice for any portable electrical device.
• Claims 10-11 (Buttons): Providing a start button and an atomization button for activating the respective functions, electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, is a standard and obvious user interface design for electronic devices with multiple distinct functions. The specific placement of these buttons (e.g., "under the spray outlet") would be a matter of routine ergonomic design.

Overall Obviousness Summary

The core innovation of US10814058 lies in ensuring the nasal aspiration and wash functions do not interfere with each other by physically spacing apart their respective outlets. However, the background section of US10814058 itself identifies the problem of such interference in prior art combined devices. Given the existence of combined devices (e.g., EP2005981A2 from the same assignee) and the articulated problem, a PHOSITA would have been motivated to implement the obvious solution of separating the functional outlets. The remaining features in both independent and dependent claims are either common components in medical devices, routine engineering solutions for sealing and power, or predictable design choices to optimize the device's functionality and ergonomics once the primary separation of ports is decided. Therefore, the claims of US10814058 are likely rendered obvious by a combination of EP2005981A2 with general knowledge in the art, and other cited references teaching specific components like atomizers or aspiration features.

To provide a detailed analysis of US patent 10814058, I will break down the requested information. The primary resource for this information is the USPTO website, specifically its Patent Public Search tool and Patent Center.

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA)

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) is granted to compensate a patent applicant for certain delays caused by the USPTO during the patent examination process. These delays can include:

• Failure to issue a first Office Action or notice of allowance within 14 months of the filing date.
• Failure to respond to an applicant's submission within four months.
• Failure to issue a patent within three years of the actual filing date.

The patent term can also be reduced due to applicant delays.

To determine the exact PTA for US10814058, one would typically review the "Patent Term Adjustment" section of the patent's file wrapper in the USPTO's Patent Center or Open Data Portal. Without direct access to the official USPTO file wrapper for US10814058, the specific PTA amount cannot be definitively stated here. However, the Google Patents information indicates an "Adjusted expiration" date of 2038-11-30. [cite: US10814058B2] This adjusted date reflects any PTA that may have been granted.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE)

Patent Term Extensions (PTE) are available for patents covering certain products, such as human drugs, medical devices, food additives, color additives, and animal drugs, to restore a portion of the patent term lost due to pre-market regulatory review by agencies like the FDA.

Key aspects of PTE include:

• The extension cannot exceed five years.
• The total patent term, including the extension, cannot exceed 14 years from the date of marketing approval.
• Applications for PTE must be filed within 60 days of regulatory approval.
• Only one patent can be extended per approved product.

Given that US10814058 is titled "Nasal aspiration and wash device," it falls under the category of a medical device, making it potentially eligible for PTE. However, a PTE would only be granted if the device underwent a regulatory review period prior to commercial marketing, and an application for PTE was filed and approved by the USPTO in consultation with the relevant regulatory agency (e.g., FDA). Without specific information regarding FDA approval and a granted PTE, it cannot be confirmed whether US10814058 has received a PTE. The Google Patents legal status lists the patent as "Active, expires 2038-11-30," which aligns with an adjusted expiration date but does not explicitly detail a PTE. [cite: US10814058B2]

Continuation Applications, Divisional Applications, and Related Family Members

A patent family refers to a set of patents or patent applications filed in various countries that relate to a single invention and share at least one common priority.

A continuation application is a second application for the same invention claimed in a prior non-provisional application and is filed before the patenting or abandonment of the first application.

A divisional application is filed when an examiner determines that an initial patent application contains more than one invention. The applicant is required to elect one invention to proceed with, and divisional applications can be filed for the unelected inventions, using the same specification and often the same drawings as the original application.

According to Google Patents, US10814058B2 is part of a patent family. Its filing number is US15/854,668. [cite: US10814058B2]

Family Applications (1):

• US15/854,668 (US10814058B2) - Filing Date: 2017-12-26, Priority Date: 2016-12-23. [cite: US10814058B2] This is the parent application that led to the issued patent US10814058B2.

Applications Claiming Priority (3):
These are applications that claim priority from the same priority date as US10814058.

• TW105219664U - Priority Date: 2016-12-23. [cite: US10814058B2]
• TWM544939U - Title: Nose vacuum device, Priority Date: 2016-12-23, Filing Date: 2016-12-23. [cite: US10814058B2]
• TW105219664 - Priority Date: 2016-12-23. [cite: US10814058B2]

Other Versions / Also Published As:
These represent international or earlier publications of related applications.

• US20180177936A1 (Publication of US15/854,668) - Publication Date: 2018-06-28. [cite: US10814058B2]
• CN108236567A - Publication Date: 2018-07-03. [cite: US10814058B2]
• JP2018102924A - Publication Date: 2018-07-05. [cite: US10814058B2]
• EP3338822B1 - Publication Date: 2022-02-02. [cite: US10814058B2]
• TWM544939U - Publication Date: 2017-07-11. [cite: US10814058B2]
• JP6641349B2 - Publication Date: 2020-02-05. [cite: US10814058B2]
• EP3338822A1 - Publication Date: 2018-06-27. [cite: US10814058B2]

From this, it can be concluded that US10814058B2 is the granted patent from application US15/854,668, and it has several foreign counterparts, primarily in Taiwan (TW), China (CN), Japan (JP), and Europe (EP). There is no indication of further continuation or divisional applications directly stemming from US10814058B2 within the provided data.

Projected Expiration Date

The standard term for a U.S. utility patent filed on or after June 8, 1995, is 20 years from its earliest effective filing date, subject to any Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) or Patent Term Extensions (PTE), and potentially terminal disclaimers.

For US10814058:

• Filing Date (Application US15/854,668): 2017-12-26 [cite: US10814058B2]
• Priority Date: 2016-12-23 [cite: US10814058B2]
• Standard 20-year term from filing date: December 26, 2037

Google Patents lists an "Adjusted expiration" date of 2038-11-30. [cite: US10814058B2] This indicates that the patent has received Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) due to USPTO delays during prosecution. The adjusted expiration date provided by Google Patents already incorporates any granted PTA.

Therefore, the projected expiration date for US patent 10814058 is November 30, 2038. [cite: US10814058B2] This date would only change if a Patent Term Extension (PTE) is later granted (which is typically for pharmaceuticals or medical devices undergoing regulatory review) or if a terminal disclaimer has been filed. No terminal disclaimers are explicitly mentioned in the provided information for this patent.

The following "Defensive Disclosure" document details derivative variations of US patent 10814058, aiming to establish prior art for potential future incremental improvements by competitors. This document focuses on Independent Claim 1 of US10814058.

Defensive Disclosure Document for US10814058: Nasal Aspiration and Wash Device

This document outlines various technical derivatives and potential combinations of the core inventive concepts disclosed in US patent 10814058, a "Nasal aspiration and wash device." The purpose of this disclosure is to expand the existing body of prior art, making incremental advancements in this domain more readily deemed obvious or non-novel to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Independent Claim 1 Analysis (US10814058)

Independent Claim 1 describes a nasal aspiration and wash device comprising: a shell member; a pump with inhalation and exhaust ports; a suction part having a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet communicated respectively with the pump's inhalation and exhaust ports; and a spray part having a spray outlet, a liquid storage cavity, and an electrical atomizer. Crucially, the suction inlet and spray outlet are spaced apart, and the exhaust outlet is positioned under the suction inlet on the shell member's outer surface. [cite: US10814058B2]

The following derivatives expand upon these core elements and their functional relationships.

Derivative Variations

1. Material & Component Substitution: Piezoelectric Micro-Pump Integration

• Enabling Description: The conventional pump (12) within the nasal aspiration and wash device (1) is replaced with a solid-state piezoelectric micro-pump system. This system incorporates a piezoelectric actuator bonded to a flexible diaphragm, which, upon excitation by an alternating current (AC) voltage (e.g., 50-200 kHz, 5-50 Vpp), generates rhythmic displacement, inducing fluidic oscillations within a pump chamber. Integrated one-way micro-valves (e.g., diffuser or nozzle/diffuser elements) rectify this oscillatory motion into a net directional flow for both aspiration and exhaust functions. For aspiration, the piezoelectric pump creates a negative pressure differential at the inhalation port (121), drawing external gas into the suction part (13) at controlled flow rates (e.g., 0.1 to 1.0 L/min) and pressures (up to -10 kPa). The exhaust outlet (1241) is similarly coupled to a piezoelectric pump or a reversible configuration. This substitution enhances durability, reduces operational noise significantly, and facilitates further miniaturization. The electrical atomizer (141) also utilizes a piezoelectric element for vibrating mesh atomization, controlled synchronously by the device's printed circuit board (16) and battery (15).

graph TD
    A[Battery 15] --> B(PCB 16);
    B --> C{Piezoelectric Micro-Pump Controller};
    C --> D[Piezoelectric Diaphragm - Aspiration];
    C --> E[Piezoelectric Diaphragm - Atomization];
    D --> F[Inhalation Port 121];
    E --> G[Atomization Unit 141];
    F --> H[Suction Part 13];
    G --> I[Spray Part 14];
    H --> J[Collection Cavity 132];
    I --> K[Liquid Storage Cavity 142];
    J --> L[Exhaust Outlet 1241];

2. Material & Component Substitution: Ultrasonic Nebulizer using Vibrating Mesh (VMN)

• Enabling Description: The electrical atomizer (141) is specifically realized as a vibrating mesh nebulizer (VMN). This VMN incorporates a precisely fabricated mesh (e.g., an electroformed or laser-drilled nickel alloy membrane with apertures ranging from 2-5 micrometers in diameter) positioned at the interface between the liquid storage cavity (142) and the spray outlet (1411). A piezoelectric transducer is mechanically coupled to this mesh. When driven by a high-frequency alternating current (e.g., 100 kHz - 2 MHz) from the printed circuit board (16), the piezoelectric element causes the mesh to oscillate rapidly. This rapid oscillation forces the liquid (143) through the mesh pores, generating a fine aerosol with a consistent droplet size (typically 1-5 μm). The liquid storage cavity is designed with wicking structures to ensure continuous liquid supply to the mesh surface. This VMN design ensures silent operation, high atomization efficiency, and precise control over droplet size for optimized therapeutic delivery.

graph TD
    A[Liquid Storage Cavity 142] --> B{Liquid 143};
    B --> C[Vibrating Mesh];
    D[Piezoelectric Transducer] --> C;
    E[PCB 16] --> F{High-Frequency Driver};
    F --> D;
    C --> G[Atomized Liquid];
    G --> H[Spray Outlet 1411];

3. Operational Parameter Expansion: Thermally Conditioned Nasal Wash Device

• Enabling Description: The nasal aspiration and wash device (1) is enhanced with an integrated liquid thermal conditioning unit. This unit includes a micro-resistive heating element or a Peltier thermoelectric module disposed within or adjacent to the liquid storage cavity (142). Controlled by the printed circuit board (16), this element warms the liquid (143) to a physiologically optimal temperature range, typically 30°C to 40°C, and maintains it within a narrow tolerance (e.g., ±1°C). A thermistor or Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) sensor provides real-time temperature feedback to the PCB. An external indicator (e.g., a multi-color LED or small LCD) on the shell member (11) displays the current liquid temperature and confirms readiness for use. This thermal conditioning improves user comfort during nasal irrigation and can enhance the efficacy of mucociliary clearance and the delivery of temperature-sensitive medicinal solutions. The pump (12) and suction part (13) operate independently, unaffected by the thermal conditioning.

graph TD
    A[Battery 15] --> B(PCB 16);
    B --> C{Temperature Controller};
    C --> D[Heating Element];
    E[Thermistor Sensor] --> C;
    D -- heats --> F[Liquid Storage Cavity 142];
    F --> G[Atomization Unit 141];
    G --> H[Spray Outlet 1411];
    B --> I[Pump 12];
    I --> J[Suction Part 13];

4. Operational Parameter Expansion: Variable Pressure Aspiration with Flow Control

• Enabling Description: The pump (12) is implemented as a variable-speed miniature diaphragm pump, and the suction part (13) is augmented with a MEMS-based differential pressure transducer located within the collection cavity (132) or the second inhalation tube (134). The printed circuit board (16) incorporates a closed-loop Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control algorithm. This algorithm continuously monitors the negative pressure generated at the suction inlet (1331) via the pressure sensor and dynamically adjusts the pump's motor speed (e.g., via Pulse Width Modulation, PWM) to maintain a user-selected aspiration pressure. The device offers multiple preset aspiration pressure modes (e.g., gentle: -5 kPa, moderate: -15 kPa, strong: -30 kPa) accessible through the start button (17) or a dedicated control. Additionally, a micro-flow sensor (e.g., thermal mass flow sensor) can be integrated to prevent excessive flow rates that might cause tissue irritation or insufficient aspiration due to air leakage.

graph TD
    A[Start Button 17] --> B(PCB 16);
    C[Pressure Sensor] --> B;
    B --> D{Pump Speed Controller};
    D --> E[Variable Speed Pump 12];
    E --> F[Inhalation Port 121];
    F --> G[Suction Part 13];
    G --> H[Suction Inlet 1331];
    G --> I[Collection Cavity 132];
    I --> C;

5. Cross-Domain Application: Automated Plant Treatment and Pest Monitoring Device (AgTech)

• Enabling Description: The fundamental architecture of the nasal aspiration and wash device (1) is adapted for automated agricultural applications. The shell member (11) is re-engineered for integration into an autonomous robotic platform or a specialized handheld sprayer for controlled environment agriculture (e.g., vertical farms). The spray part (14) delivers atomized pesticides, fungicides, or targeted nutrient solutions to plant foliage or specific zones. The electrical atomizer is optimized for generating fine mists (e.g., 20-50 µm droplet size) to ensure efficient coverage and minimize waste. The liquid storage cavity (142) is scaled for larger volumes of agricultural liquids. The suction part (13) is equipped with a specific suction inlet (1331) design (e.g., with passive filtration or electrostatic collection) to capture airborne pests (e.g., aphids, mites, fungal spores) or environmental particulate matter from plant surfaces or ambient air. The collection cavity (132) includes a removable, sealed analytical cartridge for subsequent microscopic examination or rapid molecular analysis of collected biological samples, facilitating early disease detection and targeted pest management. The independent operation of spray and suction prevents cross-contamination.

graph TD
    A[Robotic Platform/Handheld Shell] --> B(Control System PCB);
    B --> C[Spray Part (Nutrient/Pesticide)];
    C --> D[Atomization Unit];
    D --> E[Spray Outlet (Plant Target)];
    B --> F[Suction Part (Pest/Spore)];
    F --> G[Suction Inlet (Plant/Air)];
    G --> H[Collection Cavity (Analysis Cartridge)];

6. Cross-Domain Application: Precision Dusting and Cleaning System (Consumer Electronics)

• Enabling Description: The nasal aspiration and wash device (1) is re-purposed as a precision cleaning and maintenance tool for sensitive electronic components. The suction part (13) provides a controlled, low-pressure, high-flow aspiration function to meticulously remove dust, lint, and micro-particulates from intricate circuit boards, delicate cooling fins, and sensitive electrical connectors without requiring physical contact. The suction inlet (1331) is modular, accepting various interchangeable, anti-static nozzle tips (e.g., fine brush, narrow crevice, wide fan). The spray part (14) delivers atomized, non-conductive cleaning solvents (e.g., high-purity isopropyl alcohol), specialized cooling agents (e.g., de-ionized water mist), or anti-static coatings. The liquid storage cavity (142) is designed for secure containment of these specialized liquids. The spaced-apart arrangement of the suction inlet (1331) and spray outlet (1411) is critical to prevent immediate re-deposition of aspirated dust or premature suction of applied cleaning agents. Both functions are independently activated via distinct control buttons (17, 18).

graph TD
    A[Shell Member (Ergonomic Handle)] --> B(Control PCB);
    B --> C[Suction Part (Dust Removal)];
    C --> D[Interchangeable Nozzles];
    D --> E[Suction Inlet (Component Target)];
    B --> F[Spray Part (Cleaning/Cooling Agent)];
F --> G[Atomization Unit];
G --> H[Spray Outlet (Component Target)];
I[Liquid Storage Cavity] --> F;
C --- F; % Indicate independent but co-located functions

7. Integration with Emerging Tech: Smart Nasal Care Device with AI-driven Biofeedback

• Enabling Description: The nasal aspiration and wash device (1) is upgraded with AI-driven optimization capabilities. This involves integrating a suite of miniature biosensors, such as an optical turbidity sensor within the collection cavity (132) to assess mucus viscosity, a localized moisture sensor at the spray outlet (1411) to evaluate nasal cavity hydration, and a miniature gas sensor for ambient air quality. Data from these sensors is fed into an embedded microcontroller on the printed circuit board (16), which executes a pre-trained, lightweight AI model (e.g., a recurrent neural network or decision tree). This AI model dynamically adjusts the pump (12) suction power (e.g., by modulating motor Pulse Width Modulation, PWM) and the atomization unit (141) output (e.g., by altering vibration frequency or amplitude). For example, if high-viscosity mucus is detected, the AI increases suction pressure; if the nasal cavity is deemed insufficiently hydrated after a spray, the atomization intensity is boosted. User profiles and historical usage data are stored locally or synced to a cloud platform to continuously refine the AI's adaptive algorithms, providing personalized and optimized nasal care.

graph TD
    A[Start/Atomization Buttons] --> B(Input Interface);
    C[Optical Turbidity Sensor] --> D(Sensor Data Module);
    E[Moisture Sensor] --> D;
    F[Air Quality Sensor] --> D;
    D --> G{Embedded Microcontroller with AI Model};
    G --> H[Pump 12 Controller];
    G --> I[Atomization Unit 141 Controller];
    H --> J[Suction Part 13];
    I --> K[Spray Part 14];
    G -- Personalization --> L[User Profile Database];

8. Integration with Emerging Tech: Connected Nasal Health Monitor with IoT Sensors

• Enabling Description: The device (1) is transformed into a connected nasal health monitor through the integration of multiple IoT sensors and a wireless communication module (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Wi-Fi, compliant with IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) on the printed circuit board (16). The integrated sensors include:
  1. A capacitive or optical liquid level sensor in the liquid storage cavity (142).
  2. A precise battery charge level indicator for battery (15).
  3. A digital usage counter (tracking activations of aspiration and spray functions).
  4. A pressure sensor in the suction pathway (as described in Derivative 4).
  5. An ambient temperature and humidity sensor.
     All sensor data is periodically transmitted via the wireless module to a connected smartphone application or a secure, cloud-based health platform. This enables real-time monitoring of the device's operational status, tracking of personal nasal hygiene patterns, automated reminders for liquid refills or cleaning, and remote diagnostics. Data can be anonymized and aggregated for public health trend analysis.

graph TD
    A[Nasal Device 1] --> B(PCB 16);
    B --> C[Wireless Module (BLE/Wi-Fi)];
    D[Liquid Level Sensor] --> B;
    E[Battery Sensor] --> B;
    F[Usage Counter] --> B;
    G[Pressure Sensor] --> B;
    H[Ambient Temp/Humidity Sensor] --> B;
    C --> I(Smartphone App/Cloud Platform);
    I -- Data Aggregation --> J(Health Insights Database);

9. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode: Intelligent Obstruction Detection and Safe Shutdown

• Enabling Description: The suction part (13) of the device is augmented with an intelligent safety mechanism for obstruction detection. This involves a micro-differential pressure sensor, strategically placed to measure pressure variations across the suction path, and a miniature flow sensor (e.g., a hot-wire anemometer or ultrasonic flow sensor) embedded in the second inhalation tube (134). The printed circuit board (16) continuously monitors the data from these sensors. If the control algorithm detects a sudden and significant decrease in flow rate concurrently with a sharp increase in negative pressure at the suction inlet (1331)—indicative of an obstruction such as complete occlusion by nasal tissue or dense mucus—exceeding a predefined safety threshold (e.g., pressure > -50 kPa for longer than 1 second), the pump (12) automatically initiates a safe shutdown. This immediate cessation of aspiration prevents potential tissue damage or pump motor overload. A visual (e.g., flashing LED) and/or auditory alarm alerts the user to clear the obstruction. The system logs these events, including duration and pressure peaks, for diagnostic and safety analysis.

graph TD
    A[Suction Part 13] --> B[Differential Pressure Sensor];
    A --> C[Flow Sensor];
    B --> D(PCB 16);
    C --> D;
    D --> E{Obstruction Detection Algorithm};
    E -- Threshold Exceeded --> F[Pump 12 Controller];
    F --> G[Pump 12];
    G -- Power Off --> H[Safe Shutdown];
    E -- Alert --> I[LED/Auditory Alarm];
    E -- Log --> J[Event Log];

10. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode: Eco-Mode for Extended Operation and Gentle Use

• Enabling Description: The device (1) features an "Eco-Mode" for extended battery life and gentler operation, activatable via a dedicated button or a specific press sequence on the start button (17). In this mode, the printed circuit board (16) adjusts the operational parameters of both the pump and the atomizer. For the spray part (14), the electrical atomizer (141) operates at a reduced power setting, resulting in a lower atomization rate or a slightly coarser droplet size (e.g., 8-12 μm), thereby extending the usable volume from the liquid storage cavity (142) and conserving battery (15) energy. For the suction part (13), the pump (12) operates at a lower rotational speed, generating a milder negative pressure (e.g., -5 kPa to -10 kPa), making it suitable for sensitive users, infants, or for general, less intensive aspiration. The device's battery status LED provides visual feedback, indicating the active mode (e.g., a distinct color or blinking pattern for Eco-Mode). The PCB manages adaptive power profiles to ensure optimal energy efficiency while maintaining core functionality.

graph TD
    A[Start Button 17] --> B(PCB 16);
    B --> C{Mode Selection Logic};
    C -- Eco-Mode Activated --> D[Pump 12 Controller (Low Power)];
    C -- Eco-Mode Activated --> E[Atomizer 141 Controller (Low Power)];
    D --> F[Pump 12];
    E --> G[Atomization Unit 141];
    F --> H[Suction Part 13 (Gentle)];
    G --> I[Spray Part 14 (Reduced Output)];
    C -- Status Update --> J[Battery Status LED];

Combination Prior Art Scenarios

These scenarios combine aspects of US10814058 with existing open-source standards, further solidifying prior art and rendering future claims obvious.

1. US10814058 + Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) (IEEE 802.15.1 Standard):

   • Description: A nasal aspiration and wash device (US10814058) integrating a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module (compliant with the IEEE 802.15.1 standard) on its printed circuit board (16). This module enables wireless communication with external user devices such as smartphones, tablets, or wearable health trackers. The device is configured to transmit usage data (e.g., duration of aspiration, number of spray cycles, remaining liquid levels, battery status) to a companion mobile application. This application, developed using open-source BLE profiles (e.g., Health Device Profile (HDP) or custom Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) services), provides a user interface for tracking nasal hygiene routines, scheduling reminders, and potentially allowing remote activation of non-critical device functions (e.g., initiating a pre-warm cycle for the spray liquid, as described in Derivative 3). This combination renders the "smart" or connected functionality of such medical devices obvious by leveraging a widely adopted, low-power wireless communication standard.

2. US10814058 + MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) Protocol:

   • Description: An advanced iteration of the nasal aspiration and wash device (US10814058) designed for centralized monitoring and management in clinical, institutional, or multi-user home environments. The device incorporates a Wi-Fi or cellular module (for internet connectivity) and communicates using the MQTT protocol. Embedded sensors (e.g., liquid level in cavity 142, battery charge of 15, pump run-time, atomizer activation count) gather telemetry data. This data is published as lightweight MQTT messages to a central MQTT broker, which could be hosted on a local network or a cloud platform. A designated IT system or healthcare management application subscribes to these MQTT topics to monitor device readiness across a fleet, manage inventory of medicinal liquids, track cumulative device utilization, and predict maintenance requirements. The MQTT protocol (an OASIS and ISO standard, widely deployed in IoT and open-source projects) provides an efficient and scalable messaging paradigm, thereby making the remote, networked monitoring of medical devices obvious.

3. US10814058 + DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) / HL7 (Health Level Seven International) Standards for Data Export:

   • Description: A diagnostic-enabled variant of the nasal aspiration and wash device (US10814058, incorporating advanced sensor capabilities such as those described in Derivative 7). This device collects not only basic usage metrics but also specific biofeedback data, such as optical turbidity readings of aspirated mucus (indicative of inflammation or infection), or even micro-analytical data from captured samples within the collection cavity (132). To ensure seamless interoperability and integration with existing healthcare information systems, the device's embedded software is capable of formatting and exporting this diagnostic and usage data according to established medical standards. Specifically, it can generate data compliant with DICOM (for any image-based analyses or structured reports) or HL7 (for general structured health information, including usage logs, sensor readings, and AI-derived insights). This integration allows the device to function as a data-generating endpoint within a broader healthcare ecosystem, making the standardized exchange of medical device data obvious. For example, a "Nasal Health Activity Report" could be generated, conforming to the HL7 Clinical Document Architecture (CDA).