A nasal dilator capable of introducing separating stresses in nasal outer
wall tissues has a truss of a single body with a resilient member secured
therein and a pair of spaced-apart end surfaces which, when forced toward
one another from initial positions to substantially reduce direct spacing
therebetween by a spacing reducing force external to said truss, results
in restoring forces in the truss tending to return to the original direct
spacing between the end surfaces. A resilient member, which is
symmetrical with respect to a centerline of the truss that is
perpendicular to the long axis of the truss, has a spring rate which
continuously diminishes from the centerline to the end surfaces. An
adhesive on the end surfaces adhesively engages exposed surfaces of nasal
outer wall tissues sufficiently to keep the truss attached to the nasal
wall surfaces while subjecting them to the restoring forces.