material with great flexibility and resilience allowing the appliance to be repeatedly bent and adjusted in shape for comfort of the user and effectiveness in supporting and expanding the nasal passageways the aforementioned diameter range has been found to provide excellent fatigue life and adequate stiffness to support and expand the cartilaginous tissue of the nose for comfort and safety the appliance 10 is formed with rounded bends of generous radii sharp points or edges that might irritate or cut nasal tissue especially the sensitive internal lining of the nasal passageways are avoided further protection to the user is provided by coating at least those portions of the appliance that contact the nose with a polymer coating 52 the coating 52 is positioned on the distal ends of legs 12 14 44 and 46 and preferably comprises polyvinylchloride resin polyvinylchloride is preferred because it is flexible hypo allergenic color fast chemically inert and able to withstand high temperatures thereby allowing the device to be sterilized in an autoclave this polymer also provides a smooth surface with few irregularities where bacteria or viruses can accumulate these characteristics provide a sanitary appliance that will not irritate or infect the mucous membrane of the nasal passageways when used properly the coating 52 may be applied by dipping the legs into a molten bath of the polymer and then allowing it to cure coating thicknesses of not less than 0 030 inches per side 0 060 inches total are preferred other polymers are also feasible for example resins such as methylmethacrylate in use as illustrated in fig4 the distal ends 26 and 30 of the first and second legs 12 and 14 are.