Divided nasal cannula assembly

• US 20040139973A1
• Filed: 01/03/2004
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Device Group Incorporated (World Am, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Medical Device Group Incorporated (World Am, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Clifford A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,986,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0672 Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen

Abstract

A nasal cannula system includes a nasal cannula for the delivery of and collection of gases, wherein the nasal cannula is coupled to a pair of extension tubes which are slidingly received within right and left earpieces respectively for retaining and securing the extension tubes to fix the cannula in a desired position for use by a patient. Each nasal cannula includes an open recessed channel disposed between a pair of bridges for retaining the extension tube within the earpiece and an locking exit hole at its distal end for helping to secure therein the extension tube to provide a fixed distance adjustment between the nasal cannula and the ears of the patient.

Claims

1. A cannula system, comprising:

a pair of extension tubes;

a divided cannula coupled between said pair of extension tubes;

a pair of earpieces for cooperating with said pair of extension tubes to support said divided cannula in a desired position relative to the nostrils of a patient;

each individual one of said pair of earpieces including;

a front eye hole for guiding an individual one of said pair of extension tubes into a recessed channel disposed on a top portion of the individual earpiece; and

a rear eye hole for helping to secure said individual one of said pair of extension tubes into a desired position within said recessed channel.

2. A cannula assembly, comprising:

slider tube extension means for helping to facilitate a distance adjustment;

nasal cannula means coupled between said slider tube extension means for facilitating both the delivery of and collection of gases;

ramped ear piece means coupled to said nasal cannula means by said slider tube extension means for facilitating supporting said nasal cannula means from the ears of a user; and

said ramped ear piece means including open recessed channel means disposed between bridge means for helping to facilitate user adjustment of the distance between said nasal cannula means and said ear piece means.

3. The cannula assembly according to claim 2, wherein said ear piece means further includes means defining a tube locking hole for helping to secure said nasal cannula means in a fixed position relative to said ear piece means.

4. The cannula assembly according to claim 3, wherein said ear piece means further includes stop means for helping to limit an adjustment distance between said nasal cannula means and said ear piece means.

5. The cannula assembly according to claim 4, wherein said nasal cannula means is a divided oxygen/carbon dioxide nasal cannula having a pair of spaced apart nasal tips of sufficient length for insertion into the nostrils of the user.

6. The cannula assembly according to claim 5, wherein said pair of spaced apart nasal tips have substantially smaller outer diameter than said nasal delivery tube.

7. The cannula assembly according to claim 6, wherein said pair of spaced apart nasal tips are trimmable to custom fit the user.

8. The cannula assembly according to claim 7, wherein said slider tube extension means includes a pair of extension tubes each having a given diameter.

9. The cannula assembly according to claim 8, wherein said ear piece means includes a pair of ear pieces;

and

wherein each individual one of said pair of ear pieces has disposed thereon an open recessed channel for helping to facilitate supporting therein at least a portion of an individual one of said pair of extension tubes.

10. The cannula assembly according to claim 8, wherein stop means is coupled to a proximal end of said ear piece means and includes means defining a tube entrance hole for helping to facilitate guiding an individual one of said pair of extension tubes into a corresponding one of said open recessed channel and to facilitate securing slidingly an individual one of said pair of extension tubes to said ear piece.

11. The cannula assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:

a securing clip mounted to said section of fluid delivery tubing to help secure the fluid delivery tubing in a fixed position relative to the user.

12. The cannula assembly according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a securing clip mounted to the other one of said pair of extension tubes to help secure the other one of said pair of extension tubes in a fixed position relative to the user.

13. A cannula system, comprising:

a nasal cannula coupled to a pair of extension tubes;

a pair of earpieces for supporting and retaining said extension tubes and said nasal cannula in a fixed position; and

wherein each individual earpiece includes a pair of guides with a recessed channel disposed therebetween for receiving and retaining therein an individual one of the extension tubes.

14. The cannula system according to claim 13, wherein said nasal cannula is a divided nasal cannula for facilitating the delivery of and collection of gases.

15. The cannula system according to claim 13, wherein one of said pair of guides is an exit bridge disposed adjacent to an exit hole, said exit bridge having a hole extending therethrough for providing access to said exit hole to provide an extension tube exit path from said recessed channel to said exit hole.

16. The cannula system according to claim 15, wherein said recessed channel terminates in an inclined ramp disposed at about said oval shaped exit hole.

17. The cannula system according to claim 16, wherein said exit hole is oval shape having its long axis extending along the longitudinal axis of said earpiece.

18. The cannula system according to claim 17, wherein said inclined ramp reaches it apex at the distal end of the long axis of said oval said exit hole to provide an exit path that cause the extension tube to be wedged into engagement with said exit bridge.

19. The cannula system according to claim 18, wherein the other one of said bridges is an entrance bridge, said entrance bridge having an entrance hole extending therethrough for providing access to said recessed channel to provide an extension tube entrance path from said nasal cannula to said recessed channel;

and

wherein said entrance bridge, said inclined ramp and said exit bridge cooperate to facilitate capturing the extension tube in a fixed position to secure said cannula at a desired position relative to the nostrils of a patient.

20. The cannula system according to claim 19, wherein said nasal cannula has a single tube with at least one gas outlet channel and with at least gas inlet channel for facilitating both the delivery of and the collection of gases;

said single tube having a given diameter and being disposed between a pair of slider extension tubes, wherein each slider extension tube has another given diameter substantially smaller than said given diameter; and

wherein each ear piece has a tube entrance hole with a sufficient diameter for receiving therethrough one of said pair of slider extension tubes but not a sufficient diameter for receiving therethrough said single tube for helping to limit an adjustment distance between the nasal cannula and individual ones of said pair of ear pieces.