Adjustable sealing nasal cannula

• US 20060107958A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tiara Medical Systems, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Tiara Medical Systems, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Sleeper, Geoffrey P.
• Application Number:
  US11/285,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20060107958A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/206.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0611 with a gusset portion
• 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 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking

Abstract

An adjustable ventilation interface for a continuous positive airway pressure system includes a nasal cannula body. The nasal cannula body includes a pair of nasal prongs that are adjustable with respect to each other. The nasal prongs are located on a top portion of the nasal cannula body to create a sealing interface between the nasal cannula body and a nose. Another sealing interface is provided by a bellows-like structure integrally molded in a portion of the nasal cannula body. The bellows portion acts as a compression spring; thereby creating an adjustable sealing between the nasal cannula body and the nose.

Claims

1. A ventilation interface comprising:

a nasal cannula body, the nasal cannula body comprising;

a pair of nasal prongs located on a top portion of the nasal cannula body; and

a first bellows-like structure positioned between the nasal prongs, the first bellows-like structure being configured to provide adjustability in a center-to-center distance between the nasal prongs.

2. The ventilation interface of claim 1, wherein the nasal prongs are substantially barrel-shaped to create a large sealing surface when inserted into the nose.

3. The ventilation interface of claim 1, wherein the nasal prongs include two or more rings provided thereon to create a sealing surface between an outer surface of the rings and an inner surface of a patient'"'"'s nares.

4. The ventilation interface of claim 1, wherein the nasal prongs include a thin, ribbed wall that inflates under pressure.

5. The ventilation interface of claim 4, wherein the nasal prongs are substantially barrel-shaped when inflated under pressure.

6. The ventilation interface of claim 1, wherein the nasal prongs include a bulbous-shaped base portion.

7. The ventilation interface of claim 6, wherein the bulbous-shaped base portion tapers into a straight-shaped end portion.

8. The ventilation interface of claim 1, wherein the first bellows-like structure is materially integral with the nasal cannula body.

9. The ventilation interface of claim 1, wherein the first bellows-like structure is a separate component from each of the nasal prongs.

10. The ventilation interface of claim 1, further comprising a second bellows-like structure positioned between a top surface and a bottom surface of the nasal cannula body, the second bellows-like structure being configured to create a sealing interface between the top surface of the nasal cannula body and a bottom surface of a patient'"'"'s nose.

11. The ventilation interface of claim 10, wherein the second bellows-like structure is materially integral with the nasal cannula body.

12. The ventilation interface of claim 1, further comprising a pair of supply tubes for delivering a gas to a patient via the nasal cannula body.

13. The ventilation interface of claim 12, wherein the supply tubes are formed integrally with the nasal cannula body.

14. The ventilation interface of claim 12, wherein the supply tubes are coupled to the nasal cannula body via at least one swivel component.

15. The ventilation interface of claim 1, further comprising a pair of flanges for securing a headgear strap thereto.

16. The ventilation interface of claim 15, wherein the flanges are formed integrally with the nasal cannula body.

17. The ventilation interface of claim 15, wherein a first flange is formed integrally with a first inlet port of the nasal cannula body and a second flange is formed integrally with a second inlet port of the nasal cannula body.

18. The ventilation interface of claim 15, wherein the flanges are positioned at an angle of about 45-degrees with respect to a central axis of an inlet port formed integrally with the nasal cannula body.

19. The ventilation interface of claim 1, wherein a main portion of the nasal cannula body is shaped to conform to a mustache area of a patient'"'"'s face.

20. A ventilation interface comprising:

a nasal cannula body;

a pair of nasal prongs located on a top portion of the nasal cannula body;

a first bellows-like structure positioned between the pair of nasal prongs; and

a second bellows-like structure positioned between a top surface of the nasal cannula body and a bottom surface of the nasal cannula body,

wherein the first bellows-like structure is configured to expand and contract in a direction that is substantially transverse to the direction in which the second bellows-like structure is configured to expand and contract.

21. The ventilation interface of claim 20, wherein each of the first and second bellows-like structures are materially integral with the nasal cannula body.

22. The ventilation interface of claim 20 wherein the nasal prongs comprise a thin, ribbed wall that inflates under pressure to create the sealing surface.

23. The ventilation interface of claim 22, wherein the thin, ribbed wall is substantially vertically corrugated.

24. The ventilation interface of claim 22, wherein the thin, ribbed wall comprises a whorled configuration such that pressure inside the nasal prongs can cause the nasal prongs to expand with a slight twisting motion.

25. A ventilation interface comprising:

a nasal cannula body; and

a pair of nasal prongs located on a top portion of the nasal cannula body, the nasal prongs comprising a vertical corrugations having a whorled configuration such that pressure inside the nasal prongs can cause the nasal prongs to expand with a slight twisting motion.

26. The ventilation interface of claim 25, further comprising a first bellows-like structure positioned between the nasal prongs, the first bellows-like structure being configured to expand and contract to provide adjustability of a center-to-center distance between the nasal prongs.

27. The ventilation interface of claim 26, further comprising a second bellows-like structure positioned between a top surface of the nasal cannula body and a bottom surface of the nasal cannula body, the second bellows-like structure being configured to provide a sealing interface between the top surface of the nasal cannula body and a bottom surface of a patient'"'"'s nose.

28. A ventilation interface comprising:

means for adjusting a center-to-center distance between two nasal prongs projecting from a top portion of a nasal cannula body;

means for creating a first sealing interface between a top surface of the nasal cannula body and a bottom surface of a patient'"'"'s nose; and

means for creating a second sealing interface between an outer surface of the nasal prongs and an inner surface of the patient'"'"'s nose.