Oral cannula

• US 20080308108A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Melanie Paige Diorio
• Original Assignee: Melanie Paige Diorio
• Inventors: Diorio, Melanie Paige
• Application Number:
  US11/818,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308108A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0461 Nasoendotracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0495 with tongue depressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/125 Diluting primary gas with ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0413 with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)

Abstract

Embodiments include a method and apparatus for maintaining an open airway passage in a patient while having the capacity to provide supplemental gas such as oxygen to the patient. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an oral cannula comprising an extended cannula member and an oral airway member. The method may include inserting the oral cannula into a pharynx of the patient and providing gas such as oxygen directly to an opening of a glottis of the patient. Other embodiments include a kit comprising a nasal cannula member comprising a delivery cannula and at least two cannula prongs, an oral airway member, and at least two cannula extension members, each cannula extension member connectable to each nasal cannula member prong.

Claims

1. An oral cannula apparatus comprising:

an oral airway member comprising;

an enlarged proximal end to prevent the proximal end from slipping down a patient'"'"'s throat, the proximal end including a first passageway and a second passageway adapted to receive a cannula member therein, the first and second passageways extending along a length of the oral airway member, and

a distal end, the distal end capable of leading the oral airway member upon its insertion into a mouth and pharynx of a patient;

a cannula member having a first cannula and a second cannula extending from a delivery cannula,

wherein the first cannula is located within the first passageway and the second cannula is located within the second passageway, the first and second cannula extending to a location at or near the distal end, and

wherein the first and second cannula provide a delivery path therethrough to provide one or more gases from the first and second cannula directly to an opening of a glottis of the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oral airway member is constructed from a rigid material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cannula is completely engulfed within the first passageway and the second cannula is completely engulfed within the second passageway.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second cannula provide the one or more gases to the glottis from a location at or near the distal end of the oral airway member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cannula terminates at location at or near a distal end of the first passageway and the second cannula terminates at a location at or near a distal end of the second passageway.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first cannula is operably connected to the oral airway member within the first passageway and the second cannula is operably connected to the oral airway member within the second passageway.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second cannula extend generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to the delivery cannula.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delivery cannula is operably connected to a gas supply and provides a flow path for gas from the gas supply to the first and second cannula.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises oxygen.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delivery cannula, first cannula, and second cannula comprise a nasal cannula with a first tubular extension member operably connected to the first cannula and a second tubular extension member operably connected to the second cannula to allow the first and second cannula to extend in length to a location at or near the distal end of the oral airway member.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delivery cannula, first cannula, and second cannula are formed in one piece.

12. A kit comprising:

a nasal cannula member comprising a delivery cannula and at least two cannula prongs extending generally perpendicularly from the delivery cannula;

an oral airway member; and

at least two cannula extension members, each cannula extension member connectable to each nasal cannula member prong.

13. The kit of claim 12, wherein the kit is interchangeably capable of multi-purpose use, including as a nasal cannula, oral cannula, and extended oral cannula.

14. The kit of claim 12, wherein:

the oral airway member comprises at least two passages formed along its length on opposing sides of the oral airway member; and

an extended oral cannula is formable from the kit by connecting each cannula extension member to each nasal cannula prong and placing each cannula extension member within each passage of the oral airway member.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein each of the cannula extension members has a length which allows extension of the cannula extension members to a location at or near a distal end of the oral airway member when the cannula extension members are connected to the nasal cannula prongs and placed within the passages of the oral airway member.

16. The kit of claim 15, further comprising one or more connecting members for rigidly connecting the cannula extension members to their respective passages in the oral airway member.

17. A method comprising:

providing an oral cannula comprising;

an oral airway member having an enlarged proximal end and a distal end and first and second passageways extending from the proximal end to the distal end along the length of the oral airway member, and

a cannula member having a first cannula and a second cannula extending generally perpendicularly from a delivery cannula,

wherein the first cannula is located within the first passageway and the second cannula is located within the second passageway and the first and second cannula extend from the proximal end to a location at or near the distal end; and

inserting the distal end of the oral cannula into the mouth and pharynx of a patient until the first and second cannula at the distal end provide direct gas flow access to an opening of a glottis of the patient.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising delivering one or more gases through the first cannula or second cannula directly to the opening of the glottis.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more gases comprise oxygen.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising simultaneously using the oral cannula to provide supplemental oxygen directly to the glottis and maintain an open airway passage in a sedated patient.