NASAL/ORAL CANNULA SYSTEM AND MANUFACTURING

• US 20160213281A1
• Filed: 01/22/2016
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: MASIMO Sweden AB (Masimo Corporation)
• Inventors: Eckerbom, Anders, Zyzanski, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• 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 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/10 Device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/006 Joining parts moulded in separate cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/261 having tubular mould cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/33 having transversely, e.g. radially, movable mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/44 for undercut articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4895 Solvent bonding, i.e. the surfaces of the parts to be joined being treated with solvents, swelling or softening agents, without adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/523 by dipping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1282 comprising at least one overlap joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1284 comprising at least one butt joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/52241 with two right angles, e.g. for making T-shaped pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/007 Medical tubes other than catheters catheters B29L2031/7542

Abstract

A nasal/oral cannula for collecting a flow of exhaled gases and its method of manufacture are disclosed. The cannula comprises an elongated tubular body having a first and a second end portion, a surface and an internal volume; a wall internally disposed within said tubular body, said wall defining a first subvolume of said internal volume in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body; and an inlet through said surface, for introducing exhaled gases into said first subvolume. The first end portion defines an exit port for exhaled gases from said subvolume, and said wall is arranged directly adjacent to said inlet.

Claims

1. A respiratory cannula for collecting a flow of exhaled gases, said cannula comprising:

an elongated hollow tubular body extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the tubular body defining an internal volume;

a wall internally disposed within said tubular body, said wall defining a first subvolume of the internal volume in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body;

first and second hollow nostril prongs extending from the tubular body, one of the first and second hollow prongs comprising an inlet in fluid communication with the first subvolume of the internal volume and configured for transporting gas exhaled from the nostril of the patient to the first subvolume;

an aperture extending through said tubular body at a junction of the inlet and the internal volume;

wherein said first end portion defines an exit port for the gas from said subvolume, and

wherein said wall is arranged adjacent to said inlet.

2. The respiratory cannula according to claim 1, wherein said wall is arranged within said tubular body to provide a flow path for exhaled gases from said inlet to said exit port such that essentially the entire first subvolume forms part of said flow path.

3. The respiratory cannula according to claim 1, wherein said tubular body further comprises a length L, and said inlet is disposed at a distance of less than L/2 from said first end portion.

4. The respiratory cannula according to claim 1, wherein said first and second hollow prongs extend substantially perpendicularly away from the tubular body.

5. The respiratory cannula according to claim 1, wherein said tubular body further comprises a length L, and said inlet is disposed at a distance of about L/2 from said first end portion.

6. The respiratory cannula according to claim 5, wherein a second of the first and second hollow prongs comprises an additional inlet configured as a second hole extending through said tubular body, said additional inlet disposed at a distance of less than L/2 from said first end portion.

7. The respiratory cannula according to claim 1, wherein said tubular body further comprises a length L, and said inlet is disposed at a distance of more than L/2 from said first end portion.

8. The respiratory cannula according to claim 7, wherein a second of the first and second hollow prongs comprises an additional inlet configured as a second hole extending through said tubular body, said additional inlet disposed at a distance of less than L/2 from said first end portion.

9. The respiratory cannula according to claim 8, further comprising a third hollow prong extending from the tubular body and comprising a third inlet configured as a third hole extending through said tubular body, said second third inlet being arranged at a distance of about L/2 from said first end portion.

10. The respiratory cannula according to claim 1, wherein said wall internally disposed within said tubular body further defines a second subvolume of said internal volume in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body.

11. The respiratory cannula according to claim 10, wherein said second end portion defines an entrance port configured to allow a treating gas to enter said second subvolume.

12. The respiratory cannula according to claim 11, wherein a second of the first and second hollow prongs comprises an outlet configured as a second hole extending through said tubular body, the outlet in fluid communication with the entrance port and configured for transferring said treating gas from said second subvolume to the a patient.

13. A respiratory cannula system comprising:

a cannula comprising;

an elongated hollow tubular body extending between a first end portion and a second end portion the tubular body defining an internal volume;

a wall internally disposed within said tubular body, said wall defining a first subvolume of the internal volume in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body,

first and second hollow nostril prongs extending from the tubular body, one of the first and second hollow prongs comprising an inlet in fluid communication with the first subvolume of the internal volume and configured for transporting gas exhaled from the nostril of the patient to the first subvolume;

an aperture extending through said tubular body at a junction of the inlet and the internal volume;

wherein said first end portion defines an exit port for the gas from said subvolume, and

wherein said wall is arranged adjacent to said inlet;

a first nozzle adapted for the transport of exhaled gases from the cannula, a first end of the first nozzle configured in size and shape to mate with the first end of the cannula; and

a sampling tube adapted for the transport of exhaled gases from the cannula to an analyzer, the sampling tube extending between a second end of the first nozzle and the analyzer.

14. The respiratory cannula system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a second nozzle adapted for the supplementation of a treating gas to the cannula, the a first end of the second nozzle configured in size and shape to mate with the second end of the cannula; and

a treating gas tube adapted for the transport of a treating gas from a treating gas source to the cannula, the treating gas tube extending between a second end of the second nozzle and the treating gas source.

15. A method for the manufacture of a respiratory cannula system for collecting a flow of exhaled gases, said system comprising at least a cannula and a first nozzle, said method comprising the steps of:

providing, by injection molding of a manufacturing material, a cannula comprising;

an elongated tubular body having a surface extending between a first and a second end portion, an inlet configured as a hole extending through said surface, and a wall internally disposed within said tubular body;

providing, by injection molding of a manufacturing material, a first nozzle, and

assembling said nasal/oral cannula system by solvent bonding the cannula to the nozzle.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said cannula is provided by:

providing a cannula mold shaped to create a desired outer shape of said cannula;

providing a cannula cavity, including a wall cavity, within the cannula mold with the aid of a first and second inserts and at least one insert pin, said cannula cavity, including said wall cavity, corresponding to the shape of said cannula; and

filling the cannula cavity, including said wall cavity, with said manufacturing material.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said wall cavity is placed in a desired position within said cannula mold by movement of the first and second inserts.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said wall cavity is attributed a desired shape by varying the design of respective ends of the first and second inserts.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first and second inserts are placed into final positions before the at least one insert pin is placed into a final position.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein an end of the insert pin is configured to provide a tight seal against a side of the first insert when locked in their respective positions.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein said first nozzle is provided by:

providing a nozzle mold shaped to create a desired outer shape of said first nozzle;

providing a nozzle cavity within the nozzle mold with the aid of a first and a second cavity tool, said nozzle cavity corresponding to the shape of said nozzle; and

filling the nozzle cavity with said manufacturing material.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said nozzle cavity is attributed a desired shape by varying the design of the first and second cavity tools.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein an end of the first cavity tool is configured to provide a tight seal against an end of the second cavity tool when locked in their respective final positions.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said first and a second cavity tools are positioned at an angle relative to each other in order to provide an elbowed shape for said nozzle.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein said first and second cavity tools are configured to have two different cross-sectional diameters.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein said manufacturing material is PVC or polyurethane.

27. The method according claim 15, wherein the step of assembling said nasal/oral cannula system by solvent bonding comprises:

dipping said cannula and said first nozzle in a solvent; and

mounting the cannula to the first nozzle.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said solvent is tetrahydrofuran or cyclohexanone, either used separately or in combination.

29-50. -50. (canceled)