NASAL CANNULA

• US 3,682,171 A
• Filed: 03/31/1971
• Issued: 08/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carmelo P. Dali, Walter T. Szempruch
• Original Assignee: Carmelo P. Dali, Walter T. Szempruch
• Inventors: Dali, Carmelo P., Szempruch, Walter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, J. B.
• Application Number:
  US05/129,726
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206,348,14N,14R,145R,142-142.7,198-200
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0672 Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0688 by means of an adhesive

Abstract

Nasal cannula device molded of a soft, flexible material includes a tubular member which supports a pair of integral cannula extensions. Openings at each end of the tubular member provide alternative connection points for an oxygen supply tube. An arch-like nose bridge engageable band member integrally attached to the tubular member outwardly of the cannula extensions has a layer of adhesive on its under surface for anchoring the cannula to the patient'"'"''"'"'s nose.

Claims

1. A nasal oxygen cannula formed of soft flexible material and comprising an elongated cannula member, a pair of nasal cannula extension portions integral with and extending generally radially outwardly from a central region of said cannula member, said pair of nasal cannula being in flow communication with said elongated cannula member, an arch-like portion adapted to extend across the bridge of the nose of a user integrally joined at its ends to regions of said cannula member which are spaced away from said central region and toward the respective ends of said cannula member, said arch-like portion extending from said cannula member in generally the same direction as said nasal cannula extension portions and having a width along a midline of the arch in a direction which is transverse to the length of the arch which is greater than the diameter of one of the cannula extension portions and less than the spacing along said midline between the cannula member and the remotest point of said arch-like portion, means on said arch-like portion for attaching same to the nose of a user, and at least one opening in said cannula member for connecting said cannula to a source of oxygen.

2. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 1 wherein said arch-like portion has a width considerably greater than its thickness and a generally smooth undersurface.

3. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 2 wherein said means for attaching includes a portion of said undersurface covered by a layer of adhesive.

4. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 3 wherein said adhesive is of the pressure sensitive type and is protected before use by a layer of easily removed, lightly adherable material.

5. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 1 wherein said cannula member has openings at each of its ends adapted to receive either a length of oxygen supply tubing or a sealing plug.

6. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 1 wherein the ends of the cannula extensions which are remote from the cannula member have a greater internal diameter than the remainder of the cannula extensions.

7. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 1 wherein the cannula extensions have their axes generally parallel to the transverse midline of the arch-like portion.

8. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 1 wherein said cannula member is curved.

9. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 1 wherein the width along the midline of said arch-like portion is approximately one half of the distance between the cannula member and the remotest point on the midline of said arch-like portion.

10. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 9 wherein the width along the midline of said arch-like portion is less than one-half of the distance between the central region of the cannula member and the remotest point on the midline of said arch-like portion.

11. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 9 wherein said arch-like portion has a width considerably greater than its thickness, is smooth on its undersurface, and is covered over a portion of said undersurface by a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

12. The nasal oxygen cannula of claim 11 wherein said cannula is injection molded of a soft vinyl plastic.