Nasal cannula assembly

• US 4,106,505 A
• Filed: 01/17/1977
• Issued: 08/15/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Salter Labs
• Original Assignee: Salter Labs
• Inventors: Salter, Peter W., Cook, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US05/760,239
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 128/206, 128/198, 128/207, 128/200, 128/199, 128/185, 128/147, 128/145.8, 128/348 R, 128/140 N, 128/DIG. 9, 128/DIG. 26
• 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: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

A nasal cannula assembly designed for contact with the nasalabidial area of a patient'"'"'s face comprising a nasal cannula, a pair of auxiliary oxygen supply tubes connected to the opposite ends of the nasal cannula, a slip loop disposed about the auxiliary supply tubes, and a main oxygen supply line. The nasal cannula is made of a flexible plastic material that is dip molded into a hollow tubular member having a main body portion whose cross-section is oval shaped with a vertical orientation and having a pair of spaced hollow tubular extensions projecting upwardly in a curved configuration from its upper surface. The main body portion has a horizontal axis extending along its length with an elbow formed at each end. An arm portion extends from each of the elbows and the axis of the arm portion intersects the horizontal plane of the axis of the main body portion at an acute angle from above the horizontal plane. The axis extending along the length of each arm also extends rearwardly at an acute angle to the horizontal axis of the main body portion. The acute angle at which the arm portion intersects the horizontal plane of the axis of the main body portion from above is such that the axis of the arm portion, if extended, will pass substantially tangential to the top of the patient'"'"'s ear. The acute angle at which the arm portion extends rearwardly with respect to the horizontal axis of the main body portion is such that the axis, if extended, will pass substantially tangential to the top of the patient'"'"'s ear. The arm portions have sleeve portions at their outer ends of reduced diameter for receiving the auxiliary supply tube.

Claims

1. A nasal cannula assembly designed for contact with the nasalabidial area of a patient'"'"'s nose and comprising:

(a) a hollow tubular member having an oxygen supply opening at each end, said tubular member having a central portion of sufficient length to span the width of an average patient'"'"'s nostrils and end portions extending acutely from each end of said central portion, said central portion having a pair of spaced, hollow tubular extensions integral with and projecting normally therefrom said tubular extensions terminating in gas directing orifices and which hollow portion of said extensions communicate with said hollow main body portion,

(b) said central portion having a longitudinal axis extending along its length, each said tubular extensions having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis of said central portion and said longitudinal axis of said extensions lying in a first plane each said end portions of said tubular member having a longitudinal axis lying in a second plane, said longitudinal axis of said central portion also lying in a third plane perpendicular to said first plane, each said end portion longitudinal axis lying in said second plane and projecting from said first and third planes at an acute angle greater than zero, said orifices of said tubular extensions angled acutely from said first plane toward said second plane.

2. A nasal cannula assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the acute angles at which the axes of the end portions intersect the first and second planes is such that the end portions, if extended, will pass substantially tangential to the top of the patient'"'"'s ear.

3. A nasal cannula assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said end portions have at their outer ends, sleeve portions of reduced diameter for receiving a flexible oxygen supply tube.

4. A nasal cannula assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said tubular extensions terminating in orifices are curved.

5. A nasal cannula assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said tubular member is composed of a material suficiently flexible to conform to the surface contour of the patient'"'"'s body.

6. A nasal cannula assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said main body portion has a cross-section that is oval-shaped with the major axis parallel to said first plane.

7. A nasal cannular assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said main body portion has a cross-section that is ovalshaped with the major axis parallel to said first plane.

8. A nasal cannular assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said main body portion has a cross-section that is oval-shaped with the major axis parallel to said first plane.