Nasal continuous positive airway pressure apparatus and method

• US 5,269,296 A
• Filed: 02/17/1993
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AIRWAYS ASSOCIATES
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Landis
• Inventors: Landis, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/019,993
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 128/DIG. 26, 128/911, 128/912, 128/207.15, 128/207.16, 128/207.17, 128/207.18, 128/204.11, 128/204.12, 128/204.18, 128/200.24 , 128/200.26, 128/201.22, 128/203.21, 604/94
• 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 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/912 Connections and closures for tubes delivering fluids to or from the body

Abstract

A nasal continuous positive airway pressure apparatus includes a pair of cannula each having an inflatable cuff to position the cannulae within the nares of a patient. The cannulae are connected to a source of positive air pressure to provide continuous positive nasal airway pressure. The cuffs may be inflated by providing cuff apertures in the cannula so that the positive airway pressure during inhalation and exhalation maintain the cuffs inflated and the cannulae positioned within the nares during treatment. Alternatively, the cuffs may be separately inflated. The apparatus includes an inflatable air strap harness to position and hold the nasal cannulae device relative to the patient'"'"'s head. The inflatable air strap harness is soft and flexible and comfortable for the patient to wear. The air strap is inflated and secured, such as with a hook and loop belt, surrounding the patient'"'"'s head with the cannulae inserted into the patient'"'"'s nares. The cuffs are inflated and air pressure applied to the conduit to administer treatment. The air strap is inflated by the same air pressure being applied to the patient'"'"'s airway or is inflated by a separate source such as a hand pump.

Claims

1. A nasal airway pressure device comprising:

a pair of naris cannulae made of a substantially rigid material, each said cannulae configurated and dimensioned for insertion into the naris of a patient and having a lumen;

a pair of inflatable cuffs, each said cuff surrounding at least a portion of one of said cannulae, each said cuff configured and dimensioned to inflate and come into contact with the interior, naris defining walls of a patient'"'"'s nose so as to maintain the position of a portion of said cannulae within a naris of a patient and establish a substantially air-tight seal between said cannular portion and the naris, a second portion of said cannulae configurated and dimensioned to extend out of the naris;

at least one aperture providing gaseous communication between said cannulae lumen and said inflatable cuff for inflating said inflatable cuffs;

a conduit in communication with said lumen at said second cannular portion for supplying positive gas pressure to said lumen, said positive gas pressure inflating said cuffs through said aperture during inhalation by the patient so that said cuffs engage the interior walls of the patient'"'"'s naris in order to maintain the position of said cannulae in the naris and establish a substantially air-tight seal between said cannulae and the naris, said cuffs being inflated during exhalation of the patient by exhaled gas expelled through said cannulae in communication with said aperture, said conduit including at least one vent hole for relieving excess pressure during exhalation.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for providing gaseous communication comprises at least one aperture through a wall of said cannulae.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for providing continuous positive pressure to said conduit.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the relative position of said cannulae.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said means for adjusting the relative position of said cannulae comprises a resilient member connected to each said cannulae.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said resilient member is made of metal.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a harness for supporting the device on the head of a patient.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said harness comprises at least one inflatable tubular member and means for securing said inflatable tubular member with respect to a patient'"'"'s head.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said harness comprises:

at least two flexible inflatable tubular members configured and dimensioned to be disposed on either side of a patient'"'"'s head, said flexible members connected at an apex to an air supply tube, a connecting member attaching said inflatable tubular members distal to said apex and securing means releasably connecting said tubular members around a patient'"'"'s head to support said cannular in the patient'"'"'s naris.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said material is steel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said material is plastic.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cuffs are made of a soft flexible material.

13. A nasal airway pressure device comprising:

at least one naris cannular having a lumen;

an inflatable cuff surrounding at least portion of said cannulae within a naris of a patient and establishing a substantially air-tight seal between said cannular and the naris;

means for inflating said inflatable cuff;

conduit means in communication with said lumen for supplying positive gas pressure to said lumen; and

a harness of at least two flexible inflatable tubular members configured and dimensioned to be disposed on either side of a patient'"'"'s head, said flexible members connected at an apex to an air supply tube, a connecting member attaching said inflatable tubular members distal to said apex and securing means releasably connecting said tubular members around a patient'"'"'s head to support said cannular in the patient'"'"'s nares, said at least two flexible inflatable members and said connecting member being hollow inflatable members in gaseous communication with each other and said supply tube and said conduit means, said flexible inflatable tubular members and said connecting member being inflated and said lumen being supplied with positive gas pressure when positive air pressure is supplied to said air supply tube.

14. A method of providing nasal positive airway pressure comprising:

providing a pair of nasal cannular, each said cannular having inflatable cuff means surrounding a portion thereof and configured and dimensioned to inflate into contact with the interior, naris defining, walls of a patient'"'"'s nose, each said cannular having a lumen and at least one aperture providing gaseous communication between said cannular lumen and said inflatable cuff means, said cannulae and cuff configured and dimensioned to be inserted into a naris of a patient;

inserting each said cannulae into a naris of a patient; and

supplying positive air pressure to said cannulae lumen to provide nasal positive airway pressure, said positive air pressure inflating said cuffs during inhalation by the patient so that said cuffs engage the interior walls of the patient'"'"'s naris in order to maintain the position of said cannulae in the naris and establish a substantially air-tight seal between said cannular and the naris, said cuffs being inflated during exhalation of the patient by exhaled gas expelled through said cannulae.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of supplying positive air pressure to said cannulae comprises;

providing an inflatable air strap harness connected to and in gaseous communication with said cannulae and a source a positive air pressure; and

activating said source of positive air pressure.

16. A harness for securing a nasal air supply device to a patient'"'"'s head comprising:

a first inflatable flexible member having a proximal portion, a distal base portion and a leg portion;

a second inflatable flexible tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal base portion and a distal leg portion, said first member base portion and said second member base portion attached to each other, said first and second member base portions connected to each other by an inflatable flexible tubular connecting member in gaseous communication with at least one of said flexible tubular members;

means for releasably securing said first member leg portion to said second member leg portion, at least one of said flexible tubular members supporting a nasal air supply device; and

means for inflating said first and second tubular members about a patient'"'"'s head to secure a nasal air supply device relative to the patient'"'"'s head.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said releasable securing means comprise a buckle.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein said releasable securing means comprise a hook and loop fastener.

19. A harness for securing a nasal air supply device to a patient'"'"'s head comprising:

a first inflatable flexible member having a proximal portion, a distal base portion and a leg portion;

a second inflatable flexible tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal base portion and a distal leg portion, said first member base portion and said second member base portion attached to each other, said first and second inflatable flexible tubular members including a buttress portion connecting said distal leg portions to said proximal portions;

means for releasably securing said first member leg portion to said second member leg portion, at least one of said flexible tubular members supporting a nasal air supply device; and

means for inflating said first and second tubular members about a patient'"'"'s head to secure a nasal air supply device relative to the patient'"'"'s head.