Combination integral bite block airway and nasal cannula

• US 5,513,634 A
• Filed: 05/06/1994
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gi Supply, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chek-Med Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Jackson, Frank W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US08/239,195
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/207.17, 128/207.18, 128/912, 128/DIG. 26, 128/207.14
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• 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 16/0666 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/912 Connections and closures for tubes delivering fluids to or from the body

Abstract

A combination plastic relatively rigid bite block and soft nasal cannula intended for one-time use for supplying oxygen to a patient'"'"'s nostrils during an endoscopic procedure. The cannula is fixed into the bite block by an integral clip portion of the cannula extending downwardly from a manifold portion and adhered to the bite block. Flexible nasal prongs extend upwardly from the manifold into the patient'"'"'s nostrils to supply supplementary gas separately from air breathed through the patient'"'"'s mouth.

Claims

1. A combined and integral endoscopic bite block and nasal cannula arrangement comprising:

a) a bite block assembly having an airway adapted to introduce ambient air into a patient'"'"'s mouth, and a nasal cannula arrangement mounting member extending upwardly above said airway;

b) a nasal cannula arrangement having a manifold adapted to receive a supplemental gas, a pair of resilient nasal prongs adapted to extend into a patient'"'"'s nostrils, said nasal prongs delivering a supplemental gas, and a downwardly extending member that engages said mounting member of said bite block, said nasal cannula arrangement being fixedly mounted above said bite block airway; and

c) means for improving comfort and for preventing nasal tissue damage comprising said bite block assembly being molded from a relatively rigid plastic, the nasal cannula arrangement being molded from a relatively flexible plastic, and said manifold and mounting member of said nasal cannula arrangement having relatively thick walls so as to have adequate structural strength and said nasal prongs having relatively thin walls, and being soft and flexible.