Apparatus and method for mask free delivery of an inspired gas mixture and gas sampling

• US 7,152,604 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott Laboratories, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Scott Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Lampotang, Samsun, Hickle, Randall S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin P
• Application Number:
  US09/878,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.18, 128/116.26, 128/204.18, 128/204.22, 128/205.11
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• 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 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/437 the anaesthetic agent concentration

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for the delivery of inspired gas, e.g., supplemental O₂, to a person combined with gas sampling, including for the purpose of monitoring of the ventilation of the person. In the invention, the delivery of inspired gas and gas sampling are accomplished without the use of a sealed face mask. The apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention comprises an oxygen delivery device, nasal airway pressure sampling devices, optionally an oral airway pressure sampling device and at least one pressure analyzer connected to the sampling devices which determine the phase of the person'"'"'s respiration cycle and the person'"'"'s primary airway. The oxygen delivery device is connected to a controller such that it delivers a higher flow of oxygen to the person during the inhalation phase of the person s respiratory cycle. The invention thus increases end tidal oxygen concentrations. The invention further comprises carbon dioxide sampling tubes that continuously sample gas from two nasal sites and the mouth. The nasal sampling tubes are connected to a switching valve that is in turn connected to a capnometer which determines carbon dioxide concentration during exhalation. The oral gas sampling site is connected to a second capnometer.

Claims

1. A method for supplying an inspired gas to a person while sampling expired gases from the person, the method comprising:

positioning an oronasal gas device on the person in an area between a nose and a mouth of the person, said oronasal device having a lumen for supplying a gas from a source to the person and fluid outlets that direct said supplied gas toward nostrils of the nose and toward the mouth for inhalation, said device also having portions that extend from a body of the device, two of said portions being nostril portions extending such that each may be inserted into a different nostril of the nose and a third portion extending into a breath stream of the mouth, said two nostril portions having fluid inlets adapted to channel expired gases from the nostrils to a sensor for detecting when said person is inhaling and exhaling, wherein said fluid outlets are located away from said fluid inlets to minimize mixing of expired gases and said supplied gas;

collecting expired gases using said fluid inlets and transmitting said collected expired gases through a plurality of lumens;

determining whether the person is in an exhalation or an inhalation phase of a respiratory cycle using said sensor;

delivering an increased flow of inspired gas to the person during the determined inhalation phase of the respiratory cycle; and

analyzing said expired gases using an analyzer, said analyzer receiving expired gases collected by at least two of said fluid inlets independently via at least two of said lumens such that expired gases from said at least two fluid inlets are independently analyzed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplied gas includes pure gas.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pure gas includes oxygen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inspired gas includes a gas mixture.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the gas mixture includes a mixture of oxygen and air.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising using said sensor to determine a primary respiratory site, and wherein said analyzer is adapted to analyze expired gases collected from said primary respiratory site.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said determination of said primary respiratory site includes identifying a less obstructed one of said nostrils such that said analyzer is adapted to analyze expired gases collected from said less obstructed nostril by an appropriate one of said fluid inlets.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the gas stream at the mouth is continuously sampled, in addition to sampling at said less obstructed one of said nostrils.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said analyzing of said expired gases comprises monitoring the ventilation of the person at least in accordance with the determination of the person'"'"'s primary respiratory site.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an expired breath stream at the mouth is continuously collected and analyzed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the monitoring of the ventilation is accomplished by measuring the CO₂ levels in the person'"'"'s expired breath gas stream.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring of the ventilation is accomplished by measuring the end-tidal CO₂ value.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring of the ventilation is accomplished by determining the area under the expired CO₂ time plot.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein determining said primary respiratory site is accomplished by sampling pressure at the respiratory sites and comparing said pressures to identify a respiratory site demonstrating a larger pressure swing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining of whether the person in the exhalation or inhalation phase comprises analyzing pressure in the person'"'"'s breath gas streams collected in said fluid inlets with said sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said detector is a pressure transducer.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring the respiratory rate in accord with the pressure analysis.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring the inspiratory/expiratory time ratio in accord with the pressure analysis.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the pressure in the person'"'"'s breath gas stream is determined by sampling pressure at at least one respiratory site.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the person is in the exhalation or inhalation phase comprises analyzing the humidity in the person'"'"'s breath gas stream with said detecting lumens and said detector.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising monitoring a respiratory rate in accord with the humidity analysis.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising monitoring an inspiratory/expiratory time ratio in accord with the humidity analysis.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the person is in the exhalation or inhalation phase comprises analyzing the temperature in the person'"'"'s breath gas stream with said detecting lumens and said detector.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising monitoring a respiratory rate in accord with the temperature analysis.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising monitoring an inspiratory/expiratory time ratio in accord with the temperature analysis.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing said expired gases includes sampling the level of CO₂ in the person'"'"'s expired breath gas stream.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a decreased flow of inspired gas to the person during said exhalation phase, wherein said decreased flow is sufficiently low to avoid interfering with collecting of said expired gases.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing said expired gases comprises monitoring the level of a drug in the person'"'"'s expired breath gas stream.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the drug is an intravenous anesthetic.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the drug is propofol.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing said expired gases comprises detecting xenon in the person'"'"'s expired breath gas stream.

32. The method according to claim 1, wherein said lumens and said oronasal device comprise a pneumatic harness, and wherein said lumens are pre-packaged in one or more clusters, said clusters being manually separable from one another and thereby attachable to said oronasal device prior to positioning on the person.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said clusters have tear lines to permit separation of the lumens from one another.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein each cluster has a cross section defining an aerofoil shape.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein said pneumatic harness further comprises an adapter that facilitates connecting the pneumatic harness to a medical device.

36. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining which of two nostrils of the nose is less obstructed, wherein said determining of the less obstructed nostril includes:

sensing pressure in the gas stream of each nostril;

comparing the pressure variations in the gas stream within each nostril;

comparing the extent of variation of said pressures as between each nostril; and

selecting the nostril with the larger pressure variation as the nostril that is less obstructed.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the nostril that is less obstructed is selected to receive inspired gas.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the nostril that is less obstructed is selected for said collecting of said expired gases.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein said portions each include a distal end and a proximate end, said distal ends having openings to said fluid inlets and said proximate ends being attached to a body of said cannula, and wherein said fluid outlets comprise a plurality of holes located immediately about and partially surrounding the proximate ends of said nostril portions.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said fluid outlets comprise a plurality of holes arranged in an arc around a base of each nostril portion to diffuse supplied gas into each nostril respectively.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said plurality of holes are arranged to deliver supplied gas toward said nostrils in a diffuse manner.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said plurality of holes are arranged substantially concentrically to said nostril portions.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein said fluid outlets are located downstream from said fluid inlets relative to corresponding ones of said expired gases streams.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensor is in communication with said nostril fluid inlets via sensor fluid channels running through said body, each said sensor fluid channel joining with a fluid inlet of one of said nostril portions.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said analyzer is in communication with said nostril fluid inlets via analyzer fluid channels running through said body, at least one said analyzer fluid channel joining with a fluid inlet of each said nostril portion and one said analyzer channel joining with a fluid inlet of said third portion.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said analyzer fluid channels connect said nostril fluid inlets to a first analyzer and said fluid inlet of said third prong to a second analyzer.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein said sensor detects pressure changes caused by expired gases exiting the nose.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivery of said flow of inspired gas is performed by an automated gas delivery device, said delivery device comprising a flow control valve and a controller wherein the controller runs software that indicates an error to a user if while the flow control valve is open, the controller detects pressure at said source of said supplied gas but fails to detect pressure downstream of the flow control valve.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises monitoring changes in a sum of the pressures detected at both nostrils.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said delivering step comprises initiating said increased flow of inspired gas when said sum crosses an upper negative pressure threshold in a decreasing direction, and ceasing said increased flow when said sum crosses a lower negative pressure threshold in an increasing direction.

51. An apparatus that delivers inspired gas to a person and samples expired gases from the person, said apparatus comprising:

an inspired gas delivery device, said gas delivery device comprising a mechanism for delivering a variable flow of supplied gas for inspiration by the person and a controller for managing said mechanism in response to a determined phase of the person'"'"'s respiration cycle;

a supply lumen for providing said supplied gas from said delivery device to the person;

a maskless oronasal device in fluid communication with said supply lumen, said oronasal device having an elongated body adapted to be situated on the person in an area between a nose and a mouth of the person, said oronasal device having portions adapted to extend from said body, two of said portions being nostril portions extending such that each may be inserted into a different nostril of the nose and a third portion extending into a breath stream of the mouth, and said oronasal device comprising a plurality of fluid outlets adapted to direct flow of supplied gas from said supply lumen in a direction of each nostril and a direction of the mouth for inhalation, wherein said portions each have fluid inlets adapted to collect expired gases individually from streams of expired gas emanating from each said nostril and said mouth;

a sensor in fluid communication with one or more of said two nostril fluid inlets of said oronasal device, said sensor generating signals to said controller indicating said determined breath phase of the person;

an analyzer adapted to detect characteristics of said expired breath gas streams, said analyzer being in electronic communication with said sensor and in fluid communication with two or more of said fluid inlets via a plurality of lumens, said analyzer thereby being adapted to detect characteristics of expired gases collected by at least two of said fluid inlets independently via at least two corresponding ones of said lumens; and

wherein said analyzer detects said characteristics in coordination with the determined phase of the person'"'"'s respiration cycle, and wherein the inspired gas delivery device controller modulates delivery of inspired gas to said oronasal device in accordance with the determined phase of the person'"'"'s respiration cycle so as to provide a higher flow of supplied gas to the person during an inhalation phase.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said portions comprise at least one nasal portion for each said nostril and at least one portion for the mouth.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said sensor comprises a pressure comparator and wherein at least one of the inlets in two or more of said portions are connected to said pressure comparator such that said sensor can determine a primary respiratory site of the person.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein said analyzer further comprises a gas detecting device wherein the gas detecting device comprises a nasal gas sampling device and an oral gas sampling device and wherein the controller selects at least the gas stream from the primary respiratory site for monitoring.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the controller directs said mechanism to deliver a higher flow of supplied gas during a portion of the inhalation phase of the person'"'"'s respiratory cycle, and a lower flow of supplied gas otherwise.

56. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said portion of the inhalation phase ends in advance of the inhalation phase.

57. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said analyzer further comprises a gas detecting device.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the gas detecting device is a capnometer.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said gas detecting device comprises a nasal gas sampling device and an oral gas sampling device, and wherein the oral and nasal gas sampling devices are capnometers in fluid communication with appropriate ones of said fluid inlets.

60. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said inspired gas delivery device comprises a flow control valve and wherein the controller runs software that indicates an error to a user if while the flow control valve is open, the controller detects pressure at a source of said supplied gas but fails to detect pressure downstream of the flow control valve.

61. The apparatus of claim 51 also comprising an auditory breath sonification device that amplifies breath sounds.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the auditory breath sonification device is a microphone that amplifies actual breath sounds.

63. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising an auditory breath sonification device, wherein the auditory breath sonification device comprises a white noise generator that provides simulated breath sounds in response to said determined phase.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein said simulated breath sounds distinguish between inhalation and exhalation breath sounds according to said determined present phase of the person'"'"'s respiration cycle.

65. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the gas detecting device measures CO₂ presence.

66. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the gas detecting device measures xenon presence.

67. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the detector is adapted to identify traces of a drug in expired breath gas of the person.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the drug is an intravenous anesthetic.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the drug is propofol.

70. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said portions have distal ends with openings for expired gas to enter said fluid inlets, and wherein said openings extend sufficiently into expired breath airstreams of one nostril of the nose or the mouth and away from said fluid outlets so as to limit interference by said supplied gas upon said analyzer.

71. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the controller provides a reduced flow of supplied gas during an exhalation phase.

72. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said lumens and said oronasal device are disposable, and wherein said lumens are packaged affixed to one another along separable tear lines.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the lumen that accommodates the flow of inspired gas is of larger circumference than the other lumens.

74. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said oronasal device is connected to an auditory device via a sound lumen, said auditory device creating a sound that is transmitted to the person such that said sound lumen functions as a stimulus channel that carries an auditory prompt to the person.

75. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said increased flow of supplied gas is delivered during a portion of the inhalation phase of the person'"'"'s respiratory cycle, and wherein said portion of the inhalation phase ends in advance of the exhalation phase.

76. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said lumens and said oronasal device comprise a pneumatic harness, and wherein said lumens are pre-packaged in one or more clusters, said clusters being manually separable from one another and thereby attachable to said device body prior to positioning on the person.

77. The apparatus according to claim 76, wherein at least one of the lumens is larger than the other lumens.

78. The apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said clusters have tear lines to permit separation of the lumens from one another.

79. The apparatus according to claim 76, wherein at least one of said clusters has a cross section defining an aerofoil shape to accommodate multiple fluid communication channels.

80. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said nostril portions include a distal end and a proximate end, said distal end having openings to said fluid inlets and said proximate ends being attached to said body, and wherein said fluid outlets comprise a plurality of holes located immediately about and partially surrounding the proximate end of each said nostril portion.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein said fluid outlets comprise a plurality of holes arranged in an arc around a base of each nostril portion to diffuse supplied gas into each corresponding nostril.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein said plurality of holes are arranged to deliver supplied gas toward said nostrils in a diffuse manner.

83. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein said plurality of holes are arranged in a pattern substantially concentrically to each nostril portion.

84. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said fluid outlets are located downstream from said fluid inlets relative to corresponding ones of said expired gases streams.

85. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said sensor is in communication with said nostril fluid inlets via sensor fluid channels running through said body, each said sensor fluid channel joining with a fluid inlet of one of said nostril portions.

86. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein said analyzer is in communication with said nostril fluid inlets via analyzer fluid channels running through said body, at least one said analyzer fluid channel joining with a fluid inlet of each said nostril portion and one said analyzer channel joining with a fluid inlet of said third portion.

87. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein said analyzer fluid channels connect said nostril fluid inlets to a first analyzer and said fluid inlet of said third portion to a second analyzer.

88. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein said sensor detects pressure changes caused by expired gases exiting the nose.

89. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said sensor monitors changes in a sum of the pressures detected at both the nostrils.

90. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein said signal to said controller causes said controller to initiate said higher increased flow of inspired gas when said sum crosses an upper negative pressure threshold in a decreasing direction, and ceasing said higher flow when said sum crosses a lower negative pressure threshold in an increasing direction.

91. A method for delivering an inspired gas to a person and monitoring gases expired by the person, said method comprising:

determining the breath phase of the person with a detector, said detector having fluid lumens interfacing with the person via fluid inlets inserted in paths of one or more expired breath gas streams of the person, said paths emanating from nostrils napes of a nose and from a mouth of the patient, said fluid inlets being formed within portions of an oronasal device, said oronasal device having a body and said portions being attached at respective bases to said body and extending from said body, said fluid inlets being in fluid communication with said detector lumens through said body, and said determined breath phase including an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase;

delivering a relatively higher flow of an inspired gas to the person during the inhalation phase, said inspired gas being introduced proximate to the nose of the person via a plurality of fluid outlet holes in said device body, said holes being located immediately about the base of each said portion that extends toward said nostrils so as to partially surround each said portion that extend towards said nostrils; and

monitoring gases in the one or more expired breath gas streams with an analyzer to assess the health of the person, said analyzer being in communication with one or more of said fluid inlets, and said analyzer thereby interfacing with the person via said one or more paths;

wherein said monitoring provides feedback for controlling flow of said inspired gas.

92. The method of claim 91 further comprising determining at least one of the breath rate and inspiratory/expiratory time ratio.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein determining at least one of the breath phase, breath rate and inspiratory/expiratory time ratio is accomplished by analyzing the pressure waveform produced within at least one of said paths during said phases.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein determining at least one of the breath phase, breath rate and inspiratory/expiratory time ratio is accomplished by monitoring the humidity at at least one respiratory site.

95. The method of claim 92, wherein determining at least one of the breath phase, breath rate and inspiratory/expiratory time ratio is accomplished by monitoring the temperature at at least one respiratory site.

96. The method of claim 91 also comprising the step of delivering a relatively lower flow of inspired gas during the exhalation phase.

97. The method of claim 91, wherein the monitoring of exhaled gas is performed during a period of lower gas flow in the exhalation phase.

98. The method of claim 91, wherein said nostril portions include a distal end and a proximate end, said distal end having openings to said fluid inlets and said proximate ends being attached to said body of said oronasal device, and wherein said fluid outlet holes are located immediately about and partially surrounding the proximate end of said nostril portions.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein said fluid outlet holes are arranged in an arc around the base of each nostril portion to diffuse supplied gas into each nostril.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein said plurality of holes are arranged to deliver supplied gas into said nostrils in a diffuse manner.

101. The method of claim 99, wherein said plurality of holes are arranged in a substantially concentric pattern around each said nostril portion.

102. The method of claim 91, wherein said fluid outlet holes are located downstream from said fluid inlets relative to corresponding ones of said expired streams.

103. The method of claim 91, wherein said sensor is in communication with said nostril fluid inlets via sensor fluid channels running through said body, each said sensor fluid channel joining with a fluid inlet of one of said nostril portions.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein said analyzer is in communication with said nostril fluid inlets via analyzer fluid channels running through said body, at least one said analyzer fluid channel joining with a fluid inlet of each said nostril portion and one said analyzer fluid channel joining with a fluid inlet of said third portion.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein said analyzer fluid channels connect said nostril portion fluid inlets to a first analyzer and said third portion fluid inlets to a second analyzer, and said monitoring step utilizes said first and said second analyzer in cooperation.

106. The method of claim 103, wherein said sensor detects pressure changes caused by expired gases exiting the nose.

107. The method of claim 91, wherein said delivery of said flow of inspired gas is performed by an automated gas delivery device, said delivery device comprising a flow control valve and a controller wherein the controller runs software that indicates an error to a user if while the flow control valve is open, the controller detects pressure at said source of said supplied gas but fails to detect pressure downstream of the flow control valve.

108. The method of claim 91, wherein said determining step comprises monitoring changes in a sum of the pressures detected at both the nostrils.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein said delivering step comprises initiating said relatively higher flow of inspired gas when said sum crosses an upper negative pressure threshold in a decreasing direction, and ceasing said relatively higher flow when said sum crosses a lower negative pressure threshold in an increasing direction.

110. An apparatus that delivers inspired gas to a person and samples expired gases from the person, said apparatus comprising:

an inspired gas delivery device, said gas delivery device comprising a mechanism for delivering a variable flow of supplied gas for inspiration by the person and a controller for managing said mechanism in response to a determined phase of the person'"'"'s respiration cycle;

a supply lumen for providing said supplied gas from said delivery device to the person;

a maskless oronasal device in fluid communication with said supply lumen, said oronasal device having an elongated body adapted to be situated on the person in an area between a nose and a mouth of the person, said oronasal device having portions adapted to extend from said body, two of said portions being nostril portions extending such that each may be inserted into a different nostril of the nose and a third portion extending into a breath stream of the mouth, and said oronasal device comprising a plurality of fluid outlets adapted to direct flow of supplied gas from said supply lumen in a direction of each nostril and a direction of the mouth for inhalation, wherein said portions each have fluid inlets adapted to collect expired gases individually from streams of expired gas emanating from each said nostril and said mouth;

a sensor in fluid communication with said two nostril fluid inlets of said oronasal device, said sensor generating signals to said controller indicating said determined breath phase of the person;

an analyzer system in fluid communication with said fluid inlets and adapted to detect characteristics of said expired breath gas streams, said analyzer system comprising one or more analyzer devices being in electronic communication with said sensor; and

said fluid communication of said analyzer system with said fluid inlets comprising multiple lumens that allow fluid communication with said fluid inlet of said third portion to be independent of fluid communication of said analyzer system with at least one of said fluid inlets of said nostril portions; and

wherein said analyzer system detects said characteristics in coordination with the determined phase of the person'"'"'s respiration cycle, and wherein the inspired gas delivery device controller modulates delivery of inspired gas to said oronasal device in accordance with the determined phase of the person'"'"'s respiration cycle so as to provide a higher flow of supplied gas to the person during an inhalation phase and a lower flow of supplied gas to the person during an exhalation phase.

111. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein said analyzer devices comprise capnographs.

112. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein said wherein said nostril portions include a distal end and a proximate end, said distal end having openings to said fluid inlets and said proximate ends being attached to said body of said oronasal device, and wherein said fluid outlet holes are located immediately about and partially surrounding the proximate end of each said nostril portion.

113. The apparatus of claim 112, wherein said fluid outlet holes are arranged in a concentric arc around the base of each nostril portion to diffuse supplied gas into each nostril.