# US 11,439,784 B2 · Quiet nasal cannula > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,784 B2 - Document ID: US11439784B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/382,986 - Filed: 2019-04-12 - Published: 2019-10-31 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-31 - Assignees: Vapotherm, Inc. - Applicants: Vapotherm, Inc. - Inventors: Felino V. Cortez, Jr.; William F. Niland; George McGarrity - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439784B2 ## CPC - 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)} - A61M 16/0672: {Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy} - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A61M 16/1075: {by influencing the temperature (A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Devices for providing respiratory therapy to a patient are disclosed. One device includes first and second elongated lumens and a nosepiece. The elongated lumens each have a constant internal diameter. The nosepiece portion has a third lumen and a fourth lumen. The third and fourth lumens have constant internal diameters equal to those of the first and second lumens. The third and fourth lumens have inlet ends adapted to be connected to the outlet ends of the first and second lumens without constricting the internal diameter of the first and second lumens. The third and fourth lumens are configured to receive first and second flows of breathing gas from the first and second lumens and deliver the flows of breathing gas to outlets end of the third and fourth lumens. The second flow of breathing gas is maintained separate from the first flow of breathing gas within the nosepiece portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for providing respiratory therapy to a patient comprising: a first elongated lumen having a constant internal diameter, the first lumen having an inlet end and an outlet end; a second elongated lumen having a constant internal diameter, the second lumen having an inlet end and an outlet end; and a nosepiece portion configured to be connected to the outlet ends of the first and second lumens, the nosepiece portion having: a third lumen having a constant internal diameter equal to the constant internal diameter of the first lumen, the third lumen having an inlet end adapted to be connected to the outlet end of the first lumen without constricting the internal diameter of the first lumen, the third lumen configured to receive a first flow of breathing gas from the first lumen and deliver the first flow of breathing gas to an outlet end of the third lumen; and a fourth lumen having a constant internal diameter equal to the constant internal diameter of the second lumen, the fourth lumen having an inlet end adapted to be connected to the outlet end of the second lumen without constricting the internal diameter of the second lumen, the fourth lumen configured to receive a second flow of breathing gas from the second lumen and deliver the second flow of breathing gas to an outlet end of the fourth lumen, the second flow of breathing gas maintained separate from the first flow of breathing gas within the nosepiece portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the first lumen and the nosepiece portion define a substantially constant diameter flow path for the first flow of breathing gas from the inlet end of the first lumen to the outlet end of the third lumen, and the second lumen and the nosepiece portion define a substantially constant diameter flow path for the second flow of breathing gas from the inlet end of the second lumen to the outlet end of the fourth lumen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: one of the inlet end of the third lumen and the outlet end of the first lumen comprises an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion having an internal diameter substantially equal to an external diameter of the other one of the inlet end of the third lumen and the outlet end of the first lumen, and one of the inlet end of the fourth lumen and the outlet end of the second lumen comprises an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion having an internal diameter substantially equal to an external diameter of the other one of the inlet end of the fourth lumen and the outlet end of the second lumen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth lumens of the nosepiece portion are formed from a flexible material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the third and fourth lumens of the nosepiece portion have a minimum radius of curvature of approximately one quarter inch along their respective lengths. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second lumens have a minimum radius of curvature of approximately one half inch along their respective lengths. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second lumens have approximately equal lengths. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the constant internal diameter of the first lumen is equal to the constant internal diameter of the second lumen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising: a connector adapted to be connected to the inlet ends of the first and second lumens without constricting the internal diameters of the first and second lumens. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a source of heated and humidified breathing gas connected to the inlet ends of the first and second lumens. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the source of heated and humidified breathing gas provides gas at a flow rate of up to 40 lpm. ### Claim 12 A device for providing respiratory therapy to a patient comprising: a first elongated lumen, the first lumen having an inlet end and an outlet end; a second elongated lumen, the second lumen having an inlet end and an outlet end; and a nosepiece portion configured to be connected to the outlet ends of the first and second lumens, the nosepiece portion having: a third lumen having an inlet end adapted to be connected to the outlet end of the first lumen without constricting an internal diameter of the first lumen, the third lumen configured to receive a first flow of breathing gas from the first lumen and deliver the first flow of breathing gas to an outlet end of the third lumen; and a fourth lumen having an inlet end adapted to be connected to the outlet end of the second lumen without constricting an internal diameter of the second lumen, the fourth lumen configured to receive a second flow of breathing gas from the second lumen and deliver the second flow of breathing gas to an outlet end of the fourth lumen, the second flow of breathing gas maintained separate from the first flow of breathing gas within the nosepiece portion wherein the first lumen and the nosepiece portion define a substantially constant diameter flow path for the first flow of breathing gas from the inlet end of the first lumen to the outlet end of the third lumen; and wherein the second lumen and the nosepiece portion define a substantially constant diameter flow path for the second flow of breathing gas from the inlet end of the second lumen to the outlet end of the fourth lumen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein: one of the inlet end of the third lumen and the outlet end of the first lumen comprises an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion having an internal diameter substantially equal to an external diameter of the other one of the inlet end of the third lumen and the outlet end of the first lumen, and one of the inlet end of the fourth lumen and the outlet end of the second lumen comprises an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion having an internal diameter substantially equal to an external diameter of the other one of the inlet end of the fourth lumen and the outlet end of the second lumen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the third and fourth lumens of the nosepiece portion are formed from a flexible material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the third and fourth lumens of the nosepiece portion have a minimum radius of curvature of approximately one quarter inch along their respective lengths. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the first and second lumens have a minimum radius of curvature of approximately one half inch along their respective lengths. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the first and second lumens have approximately equal lengths. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the internal diameter of the first lumen is about equal to the internal diameter of the second lumen. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, further comprising: a connector adapted to be connected to the inlet ends of the first and second lumens without constricting the internal diameters of the first and second lumens. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, further comprising a source of heated and humidified breathing gas connected to the inlet ends of the first and second lumens. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the source of heated and humidified breathing gas provides gas at a flow rate of up to 40 lpm.