# US 11,439,788 B2 · Systems and methods for providing respiratory therapy > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,788 B2 - Document ID: US11439788B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/293,329 - Filed: 2019-03-05 - Published: 2019-10-31 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-24 - Assignees: Vapotherm, Inc. - Applicants: Vapotherm, Inc. - Inventors: Felino V. Cortez, Jr.; William F. Niland; George McGarrity - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439788B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/14: by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - 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 16/0808: {Condensation traps} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - 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 A system for respiratory therapy may include a nebulizer, an adaptor, and a nasal cannula. The nebulizer is operable to generate an aerosolized medicament and pass the aerosolized medicament through a nebulizer outlet port. The adaptor has a nebulizer coupling port configured to be coupled to the nebulizer outlet port. The nasal cannula is configured to provide a flow of breathing gas from a breathing gas source to the patient. The nasal cannula includes at least one nasal prong and an attachment device positioned adjacent the at least one nasal prong. The attachment device is configured to secure the adaptor outlet port adjacent an outlet of the nasal prong. A method includes securing a nasal cannula to the patient, attaching an adaptor to the nasal cannula, generating an aerosolized medicament, transferring the aerosolized medicament into the adaptor, and providing a flow of breathing gas to the patient. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing respiratory therapy to a patient comprising: a nebulizer having a nebulizer outlet port, the nebulizer operable to generate an aerosolized medicament and pass the aerosolized medicament through the nebulizer outlet port; an adaptor having an adaptor body, nebulizer coupling port, and an adaptor outlet port, the nebulizer coupling port of the adaptor configured to be coupled to the nebulizer outlet port of the nebulizer; and a nasal cannula configured to provide a flow of breathing gas from a breathing gas source to the patient, the nasal cannula comprising: a cannula body with at least one nasal prong and an attachment device positioned adjacent the at least one nasal prong, the attachment device configured to secure the adaptor outlet port adjacent an outlet of the at least one nasal prong in a position that allows slipstreaming of aerosol from the adaptor outlet port into a flow of gas exiting the nasal cannula, such that the breathing gas mixes with the aerosolized medicament from the nebulizer before inhalation by the patient; and a supply tube for enabling fluid communication between the cannula body and a breathing gas source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor outlet port has a cross-sectional area less than the nebulizer coupling port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the adaptor body comprises a cone-shaped body extending between the nebulizer coupling port and the adaptor outlet port, the cone-shaped body oriented such that the adaptor outlet port has the cross-sectional area less than the nebulizer coupling port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor outlet port comprises a protrusion adapted to be received within the attachment device of the nasal cannula. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor body comprises a vent hole positioned between the nebulizer coupling port and the adaptor outlet port, the vent hole enabling venting of pressure from the adaptor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the adaptor further comprises a shielding portion positioned adjacent the vent hole, the shielding portion disposed to prevent obstruction of the vent hole. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptor is removably attached to the nebulizer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the nebulizer coupling port is configured to be slidably received within the nebulizer outlet port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one nasal prong comprises a pair of nasal prongs, and the attachment device is positioned directly adjacent a base of one of the pair of nasal prongs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the one nasal prong of the pair of nasal prongs is shorter than the other nasal prong of the pair of nasal prongs, and wherein the attachment device is positioned directly adjacent the base of the shorter nasal prong. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment device is configured to position the adaptor outlet port directly below a nare of the patient when the nasal cannula is secured to the patient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment device comprises a loop configured to receive a portion of the adaptor therethrough. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, the adaptor further comprising a drainage port configured to drain liquid medicament from the adaptor body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the drainage port comprises an elbow-shaped lumen extending outwardly from the adaptor body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein an end of the elbow-shaped lumen distal the adaptor body extends in the direction of the nebulizer coupling port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a syringe adapted to be coupled to the end of the elbow-shaped lumen distal the adaptor body, the syringe configured to withdraw medicament from the adaptor body.