Airflow nasal prong

A method comprising:

• placing a nasal prong partially within a nasal passage of a patient to direct airflow to the patient, wherein the nasal prong is attached to a nasal cannula and the nasal prong comprises:
• a tube configured to be partially placed in the nasal passage of the patient, the tube having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and a lumen extending therebetween,
• the first end configured to be positioned in the nasal passage below a top of an inferior concha and having an elongated opening faced supero-medially within the nasal passage and towards a roof of the nose,
• the second end configured to be positioned outside the nasal passage, and
• the intermediate portion of the tube having a concave bend having an angle relative to a posterior portion of a nostril and that is configured to keep a portion of the bend of the nasal prong on a portion of a floor of the nasal passage at and/or near an outer posterior edge of the nostril;
• aligning the nasal prong in the nasal passage of the patient so the concave bend of the intermediate portion at least partially rests on the portion of the floor of the nasal passage and the first end and the elongated opening face superior-medially within the nasal passage;
• and
• dispensing a mixture of oxygen through the nasal prong to the patient such that the elongated opening of the nasal prong directs the mixture of oxygen posteriorly and superiorly within the nasal cavity, above the inferior concha, around the middle concha, and towards the roof of the nose in a manner mimicking physiological airflow to increase humidification and temperature of the mixture of oxygen.

A nasal prong for directing airflow to a patient, the nasal prong comprising:

• a tube configured to be partially placed in a front portion of a nasal passage of the patient, the tube having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and a lumen extending therebetween;
• the second end comprising an opening being configured to receive laminar airflow and configured to be positioned outside the nasal passage;
• a portion of the lumen being configured to alter the laminar airflow to turbulent airflow;
• and
• the first end configured to follow contours of a floor of an outer edge of an entrance of a nasal cavity and to be positioned within the nasal passage below a top of an inferior concha, wherein the first end comprises a other opening configured to direct the turbulent airflow into the nasal passage, wherein the first end is cut at an angle greater than 15° and less than 90° relative to the second end such that the other opening of the first end is elongated compared to the opening of the second end, and wherein the other opening of the first end is configured to face supero-medially in the nasal passage, towards a roof of the nose, and to direct 70% of the turbulent airflow through a middle third of the nasal cavity around a middle concha and 15% each in a lower third and an upper third of the nasal cavity, respectively, to accurately reflect a physiological airflow path and protect tissue underneath the nasal prong from a direct force of the turbulent airflow.