US 2005/0033247 A1 · Nasal cannula assembly

Abstract

A nasal cannula assembly designed for contact with the nasalabidial area of a patient's face comprising a nasal cannula, a pair of oxygen supply tubes connected to opposite ends of the nasal cannula and a main oxygen supply line. The nasal cannula is made of a flexible plastic material molded into a light-weight hollow tubular member having a main body portion formed at an acute angle in the center and having a pair of spaced exterior orifices projecting from the body at an angle and curved upwardly and inwardly for directing gas flow into a patient's nostrils. Attachment points for oxygen supply tubes are above center of gravity of the nasal cannula to make it self-righting thus eliminating need for stiff supply tubing to orient cannula. Oxygen supply tubes made from ultra-high molecular weight PVC possess superior flexibility and low compression set so that little tension on the tubing is required to hold cannula in proper position. A main oxygen supply line made from ultra-high molecular weight PVC resists the formation of twisted loops that tend to block oxygen flow.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A nasal cannula assembly designed for contact with the nasalabidial area of a patient's nose and comprising:

a hollow tubular member having an opening at each end, said tubular member having a central portion of sufficient length to span the width of an average patient's nostrils and end portions extending from each end of said central portion, said central portion having a pair of spaced, hollow extensions integral with and projecting therefrom said hollow extensions terminating in gas directing orifices and which hollow portion of said extensions communicate with said hollow main body portion,
said central portion lying in a first plane with longitudinal axes symmetrical about the midpoint and forming an angle in said first plane less than 180 degrees,
each said hollow extension having a longitudinal axis projecting from said central portion at an acute angle from said first plane, said gas directing orifices of said hollow extensions having a longitudinal axis lying in a second plane essentially parallel to and displaced from said first plane,
said end portions of said central portion lying in essentially the first plane with longitudinal axis of said end portion essentially collinear with longitudinal axis of corresponding symmetrical half of said central portion.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Nasal cannula assembly

Life of this patent

Nasal cannula assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19