Nasal retention system including a split ball clip

A nasal retention system for securing at least one nasal tube to a nose of a patient, the nasal retention system provided in combination with a nasal tube extending into a nostril of the nose, a support cord extending around a nasal septum of the patient and having opposing ends, each cord end extending from a nostril of the nose, and a clip member engaged with the tube and engaged with the ends of the support cord:

• said clip member including:
• first and second pivotally connected clip portions formed of a soft elastomeric material, each of said clip portions including an interior surface defining a planar inner mating surface for mating engagement with the planar mating surface of the other clip portion;
• said planar mating surface of each said clip portion defining a generally circular perimeter at an intersection of said planar mating surface with an outer surface said clip portion;
• said first clip portion including an elongated nasal tube channel extending from said planar surface into said clip first clip portion, said elongated nasal tube channel extending between diametrically opposite sides of said perimeter of said first clip portion for receiving said nasal tube therethrough;
• and
• at least a portion of said second clip interior surface engaging said nasal tube, and a portion of said interior surfaces of each of said first and second clip portions engaging said ends of said support cord, when said mating surfaces are in mating engagement with each other in an assembled state.

A method for securing a nasal tube extending through a nose of a patient, the method including providing a retention system comprising a clip member having first and second pivotally connected generally hemispherical clip portions, each of said clip portions defining a perimeter and including an inner mating surface within said perimeter for mating engagement with the mating surface of the other clip portion, said first clip portion including an elongated nasal tube channel extending from said mating surface into said first clip portion between diametrically opposite sides of said perimeter of said first clip, and wherein at least one of said first and second clip portions include an adhesive coating, the method further including:

• passing a first end of a support cord having first and second ends into one nostril past the posterior nasal septum, and retrieving said first end through the other nostril such that the first and second ends of said support cord extend from the patient's nostrils exterior to said nose;
• positioning said clip member adjacent to said nose with said nasal tube located extending within said nasal tube channel, said clip member formed of a soft elastomeric material forming a stiction connection between said nasal tube channel and said nasal tube;
• and
• pivoting the first and second clip portions together with said first and second ends of said support cord therebetween to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second clip portions in mating engagement with each other.