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 auxiliary oxygen supply tubes connected to the opposite ends of the nasal cannula, a slip loop disposed about the auxiliary supply tubes, and a main oxygen supply line. The nasal cannula is made of a flexible plastic material that is dip molded into a hollow tubular member having a main body portion whose cross-section is oval shaped with a vertical orientation and having a pair of spaced hollow tubular extensions projecting upwardly in a curved configuration from its upper surface. The main body portion has a horizontal axis extending along its length with an elbow formed at each end. An arm portion extends from each of the elbows and the axis of the arm portion intersects the horizontal plane of the axis of the main body portion at an acute angle from above the horizontal plane. The axis extending along the length of each arm also extends rearwardly at an acute angle to the horizontal axis of the main body portion. The acute angle at which the arm portion intersects the horizontal plane of the axis of the main body portion from above is such that the axis of the arm portion, if extended, will pass substantially tangential to the top of the patient's ear. The acute angle at which the arm portion extends rearwardly with respect to the horizontal axis of the main body portion is such that the axis, if extended, will pass substantially tangential to the top of the patient's ear. The arm portions have sleeve portions at their outer ends of reduced diameter for receiving the auxiliary supply tube.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.