Oxygen delivery cannula retainer, cannula with retainers assembly, and method for retaining cannulas

Abstract

Cannula retainers for use with oxygen delivery cannulas having a tubular nose piece for introducing oxygen into a person's nose, dependent oxygen tubes extending from opposite ends thereof for looping over the person's ears and which terminate at a connector for connection to an main oxygen delivery tube, and a slidable retaining collar for tensioning the oxygen tubes against the person's lower jaw. The cannula retainers comprise a tubular, band, or elastic body having a hook, clip, loop, or tubular member connected to each end of the body for attachment to the upper and lower portions of the oxygen tube to retain the oxygen tube in a looped configuration about the person's ear. The cannula retainers can be of a fixed length or of a variable length such as being stretchable or elastic, or of an adjustable length. Cannula with retainer assemblies include any of the cannula retainers of the invention with such cannulas. The method of the invention is for retaining such cannulas to a person's head by retaining the upper and lower portions of the respective oxygen tubes in a predetermined spaced relationship ahead of the respective ear in a looped configuration about the person's ears such that pulling on the connector and lower portions of the oxygen tubes does not significantly add tension to the upper portions of the oxygen tubes so as to force the nose piece further into the person's nose causing discomfort. The method can include a further step of adjusting the length of the cannula retainers to fit the person's head.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.