Claims
- 1. A nasopharyngeal catheter comprising:
a nasal catheter having a proximal end and a distal end extending through a patient's nose and into the patient's distal nasopharynx or oropharynx; a delivery tube extending below the patient's nostril connected to the proximal end of the nasal catheter; and a gas source delivering a flow rate of approximately 4 to 40 liters per minute through the delivery tube and nasal catheter.
- 2. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein the nasal catheter comprises a flexible plastic tube that can be cut to a desired length.
- 3. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 2 wherein the nasal catheter further comprises a plurality of markings indicating a series of common lengths for the nasal catheter.
- 4. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein the nasal catheter further comprises a radio-opaque stripe.
- 5. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein the delivery tube further comprises;
two opposing ends with connectors for removable attachment to the gas source; and a cap removably insertable into a connector that is not attached to the gas source.
- 6. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 further comprising a connector for removably attaching the proximal end of the nasal catheter to the delivery tube.
- 7. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein the nasal catheter further comprises a hydrophilic coating.
- 8. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein the nasal catheter has an inside diameter of approximately 3 mm.
- 9. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 further comprising a humidifier controlling the humidity of the gas delivered through the nasal catheter.
- 10. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 further comprising a heater controlling the temperature of the gas delivered through the nasal catheter.
- 11. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein gas is supplied through the nasal catheter at a back pressure of approximately 2 to 25 psi.
- 12. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein the gas supplied through the nasal catheter comprises oxygen.
- 13. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein the gas supplied through the nasal catheter comprises air.
- 14. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 1 wherein the gas supplied through the nasal catheter comprises helium.
- 15. A nasopharyngeal catheter comprising:
a nasal catheter having a proximal end and a distal end extending through a patient's nose and into the patient's distal nasopharynx or oropharynx, said catheter being made of a flexible material that can be trimmed to a desired length; a delivery tube extending below the patient's nostril having a connector for removable attachment to the proximal end of the nasal catheter; and a gas source delivering a flow rate of approximately 4 to 40 liters per minute through the delivery tube and nasal catheter.
- 16. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 15 wherein the nasal catheter further comprises a plurality of markings indicating a series of common lengths for the nasal catheter.
- 17. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 15 wherein the nasal catheter further comprises a radio-opaque stripe.
- 18. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 15 wherein the delivery tube further comprises;
two opposing ends with connectors for removable attachment to the gas source; and a cap removably insertable into a connector that is not attached to the gas source.
- 19. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 15 wherein the nasal catheter further comprises a hydrophilic coating.
- 20. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 15 wherein the nasal catheter has an inside diameter of approximately 3 mm.
- 21. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 15 further comprising a humidifier controlling the humidity of the gas delivered through the nasal catheter.
- 22. The nasopharyngeal catheter of claim 15 further comprising a heater controlling the temperature of the gas delivered through the nasal catheter.
- 23. A method for providing a supplemental flow of air/oxygen to a spontaneously breathing patient, the method comprising:
advancing a nasopharyngeal catheter through a patient's nostril until the distal tip of the catheter is located in the patient's distal nasopharynx or oropharynx; and supplying air/oxygen through the catheter at a flow rate of approximately 4 to 40 liters per minute.
- 24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the initial steps of:
providing a delivery tube extending beneath the patient's nostril for delivering the flow of air/oxygen, said delivery tube having a connector for attachment to the catheter; advancing the catheter through a patient's nostril until the distal tip of the catheter is visible through the patient's mouth below the patient's uvula; cutting the proximal end of the catheter to a desired length so that the distal tip of the catheter will have a desired position relative to the patient's uvula; attaching the proximal end of the catheter to the connector on the delivery tube.
- 25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the initial step of selecting the length of the catheter by advancing a catheter through a patient's nostril until the distal tip of the catheter is visible through the patient's mouth below the patient's uvula.
- 26. The method of claim 23 further comprising controlling the humidity of the air/oxygen supplied through the catheter.
- 27. The method of claim 23 further comprising regulating the temperature of the air/oxygen supplied through the catheter.
- 28. The method of claim 23 further comprising supplying helium through the catheter.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is based on, and claims priority to the Applicant's U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/200,030, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Pharyngeal Augmentation of Ventilation,” filed on Apr. 26, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60200030 |
Apr 2000 |
US |