Patent Application
20150020811
This application relates to an apparatus for supplying supplemental oxygen to a patient via a nasal orifice.
Dual prong nasal cannulas are generally used to deliver oxygen to a patient via the patient's nose. The most commonly used arrangement includes a dual prong nosepiece which is centered in a loop of vinyl tubing. The nosepiece openings are inserted in the nostrils with the tubing tucked behind the ears and around to the front of the patient below the chin. A slide adjustment may be used to draw it tight beneath the chin. Usually by the third or fourth day of using a dual prong nasal cannula, irritation of the skin and subcutaneous areas in contact with the cannulas and tubing begins and by the fifth day, the majority of patients have begun to use tissues and the like to relieve the soreness, pressure and irritation under the nose and around the ears. This soreness, pressure and irritation is often due to abrasion and interface pressure which is often caused by movement of the tight fitting tubing and cannulas and to the accumulation of moisture between the skin and the tubing and/or cannulas. As the slide is pulled tighter to keep the cannulas in the nostrils of the patient the irritation is only exacerbated and the subcutaneous layers of the skin are affected.
Thus, the use of a dual prong cannula can become quite uncomfortable for a patient and can lead to pressure ulcers. The comfort of the patient becomes even more critical, both to the patient and to the professionals attending the patient when the patient is also fitted with a naso-gastric or Levine tube. Now the nose becomes a fairly cluttered access route, and adhesive tape is often used, by application to the face, to get all the tubes to remain in place.
In addition to the discomfort and susceptibility to skin deterioration where supplemental oxygen is required, a patient may suffer from “free floating anxiety” as a result of reduced blood oxygen. Such a patient may believe something is wrong but cannot quite identify the problem, and may not be thinking clearly. Often such patients have feelings of claustrophobia and may attempt to remove the cannulas despite the fact that doing so may adversely affect the patient's condition. It is not uncommon to find the tubing disconnected or prongs displaced from the nose due to pulling from movement of the head, especially during sleep. Further, patient non-compliance or lack of cooperation may necessitate the use of some more expensive or aggressive means of oxygen administration, including face masks or catheters.
To an increasing extent, supplemental oxygen is used on an outpatient basis, such as in a home. Under such conditions, the cosmetics of the oxygen delivery apparatus can be important, and the commonly-used dual prong cannula can make a person feel conspicuous and, as previously mentioned, cause irritation from interface pressure.
In addition to the discomfort, skin deterioration, and cosmetic concerns posed by use of the dual prong cannulas, it has been established that single prong nasal, or unilateral, nasal catheters provide a higher inspired oxygen fraction than the dual prong cannulas.
Therefore, a need exists for an oxygen delivery device having a single prong nasal cannula that can be securely affixed to a patient while providing an adequate supply of oxygen to the patient with the least amount of irritation and/or discomfort to the patient possible.
The relevant prior art includes the following references:
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen delivery device having a single prong nasal cannula and tubing that can be securely affixed to a patient while providing an adequate supply of oxygen to the patient with the least amount of irritation and/or discomfort to the patient possible.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing an oxygen delivery device having a single prong nasal cannula for insertion into a patient's right or left nostril to deliver oxygen to the patient. A U-shaped cannula preferably constructed of flexible or non-flexible, bendable or memory materials that fits inside the patient's nostril and extends around to an outer surface of the patient's nostril, attaches to flexible and preferably formable or bendable tubing, which tubing then extends upward toward the patient's eye or ear, across the patient's cheek around the side of the face and over the patient's ear. The tubing over the ear is also preferably made of a flexible, formable or memory material that it may be contoured over the ear and bent slightly inward against the patient's scalp behind the ear to lock the tubing in place around the ear like a temple tip of a conventional pair of eye glasses. A secondary coiled section of flexible tubing may then extend downward to the patient's shoulder. The coiled section of tubing allows the patient to move his or her head without affecting the placement of the U-shaped cannula in the nostril. Finally, a flexible piece of tubing extends directly to a supply source for supplying oxygen to the patient and preferably around the back of the patient's neck over the opposite shoulder where a clip located on the coiled tubing may be used to attach the tubing to the patient's clothing and then to the supply source for supplying oxygen.
An additional feature of the present invention is a clip with planar stabilization patch that further secures the tubing to the cheek of the patient. The clip is a semi-rigid substantially C-shaped clip located on an upper surface of the planar stabilization patch having adhesive located on a rear surface to attach the patch to the patient's cheek. After the patch is secured to the patient's cheek, the tubing may be pressed into the C-shaped clip and held in place by a pressure fit. The planar stabilization patch may also have other means of holding the tubing to the cheek such as an adhesive and so forth.
An additional feature of the present invention is a flexible stabilization patch which may be secured to the patient's cheek and/or to the skin behind the patient's ear by an adhesive. The flexible stabilization patch secures the tubing to the face and over and behind the ear by adhesive.
An additional feature of the present invention is a nasal cannula tip made of pliable or formable materials which may be affixed to the end of the cannula. The cannula tip secures the cannula within the nostril and enhances the inspired oxygen by reducing the backflow of oxygen out of the nostril.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:
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The second end 6 of the U-shaped cannula 3 may further comprise a substantially ninety degree bend 5 preferably constructed from the same material as the rest of the substantially U-shaped cannula 3 to prevent formation of kinks which could reduce or restrict the flow of oxygen and to enhance placement of the cannula and tubing on the patient's face. The substantially U-shaped cannula second end 6 is joined at the juncture 7 of cannula 3 to the first section of tubing 8. The first section of tubing 8, that is preferably flexible, formable or bendable, extends from a second end 6 of the U-shaped cannula across the patient's cheek, around the side of the face and toward the top of the patient's ear. The first section of tubing 8 may be joined at juncture 9 to a second section of tubing 10. The second section of tubing 10 extends over and behind the ear and may be flexible, formable or bendable so that it may be contoured over the ear and bent slightly inward against the patient's scalp behind the ear to secure the tubing placement. This configuration allows the tubing to be worn slightly above the ear, thereby preventing interface pressure and friction behind the ear and allowing a patient to wear eye glasses without interference from the tubing. A second section of tubing 10 is affixed to a third section of tubing 12 at a juncture 11. The third section of tubing 12 preferably consists of coiled flexible tubing which allows the patient to move his or her head without affecting the placement of the U-shaped cannula 3 in the nostril. A third section of tubing 12 is joined at juncture 13 to a fourth section of tubing 14. A fourth section of tubing 14 extends directly to the oxygen supply source and is preferably draped across the back of the patient's neck and crossing to the opposite shoulder of the nostril into which the cannula 3 is inserted and thence to the oxygen supply source. A clip 15 may be used to attach the fourth section of tubing 14 to the patient's clothing, further securing the cannula 3 placement. A fourth section of tubing 14 is attached to the oxygen supply at connector 16. Also illustrated in
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It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.
