Nasal catheter

Abstract

A nasal catheter system includes a headgear and a nasal catheter for delivering oxygen to the nostrils of a patient. Oxygen enters an interface located on the side of the head and above or below the ears. The system uses a flat tube made of a flexible material, which is comfortable to the face and produces less pressure to the skin. The system reduces the noise of oxygen by the oxygen first entering a catheter having an expanded volume prior to entering the nostrils. The catheter is secured above and away from the ears by the headband of the two straps. The two strips provide better stability for the interface. The belt penetrates through a gap in the back face of the triangular pad to be connected. The strap can be adjusted on each side of the head to achieve comfort and stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to nasal cannula systems, and more particularly, to a nasal cannula. Background Art

[0002] Conventional oxygen nasal cannulas typically consist of a tube and other components for delivering therapeutic gases that are applied to the patient's nasal passages.

[0003] In these traditional nasal oxygen cannulas, gas is delivered through a long, thin, flexible tube made of an inert material. The tube has an opening at the end that is inserted into the patient's nostrils. Typically, a pair of smaller nasal cannulas extend from the tube, or the tube splits into two smaller tubes at a Y-shaped bifurcation. Each smaller nasal cannula is typically inserted a certain distance into the nasal cavity, delivering gas to the nostrils, thereby increasing the concentration of inspired oxygen.

[0004] Traditional oxygen nasal cannulas typically loop around the ear to secure the cannula. However, to minimize leakage of delivered gas, the loop around the ear needs to be kept tight. Furthermore, the cannula exerts unpleasant pressure on the patient's face, resulting in a feeling of strong constriction and discomfort.

[0005] In addition, many users of oxygen tubes are prone to ear skin rupture. Placing the gas delivery tube on the wearer's ear may also cause skin rupture and pressure injury. See Turyanica et al., Correlates and Interventions Used for Pressure Ulcers of the Ears, MEDSURG Nursing, September-October 2011, Vol. 20 / No. 5, pages 241-246; and Black et al., Medical Device-Related Pressure Ulcers, Chronic Wound Care Management and Research, 2016, Vol. 3, pages 91-93.

[0006] Furthermore, nasal cannulas are noisy, generating sounds from turbulent flow and each time a puff of air is released, which can be annoying to the wearer, caregivers, and others within the wearer's hearing range. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention overcomes these and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a unique headgear system for supporting and securing a nasal cannula to a patient. The unique headgear of the present invention avoids routing the cannula behind or directly above the ear and includes a linear, noise-reducing hollow body positioned between the fluid source and the nasal cannula. The nasal cannula system also includes at least one nasal cannula insert configured to extend within the patient's nasal cavity.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, a nasal cannula assembly suitable for delivering an airflow from a supply tube to a patient is provided, wherein the nasal cannula has at least one nasal cannula for insertion into a nostril of the patient, and a hollow body enlarged relative to the supply tube, the hollow body connecting the supply tube to the at least one nasal cannula.

[0009] Preferably, the supply pipe is adapted to be connected to a gas supply source. The gas supply source includes a portable gas tank, a stationary gas tank, an oxygen concentrator, and a central pipeline system. In one embodiment, the gas includes oxygen-enriched air.

[0010] Preferably, the supply tube and conduit are supported by a head-mounted system for placement on the back and top of the patient's head.

[0011] In one embodiment, the head-mounted system includes two or more headbands.

[0012] In one embodiment, the headbands are connected together at triangular pads that support the supply tubes.

[0013] In another embodiment, the headband includes breathable linen on the lower surface of the headband and / or the triangular pad includes breathable linen on the lower surface of the triangular pad; the triangular pad and / or the headband include adjustable clips.

[0014] In another embodiment, the supply tube has a flat side intended to face the patient's skin.

[0015] In another embodiment, the headband includes two headbands connected at a single strap extension. In this embodiment, the single strap extension further includes a sliding buckle for adjusting the length of the single strap extension.

[0016] In another embodiment, the supply tube is supported by the single belt extension.

[0017] In another embodiment, the head-mounted system is configured to keep the supply tube out of contact with the patient's ears.

[0018] In another embodiment, a nasal cannula assembly suitable for delivering an airflow from a supply tube to a patient is provided, the nasal cannula having at least one nasal tube for insertion into the patient's nostrils, and a head-mounted system for placement on the back, top, and / or sides of the patient's head, wherein the head-mounted system is used to keep the supply tube out of contact with the patient's ears.

[0019] In another embodiment, the supply tube is adapted to extend upwardly along the back of the patient's head.

[0020] The present invention also provides a method for reducing the sound of an air flow supplied through a nasal cannula, comprising providing an enlarged hollow body between a source of the air flow and the nasal cannula.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the enlarged hollow body is provided by a supply tube between the source of the air flow and the nasal cannula. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nasal catheter system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is a view of a nasal cannula system according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention (similar to Figure 1 ), showing a partial cross-section of the headband. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 Patient 102 is shown wearing a nasal cannula system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The nasal cannula system includes a nasal cannula 103 and a headband 110. The headband 110 includes a supply tube 109 and a headband system, which includes a headband and connection cushions as described below. Nasal cannula 103 has at least one nostril tube 112 for insertion into the patient's nostril. Nasal cannula 103 includes a hollow body that is enlarged relative to supply tube 109. In other words, the internal cross-section of the hollow body of nasal cannula 103 is larger than the internal cross-section of the supply tube. This is to provide space for the gas or oxygen to expand when it is delivered to the nostril tube, thereby reducing the sound generated by turbulence and the sound generated by the delivered gas or oxygen bolus.

[0026] The nasal cannula 103 is attached to a supply tube 104 which leads to a main gas supply source (not shown). The gas supply source may be a portable gas tank, a stationary gas tank, an oxygen concentrator or a piped central system.

[0027] The head-mounted system includes a headband 106 and a headband 107 attached to a triangular pad 105 (only one of which is shown in the figure), and the headbands 106 and 107 are intended to be placed on the sides or top of the wearer's head above the wearer's ears. The headband may include a breathable linen (not shown) that is intended to be placed on the back and top of the wearer's head. The headbands 106 and 107 are connected to the back of the triangular pad 105 separately or together. The headbands 106 and 107 can be woven through a single or multiple slots (not shown) in the triangular pad.

[0028] The triangular pad 105 may be molded and optionally of flexible nature, for example made of a plastic material such as polypropylene. The surface of the triangular pad 105 may be covered with a breathable cloth.

[0029] Headbands 106 and 107 are designed to be positioned behind or connected to triangular pad 105 and are adjusted for comfort by sliding buckles 108. The triangular pads can be replaced with adjustable clips, allowing oxygen to be introduced into the system from above and behind one ear and delivered to above and behind the other ear, depending on the patient's anatomy and comfort level. Headbands 106 and 107 are preferably made of a flexible material such as neoprene.

[0030] The supply tube 109 is a flat or round tube and is connected to the oxygen source tube 104 by a triangular pad 105 or a clamp. In practice, only one oxygen source tube 104 is required. Therefore, the supply tube 109 on the other side of the headband can terminate at the triangular pad 105. Alternatively, the supply tube 109 on the other side of the headband can include a solid tube or a strap.

[0031] Figure 2 An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown, and a head-mounted nasal cannula 210 of the embodiment is shown being used by a patient 202. As previously described, the nasal cannula 203 has at least one nostril tube 212 that is inserted into the patient's nostrils. The nasal cannula 203 is attached to a flat or round supply tube 205, which is connected to an oxygen tube 204, which in turn is connected to a gas supply source (not shown). The oxygen supply tube 204 passes through the flat or round supply tube 205, which is also connected to a hollow headband 209. The headband 209 is a flat or round, slightly rigid material that is connected directly to the headband 206 or headband 207 or to the headband 207 or to the headband 207, either directly or via a clip.

[0032] The headband includes two headbands, namely headband 206 and headband 207. Figure 1 As with the embodiment of the headband 206 and headband 207 may comprise breathable linen placed on the back and top of the head (shown as 220). The headbands 206 and 207 are connected as a single strap that can be adjusted at the sliding buckle 208 for comfort and stability. Figure 1 As is the case with the embodiment, the figures only show one side of the headband. However, it will be understood that the headband 206, headband 207, and headband strap 209 continue around the other side of the patient's head and converge at a second sliding buckle 208. The headband 206 and headband 207 are preferably made of a flexible material such as neoprene.

[0033] Features and advantages of the present invention include improved patient comfort due to the lack of a tube wrapped around the patient's ear. Thus, the potential for skin breakdown and pressure injuries around the ear is eliminated. The tube also does not constrict uncomfortably under the chin as with prior art nasal cannula systems.

[0034] Another advantage of the headgear of the present invention is the ability to keep the tubes in the nostrils. The headband can be adjusted to maintain stability and comfort.

[0035] Yet another advantage is that noise is reduced by increasing the internal volume size of the nasal cannula to provide an expanded volume having at least one oxygen inlet and at least one nasal tube insert.

[0036] Another advantage is the use of round tubes facing the skin within a flat, soft, and textured PVC material to reduce facial skin pressure and increase comfort. The oxygen inlet tube will enter or clip into a triangular pad located above the ear and below the lower headband to allow for nearly 180-degree positioning.

[0037] Furthermore, as oxygen is delivered to the nasal tubes, the enlarged hollow body between the supply tube and the nasal tubes provides space for the oxygen to expand, thereby reducing the sound produced by turbulence and the sound produced by the delivered oxygen bolus.

Claims

1. A nasal cannula assembly for delivering airflow from a supply tube to a patient, characterized in that The nasal cannula has at least one nasal tube for insertion into the patient's nostril, and A hollow body is enlarged relative to the supply tube; the hollow body connects the supply tube to at least one of the nasal tubes.

2. The nasal catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein The supply pipe is used to connect to a gas supply source.

3. The nasal catheter assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The gas supply source is selected from at least one of a portable gas tank, a fixed gas tank, an oxygen concentrator, and a pipeline central system, and the gas includes oxygen-enriched air.

4. The nasal catheter assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The supply tubes and conduits are supported by a head-mounted system for placement on the back, top, and / or sides of the patient's head, and the head-mounted system includes two or more headbands.

5. The nasal catheter assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The headbands are connected together at a triangular pad that supports the supply tube; the headband includes breathable linen on the lower surface of the headband, and / or the triangular pad includes breathable linen on the lower surface of the triangular pad; the triangular pad includes an adjustable clip, the supply tube has a flat side for facing toward the patient's skin, wherein the headband includes two headbands connected at a single band extension.

6. The nasal catheter assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The headband further comprises a sliding buckle for adjusting the length of the single strap extension, wherein the supply tube is supported by one of the head straps, the supply tube is used to avoid contacting the patient's ears, and the supply tube is used to extend upward along the back of the patient's head.

7. A nasal cannula assembly for delivering airflow from a supply tube to a patient, characterized in that The nasal cannula has at least one nasal tube for insertion into the patient's nose, and A head-mounted system for placement on the back, top, and / or sides of the patient's head; wherein the head-mounted system is for supporting the supply tube.

8. The nasal catheter assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The supply tube is adapted to extend upwardly along the back of the patient's head.

9. A method for reducing the sound of an air flow supplied through a nasal cannula, characterized in that include: An enlarged hollow body is provided between the source of the airflow and the nasal cannula.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The enlarged hollow body is disposed between a supply tube located between the source of the airflow and the nasal cannula.

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