Nasal Prong Geometry for Physiologic Oxygen Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional nasal cannula prongs bypass the nasal valve, leading to turbulent flow, diminished nasal functions, and complications such as crusting, dryness, nosebleeds, septal perforation, discomfort, and reduced alveolar gas exchange.

Innovation Solution

A nasal prong designed to direct airflow superiorly and posteriorly within the nasal cavity, above the inferior concha, around the middle concha, and towards the roof of the nose, creating turbulent airflow and mimicking natural nasal physiology, with features like baffles, ridges, or crimps to enhance airflow dynamics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional nasal cannula prongs are used to deliver oxygen, then oxygen delivery is achieved, but the airflow bypasses the nasal valve and conchae causing non-physiologic laminar flow that leads to patient discomfort, crusting, dryness, and reduced gas exchange

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealveolar gas exchangeVSAvoidpatient discomfort, crusting, dryness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by creating turbulent flow instead of laminar flow, and directing airflow superiorly rather than along the nasal floor. This reversal of flow patterns restores physiologic nasal breathing mechanics, allowing the conchae to condition the oxygen properly while stimulating airflow receptors to reduce air hunger and improve gas exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the flow regime parameter from laminar to turbulent by using an elongated opening and specific prong geometry. This parameter change transforms the airflow characteristics to match natural nasal breathing, enabling proper distribution of oxygen across the nasal cavity and improving both comfort and gas exchange efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If standard prong design delivers oxygen along the nasal floor, then oxygen delivery is achieved, but it bypasses the conchae causing diminished warming, humidification, and filtration functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewarming functionVSAvoidhumidification and filtration

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the traditional inferior-directed airflow to superiorly-directed flow, forcing the oxygen to pass through the conchae structures. This inversion enables the conchae to perform their normal functions of warming, humidifying, and filtering the oxygen before it reaches the lungs, thereby restoring these critical conditioning functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the flow direction from horizontal (along the nasal floor) to vertical (superior direction through the conchae). This dimensional change in airflow path ensures that oxygen passes through the complex redundant anatomy of the nasal cavity, allowing proper conditioning by the conchae structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If traditional cannula prongs create laminar flow, then oxygen delivery is achieved, but it causes air hunger and reduced patient compliance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient complianceVSAvoidair hunger

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the flow pattern from laminar to turbulent and redirects airflow superiorly to stimulate airflow receptors in the nasal cavity. This stimulation of receptors reduces the sensation of air hunger, improving patient comfort and compliance with oxygen therapy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a physiologic feedback mechanism by directing turbulent flow to stimulate airflow receptors in the nasal cavity. These receptors provide feedback to the respiratory center, reducing the sensation of air hunger and improving patient comfort and compliance with the oxygen delivery system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Improves patient comfort by reducing dryness, nosebleeds, and discomfort while enhancing oxygen saturation and alveolar gas exchange by conditioning the airflow to normal body temperature and humidity.

Implementation Method 1

A portion of the lumen can be configured to alter the laminar airflow to turbulent airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

airflow out of the elongated opening is directed superiorly and posteriorly within the nasal cavity, above the inferior concha, around the middle concha, and towards the roof of the nose of the patient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulent flow: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS12623041B2Airflow nasal prong

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 NAMON ARI

AI summary

A nasal prong comprising a tube configured to be partially placed in a nasal passage of a patient, the tube having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and a lumen extending therebetween. The first end having an elongated opening configured to face supero-medially within the nasal passage, wherein airflow out of the elongated opening is directed superiorly and posteriorly within the nasal cavity, above the inferior concha, around the middle concha, and towards the roof of the nose. The intermediate portion of the tube having a bend that keeps the nasal prong on a floor of the nasal passage at and/or near the outer edge of a nostril.