Humidity Nasal Prong Cannula Assembly

Abstract

A unitary humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly includes two oxygen supply assemblies. Each assembly includes a body (5) having an oxygen inlet (7) and a prong (9) extending from the body (5). The prong (9) is configured for insertion into a nostril of a patient. The body and the prong define a passageway for supplying oxygen to the nostril of the patient. The assembly also includes a heat and moisture exchange (“HME”) device (13) for providing moisture and heat to cold oxygen supplied to the cannula from an oxygen concentrator. The HME device forms a part of the body and is configured so that cold oxygen passing through the passageway passes through the HME device.

Claims

1. A humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly that includes two oxygen supply assemblies, each assembly including: (a) a body and a prong extending from the body, the body including an oxygen inlet, and the prong being configured for insertion into a nostril of a patient and having an oxygen outlet, the body and the prong defining a passageway for supplying oxygen to the nostril of the patient, and (b) a heat and moisture exchange (“HME”) device for providing moisture to cold oxygen supplied to the cannula from an oxygen concentrator that, in use, is experienced as humidity by the patient, with the HME device forming a part of the body and being configured so that cold oxygen passing through the passageway passes through the HME device.

2. The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly defined in claim 1 configured so that expired air from the patient passes through the HME devices and provides moisture to the devices.

3. The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly defined in claim 2 configured to allow additional moisture to be added to the HME devices.

4. A portable oxygen concentrator assembly that includes: (a) a portable oxygen concentrator assembly; (b) the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula defined in claim 1; and (c) tubing interconnecting the portable oxygen concentrator and the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula.

5. The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly defined in claim 2, wherein each HME device is configured to provide an additional 10% moisture to cold oxygen supplied to the cannula from the oxygen concentrator.

6. The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly defined in claim 1, further comprising (a) a central hollow barrel section having an internal wall that separates the hollow barrel section into two oxygen supply assemblies, (b) the prongs of the oxygen supply assemblies extending from the hollow barrel section, and (c) the HME devices of the oxygen supply assemblies at opposite ends of the hollow barrel section.

7. The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly defined in claim 6, wherein the hollow barrel section includes a luer lock that can be unscrewed to allow additional moisture to be supplied to the HME devices.

8. The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly defined in claim 6, wherein the HME devices taper from an inner end connected to the hollow barrel section to an outer end and transition from hollow barrel section to the oxygen inlet, with the hollow barrel section having a wider diameter than the oxygen inlet.

9. The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the HME devices include filter material for removing and retaining moisture from expired gas from the patient and transferring humidity to oxygen that passes through the devices to the patient during periods of inspiration by the patient.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The invention is described further by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is perspective view of one, but not the only, embodiment of a humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly in accordance with the invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a side view of the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly shown in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow A in the Figure;

[0037] FIG. 3 is an end view of the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly shown in FIG. 1 from one end of the cannula;

[0038] FIG. 4 is an end view of the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly shown in FIG. 1 from the other end of the cannula;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a top view of the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

[0040] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a portable oxygen concentrator assembly in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

[0041] The embodiment of the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5 is one of a number of possible embodiments of the invention.

[0042] The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 shown in the Figures includes two oxygen/air supply assemblies, each assembly including: [0043] (a) a body 5 and a prong 9 extending from the body 5, the body including an oxygen inlet 7, and the prong 9 being configured for insertion into a nostril of a person and having an oxygen outlet 11, the body 5 and the prong 9 defining a passageway for supplying oxygen to the nostril of the person, and [0044] (b) a HME device 13 for providing moisture and potentially some heat to cold oxygen supplied to the cannula assembly 3 from an oxygen concentrator (not shown), such as a portable oxygen concentrator 21 (see FIG. 6), with the moisture being experienced as humidity by the patient, with the HME device forming a part of the body 5 and being configured so that cold oxygen passing through the passageway passes through the HME device.

[0045] The Figures show that the two oxygen/air supply assemblies are formed as a unitary humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3.

[0046] With regard to FIG. 1, the unitary humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 includes (a) a central generally cylindrical hollow barrel section having an internal wall or other suitable barrier (not shown) that separates the hollow barrel section into two oxygen/air supply assemblies, (b) the prongs 9 extending from the hollow barrel section, and (c) the HME devices 13 at opposite ends of the hollow barrel section. The HME devices 13 are shown as being tapered from an inner end to an outer end and transition the wider diameter hollow barrel section to the narrower diameter inlets 7. It can be appreciated that, in use, oxygen flowing into the inlets 7 flows through the passageways (not shown) defined by the HME devices 13 and the hollow barrel section and through the prongs 9 to the patient.

[0047] The HME devices 3 may be any suitable devices that include filter material for removing and retaining moisture from expired gas from a patient and transferring humidity to oxygen that passes through the devices to the patient during periods of inspiration by the patient.

[0048] The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 also includes a luer lock 17 that can be unscrewed to allow additional moisture to be supplied to the filter material of the HME devices 13. The additional moisture may be provided from any suitable source. The assembly 3 may be configured to supply additional moisture continuously or periodically on a predetermined basis, or in response to moisture in oxygen passing through the assembly 3 falling below a threshold level or on any other suitable basis.

[0049] The humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 may be made from any suitable materials.

[0050] Typically, the adjustable prong nasal cannula assembly 3 is made from plastics materials.

[0051] The embodiment of the portable oxygen concentrator assembly generally identified by the numeral 19 in FIG. 6 includes the above-described humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3, a portable oxygen concentrator 21, and two separate lengths of tubing connecting the to the inlets 7 of the humidity nasal prong cannula assembly 3.

[0052] In use, it is a straightforward exercise to connect together the assembly shown in FIG. 6, with the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 positioned on a patient. Cold oxygen produced by the portable oxygen concentrator 21 is supplied to the patient via the tubing 23 and the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3. Oxygen flows from the portable oxygen concentrator 21 through the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 to the patient and exhaled air from the patient flows through the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3. The process of exhalation causes release of moisture to the HME devices 13. Oxygen flowing through the HME devices 13 in the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 to the patient picks up moisture from the HME devices 13 and this is transferred to the patient and experienced by the patient as humidity. The moisture released from expired air to the HME devices 13 returns moisture to the HME devices 13. Each HME device 13 is configured to provide an additional 10%, typically at least 15%, more typically at least 20%, and more typically at least 25% moisture, to cold oxygen passing through the oxygen supply assemblies

[0053] It can readily be appreciated that the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 is a compact and lightweight unit that is well-suited for short-term use by patients, particularly in situations whether the patients are being supplied with oxygen for portable oxygen concentrators. Particularly in these situations, the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 makes it possible to supply moisture and potentially some heat to oxygen produced by a portable oxygen concentrator to provide a higher level of comfort for patients than is currently available to patients receiving oxygen from the portable oxygen concentrator. In particular, the humidity oxygen nasal prong cannula assembly 3 makes it possible for patients in hospitals or other healthcare facilities to leave these facilities for short time periods, say 2-3 house, and make short recreational outings without substantial difficulty and be supplied with oxygen having humidity while on the trips.

[0054] Many modifications may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.