NASOPHARYNGEAL AIRWAY WITH CAPNOGRAPHY

Abstract

The nasopharyngeal airway is a modified airway adjunct designed to facilitate proper ventilation when connected to an oxygenation system. The presently claimed invention ensures healthcare providers are able to obtain real-time information based on a patient's ventilation and breathing patterns and maximizes supplemental oxygen delivered to a patient, allowing him or her to breathe comfortably while connected to a breathing system. The nasopharyngeal airway with capnography prevents over-inflation of a patient's lungs, which can cause intense discomfort and further exacerbate medical issues, while also providing improved monitoring of a patient's breathing, thereby ensuring the patient is able to breathe properly and maintain the required oxygen levels.

Claims

1. A nasopharyngeal airway with capnography comprising: a. a main tube having a first end with a diameter equal to that of the tube, and a second flared end with a diameter greater than that of the main tube; b. a monitoring and oxygenation tube operably connected inside the main tube at a first end so that oxygen may be supplied to the main tube via the monitoring and oxygenation tube and a patient's breath may be monitored by a monitoring device by the monitoring and oxygenation tube; c. a connection end having (i) one or more ridges around a circumference of a port end of the connection end; and (ii) two parallel grip tabs set opposing each other around a circumference of a tube end of the connection end, wherein the connection end is operably connected at the tube end to a second end of the monitoring and oxygenation tube so that it can be removably plugged into a port on the monitoring device at the port end, thereby connecting the monitoring and oxygenation tube to the monitoring device.

2. The nasopharyngeal airway with capnography according to claim 1, wherein the main tube comprises a soft plastic material or a rubber material.

3. The nasopharyngeal airway with capnography according to claim 1, wherein the main tube is a flexible cylinder with a bend therein to follow a shape of a nasal passageway.

4. The nasopharyngeal airway with capnography according to claim 1, wherein the main tube has an outer diameter of 6 to 7 millimeters.

5. The nasopharyngeal airway with capnography according to claim 1, wherein the main tube has an outer diameter of 7 to 8 millimeters.

6. A nasopharyngeal airway with capnography comprising: a. a main tube having a first end with a diameter equal to that of the tube, and a second flared end with a diameter greater than that of the main tube, wherein the main tube is a flexible cylinder formed of a soft plastic material or a rubber material, and wherein the main tube has a bend therein to follow a shape of a nasal passageway; b. a monitoring and oxygenation tube operably connected inside the main tube at a first end so that oxygen may be supplied to the main tube via the monitoring and oxygenation tube and a patient's breath may be monitored by a monitoring device by the monitoring and oxygenation tube; c. a connection end having (i) one or more ridges around a circumference of a port end of the connection end; and (ii) two parallel grip tabs set opposing each other around a circumference of a tube end of the connection end, wherein the connection end is operably connected at the tube end to a second end of the monitoring and oxygenation tube so that it can be removably plugged into a port on the monitoring device at the port end, thereby connecting the monitoring and oxygenation tube to the monitoring device.

7. The nasopharyngeal airway with capnography according to claim 6, wherein the main tube has an outer diameter of 6 to 7 millimeters.

8. The nasopharyngeal airway with capnography according to claim 6, wherein the main tube has an outer diameter of 7 to 8 millimeters.

9. A nasopharyngeal airway system with capnography comprising: a. a programmable capnography monitoring device with i. an intake port; ii. a display monitor; iii. a memory storage device; and iv. a programmable processor, wherein the programmable capnography device is programmed to detect a patient's end-tidal CO.sub.2 via an input connected to the intake port, display a graphical representation of the patient's end-tidal CO.sub.2 on the display monitor, and adjust a flow of oxygen to the patient in response to the patient's end tidal CO.sub.2; b. a main tube having a first end with a diameter equal to that of the tube, and a second flared end with a diameter greater than that of the main tube; c. a monitoring and oxygenation tube operably connected inside the main tube at a first end so that oxygen may be supplied to the main tube via the monitoring and oxygenation tube and a patient's breath may be detected by the by programmable monitoring device via the monitoring and oxygenation tube; d. a connection end having (i) one or more ridges around a circumference of a port end of the connection end; and (ii) two parallel grip tabs set opposing each other around a circumference of a tube end of the connection end, wherein the connection end is operably connected at the tube end to a second end of the monitoring and oxygenation tube so that it can be removably plugged into the intake port on the programmable monitoring device at the port end, thereby connecting the monitoring and oxygenation tube to the monitoring device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The figures that accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a nasopharyngeal airway with capnography, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a patient breathing comfortably in bed while being monitored, according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating a waveform produced via the breathing system, according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a close-up, see-through view illustrating a NPA with a built-in ETCO.sub.2 monitoring tube, according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 is an alternate perspective view illustrating a NPA with a built-in ETCO.sub.2 monitoring tube, according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a close-up view illustrating the ETCO.sub.2 tube connector end, according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention.

[0019] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a NPA with capnography and more particularly to a NPA as used to improve the patient's breathing and monitoring of the patient's breathing when the patient is connected to an oxygenation system.

[0021] Generally speaking, a NPA is an improved airway adjunct used to facilitate proper breathing when connected to an oxygenation system. The system supplies healthcare providers with real-time information based on patient oxygenation levels. The appearance resembles a nasopharyngeal airway with a capnography adapter. The system is inserted into a patient to help facilitate proper breathing. Waveforms are produced on the monitor, enabling nurses, doctors, etc., to maintain constant and effective monitoring of the patient.

[0022] Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIGS. 1-2, a patient 1 has the NPA 2 inserted through a nostril 3. The NPA 2 is connected to a monitoring device 4. The monitoring device 4 detects a waveform 5 produced by the patient's breaths, thereby giving an indication of the patient's breathing pattern. The monitoring device 4 is a programmable device programmed to adjust the amount of supplemental oxygen supplied to the patient 1 through the NPA 2 based on the patient's ETCO.sub.2.

[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 3-4, the NPA 2 has a main tube 6 with a flared end 7 to prevent the main tube 6 from sliding too far into the patient's nostril 3. A monitoring and oxygenation tube 8 is connected inside the main tube 6, exiting through the opening of the flared end 7. The monitoring and oxygenation tube 8 connects to the monitoring device 4 via a connector end 9, which is programmed to use the airflow through the monitoring tube 8 to measure the patient's ETCO.sub.2. The main tube 6 may include a bend 10 to better follow a patient's nasal passageway. The monitoring device 4 adjusts the percentage oxygen being supplied back to the patient 1 through the monitoring and oxygenation tube 8 based on the measured ETCO.sub.2, thereby ensuring that the patient's breathing and oxygen level remains stable.

[0024] The main body 6 is a pliable, bent cylinder constructed using soft plastic or rubber. The size of the main body 6 may be altered to accommodate specific users' needs and preferences, but generally a tube with a 6 to 7 millimeter outer diameter is used for adult females and a tube with a 7 to 8 millimeter outer diameter is used for adult males.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 5, the connector end 9 is located at the opposite end of the monitoring and oxygenation tube 8 from the main body 6. The connector end 9 has ridges 11 to help hold the connector end 9 in the port 12 on the monitoring device 4. The connector end 9 also has two opposing tabs 13 to provide a grip for removing the connector end 9 from the port 12.

[0026] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.