Abstract:
An apparatus for securing a nasal cannula comprising a pair of oxygen tube holders connected via a strap, the nasal cannula securing device being positionable behind the head of a patient and slightly below the patient&#39;s ears so as to secure the nasal cannula in place.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/548,270 filed Oct. 18, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to devices for securing the position of nasal cannula in the nostrils of a user. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an elastic strap device designed to secure a nasal cannula by securing the oxygen tubes attached to the cannula in place behind the head of a patient. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various physical conditions require an increased oxygen supply to a patient. In severe cases, an oxygen mask may be required. However, in less severe cases, an oxygen mask is not required, and the increased oxygen flow is provided by a nasal cannula connected to oxygen tubes. The nasal cannula is generally worn in or near the entry to the nasal passages. 
     Generally speaking, when in use, a nasal cannula is simply draped over one ear, positioned underneath the nose, and then draped over the other ear. While satisfactory for completely immobile individuals, frequently, when a nasal cannula is installed over the ears of a patient, it becomes dislodged. This is particularly likely to occur when the person is asleep and is typically caused by tossing and turning of the person causing contact of the cannula and cannula tube against the bed and bedclothes. The person generally is wakened when the cannula dislodges or falls from the person&#39;s nose due to the insufficient supply of oxygen to the person&#39;s brain, and the person must subsequently reattach the cannula. This activity disrupts the person&#39;s sleep and frequently occurs several times each night. If the person does not wake, potentially serious hypoxia and resulting in permanent brain damage and death can occur due to the lack of sufficient oxygen supply to the person&#39;s brain. 
     Additionally, even when the nasal cannula is properly positioned, the nasal securing device disclosed herein ensures more consistent oxygen intake by the patient, which is beneficial to the patient. Also beneficial is that the nasal cannula securing device improves the ability of a pulmonologist to accurately evaluate a patient&#39;s oxygen requirements. 
     A further advantage can result from use in the normal hospital environment. Normally, with a patient in the hospital, with the exception of an intensive care facility, the attending nurses have multiple patients and it is next to impossible to monitor every patient&#39;s nasal cannula and to verify that there is complete and consistent insertion of the prongs in the nostrils. Use of the present invention in the hospital environment is likely to reduce the need to continuously monitor and reinstall a patient&#39;s nasal cannula. The improved flow of oxygen from a consistently placed nasal cannula may even reduce patient hospital stays and improve patient quality of life. 
     Thus, there is a need for a means and method for retaining a cannula in place during use. It is clear therefore that a need exists for a device to secure a nasal cannula to a patient&#39;s head in a light, inexpensive, and effective manner, and to do so in a manner that will be unobtrusive to the patient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, what is needed is an improved nasal cannula positioning device that is comfortable to wear and that ensures a consistent flow of oxygen to the patient. The disclosed invention provides just such a nasal cannula positioning device. 
     More specifically, the nasal cannula positioning device is comprised of an adjustable-length Velcro strap further comprised of an oxygen tube retainer on each end. Each oxygen tube retainer is generally comprised of an elastic material and at least one fastening device, such as a snap closure. The elastic material is essentially folded around the cannula and then snapped to itself. 
     In use, the positioning device is employed to secure the nasal cannula as it normally would be used, that is, the oxygen tube is draped over one ear, positioned underneath the nose, and then draped over the other ear. In summary, the disclosed nasal cannula positioning device provides a simple device to more effectively keep the cannula in the nostrils of a patient. This is accomplished by securing the cannula tubes behind the head of a patient such that the positioning device is most preferably approximately level with the center of the patient&#39;s ears. This positioning arrangement creates a slight tension in the cannula tube thereby securing the cannula in the nostrils of a patient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top and side perspective view of the nasal cannula positioning device laid flat so as to show the snap enclosure used for the cannula retainers. 
         FIG. 2  is a top and side perspective view of the nasal cannula positioning device showing the length adjustment means. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the nasal cannula positioning device wherein the oxygen tubes are looped over the ears of a patient as would normally be the case when used in connection with a patient. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the nasal cannula positioning device shown in  FIG. 3  showing the oxygen tube within the enclosure means. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Now referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers refer to like elements throughout,  FIG. 1  shows the nasal cannula positioning device  1  comprising an adjustable strap  51  and oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  at each end of the adjustable strap  51 . As also shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  is further comprised of fasteners  18 ,  38 . 
     Many different fasteners could be used and the type of fastener employed is not a limitation of this invention. Referring again to  FIG. 1 , snap fasteners  18 ,  38  are preferred for their ease of use. One preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of snap fasteners  18 ,  38  on each oxygen tube holder  11 ,  31 . Such snap fasteners  18 ,  38  comprise a female fastener end  17 ,  37  and a male fastener end  19 ,  39 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , when a patient is on five (5) or less liters of oxygen, the nasal cannula tubes  3 ,  5  have a diameter of approximately 3.2 mm. For patients who require more than five (5) liters of oxygen, the nasal cannula tubes  3 ,  5  diameter are approximately 4 mm. Therefore, it is particularly important that the material used for the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31 , (see  FIG. 1 ) and specifically the first portions  13 ,  33 , which are shown in  FIG. 2 , have some degree of elasticity such that they can accommodate both oxygen tube sizes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , each of the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  are further comprised of a second portion  15 ,  35 . The second portion  15  of the first oxygen tube holder  11  is further comprised of a strap  51 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the strap  51  is comprised of a first portion  53  comprising a loop material and a second portion  55  comprising complementary hook material. The second portion  35  of the second oxygen tube holder  31  further comprises an aperture  41 . Now referring to  FIG. 1 , the second oxygen tube holder  31  is attachable to the first oxygen tube holder  11  by looping the strap  51  through the aperture  41  in the second portion  35  of the second oxygen tube holder  31  back over itself. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , which shows a back elevational view of a patient&#39;s head showing the the nasal cannula positioning device  1 . As shown, the nasal cannula position device  1  is preferably positioned at the back of patient&#39;s head, just below the patient&#39;s ears. In this way, the first oxygen tube  3  and the second oxygen tube  5  can drape, as per usual, over the ears of a patient, but instead of curling around the bottom of a patient&#39;s ears, be secured behind the head of a patient. 
       FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the second oxygen tube holder  31  with the fastener (not shown) secured around the first oxygen tube  3 .  FIG. 4  also shows the strap  51  fitted through the aperture  41  in the second portion  35  of the tube holder  31 . As shown most clearly in  FIG. 4 , friction between the first oxygen tube  3  and the elastic material of the oxygen tube holder  31  permits adjustment of cannula tube  3  within the oxygen tube holder  31 , but otherwise restrains slippage of the cannula tube  3 . 
     In practice, the nasal cannula positioning device  1  of the disclosed invention is initially installed on the oxygen tubes  3 ,  5  which allows the elastic material of the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  to be slightly stretched around the oxygen tubes  3 ,  5 , which permits easier engagement for the fasteners  18 ,  38 . Generally speaking, the strap  51  between the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  is left unattached such that the cannula (not shown) and oxygen tubes  3 ,  5  can be accurately positioned on a patient. At that time, either the patient or a second person can move the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  upwardly along the cannula to approximately the bottom of the patient&#39;s ears. Next, the strap  51  is inserted through the aperture  41  in the second portion  35  of the second oxygen tube holder  31  to connect the ends of the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  to one another. At that point, the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  are moved upwardly along the cannula tubes  3 ,  5  to restrain the prongs of the cannula comfortably in the nose of the patient. The inventor has found that when the cannula tube retainers  11 ,  31  are located approximately at the middle of the ears, the cannula is comfortably positioned in the nose of the patient. 
     After the initial installation, a more expedient method can be used for removal and installation of the nasal cannula positioning device  1 . First, the prongs of the cannula (not shown) can be gently removed from the patient&#39;s nostrils and pulled over the patient&#39;s head. Then, the strap  51  can be loosened so as to maximize the distance between the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31 . At this point, the entire cannula tube  11  can be easily removed. The cannula can then be replaced by repositioning the cannula in the nose, replacing the oxygen tubes  3 ,  5  over the ears of the patient and then readjusting the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  along the oxygen tubes  3 ,  5  to tighten the cannula prongs into the nostrils of the patient. In summary then, there are three ways to easily remove the cannula and nasal cannula positioning device  1 : undo the fasteners  18 ,  38  and remove the nasal cannula positioning device  1 ; undo the strap  51  and remove the oxygen tubes  3 ,  5 ; or slide the oxygen tube holders  11 ,  31  far enough along the oxygen tubes  3 ,  5  so that the cannula and the nasal cannula positioning device can be removed. 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details disclosed and described herein.