Patent Publication Number: US-2018036504-A1

Title: Oxygen delivery system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates generally to patient oxygen supply systems, and more specifically to a system for delivering a patient&#39;s oxygen supply. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Nasal cannulas include flexible tubing used to supply oxygen to the nasal passages of a patient in both home and hospital settings. Typically an oxygen supply tank is connected to an extended patient oxygen supply tube which terminates in the nasal cannulas for supplying pressurized oxygen to the patient. It is important in most instances that the supply of oxygen be continuous and not hindered by occlusion or pinching of the oxygen supply tube. Such pinching and occlusion can often result from movement of the patient given the fact that the nasal cannulas are fixed to the patient&#39;s head. 
     The present invention provides for an oxygen supply system utilizing a rotatable tube coupling device that joins a supply tube from the oxygen supply tank to a second tube connected to the nasal cannulas. This allows the oxygen supply tubes to rotate freely relative one another to allow for patient movement without inadvertent removal of the nasal cannula or occlusion of the oxygen supply tubes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, an oxygen delivery system for supplying oxygen from a supply tank under pressure to a patient wearing a nasal cannula may be broadly described as comprising a first tube connected at a first end to the oxygen supply tank for receiving oxygen therefrom, a swivel connected at a first end to a second end of said first tube, a second tube connected at a first end to a second end of said swivel and connected at a second end to the nasal cannula for delivering the oxygen to the patient, and a receiver for limiting movement of the swivel, whereby the first and second tubes are retained in position and allowed to revolve around the swivel. 
     In another possible embodiment, the receiver attaches to a belt of the patient. In another, the receiver loops around a belt of the patient. In yet another, the receiver attaches to an article of clothing worn by the patient. In still another, the receiver attaches to a piece of furniture supporting the patent. 
     In one other possible embodiment, the receiver includes a ring at a distal end for receiving said swivel. In another, the receiver attaches to a belt of the patient. 
     In still another possible embodiment, the receiver includes an elongated piece of material and a fastener for securing a first end of said material to a second end of said material, adjacent said ring, forming a loop. 
     In yet another possible embodiment, the loop is sized to receive a belt worn by the patient. 
     In another possible embodiment, the loop receives a clip for securing the receiver to the patient or a piece of furniture supporting the patient. 
     In still another possible embodiment, the elongated piece of material is leather. In another, the fastener is a snap. 
     In one additional embodiment, an oxygen deliver system for supplying oxygen from a supply tank under pressure to a nasal cannula includes a first tube coupled at a first end to the oxygen supply tank for receiving oxygen therefrom, a mechanism coupled at a first end to a second end of the first tube a second tube coupled at a first end to a second end of the mechanism and coupled at a second end to the nasal cannula for delivering the oxygen to the patient, and a receiver for limiting movement of the mechanism, whereby the mechanism coupled to the first and second tubes enables one of the first and second tubes to revolve without turning the other. 
     In the following description, there are shown and described several embodiments of an oxygen delivery system for supplying oxygen from a supply tank under pressure to a patient wearing a nasal cannula. As it should be realized, the systems are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the methods and assemblies as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the oxygen delivery system and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a rear view of a first embodiment of a receiver; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the first embodiment of the receiver; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of a second embodiment of a receiver supported by a belt; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the second embodiment of the receiver; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of a third embodiment of a receiver; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the third embodiment of the receiver; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a receiver clipped to a belt loop of a patient; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a receiver coupled to a swivel connecting first and second tubes. 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the oxygen delivery system, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures, wherein like numerals are used to represent like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 and 2  which show front and rear views of a receiver  12  of an oxygen delivery system  10 . The receiver  12  includes an elongated piece of material  14  looped through a clip  16  at a first end  18  and a ring  20  positioned adjacent a second, distal end  22  of the receiver. In the described embodiment, the material is a soft leather material although other materials may be utilized. 
     The leather material  14  is looped through and secures the clip  16  adjacent the first end  18  of the receiver  12 . The looped material is fastened to itself utilizing a snap  24  in the described embodiment. The clip  16  is an alligator type clip for clasping a belt loop  26  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the patient. Alternatively, the clip can be attached to a shirt or other article of clothing, or even a piece of furniture supporting the patient. For example, the clip could be attached to an arm of a chair, a wheel chair, or a bed, or linens or blankets on the bed. 
     In a second embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a receiver  30  includes an elongated piece of material  32  formed into a loop and fastened to itself utilizing a snap  34 . The loop is sufficiently sized to receive a belt  36  worn by the patient for supporting the receiver  30 . Again, a ring  38  is positioned adjacent a second, distal end  40  of the receiver  30  and the material is a soft leather material. 
     In a third embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a receiver  42  includes an elongated piece of material  44  having apertures  46  forming end points of a pair of slits  48 ,  50  or slots cut or formed in the material for receiving a belt (not shown) worn by the patient for supporting the receiver  42 . In the described third embodiment, the belt is fed into a first slot  49  and exits through a second slot  50  thereby securing the receiver  42  to the patient&#39;s belt. The receiver  42  again includes a ring  52  positioned adjacent a second, distal end  54  of the receiver for securing a swivel, or mechanism coupling first and second tubes and enabling one of them to revolve without turning the other, to the receiver. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the first embodiment of the receiver  12  is shown attached to a belt  56  of a patient P. The receiver  12  is looped around the belt  56  and held in position using the snap  24  in the described embodiment. As described above, the receiver can be fastened to itself utilizing any suitable fastener. As shown, a first tube  58  extends rearward for attachment to an oxygen supply tank (not shown). Oxygen from the tank is fed through the first tube  58 , under pressure, to a swivel  60  where the first tube is coupled, or attached, to a first end of the swivel. The swivel  60 , or other mechanism, couples the first tube  58  and a second tube  62  enabling one of them to revolve without turning the other. As best shown in  FIG. 8 , the first tube  58  may include a threaded female fitting  64  for receiving a mating threaded male fitting  66  of the swivel  60 . Alternatively, the first tube may be press fitted into the swivel or other means known in the art may be utilized to secure the first tube to the swivel. 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the swivel  60  extends through the ring  20  of the receiver  12  which holds the swivel and attached tubing  58 ,  62  in position. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the receiver  12  is maintained in position adjacent the patient&#39;s hip in the described embodiment. Alternately, the receiver may be attached to clothing of the patient P, a piece for furniture upon which the patient rests, or to blankets or sheets associated with the furniture. For example, the clip  16  may be attached to sheets or a blanket on a bed supporting the patient, or to a material covering an arm of a chair, wheelchair, or couch supporting the patient. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 8 , the second tube  62  is coupled, or attached, at a second end of the swivel  60  as described above with regard to the first tube  58 . The oxygen from the tank is fed through the swivel  60  and into the coupled second tube  62  where it travels, under pressure, to the patient&#39;s nasal cannula (not shown). By securing the first and second tube ends at the swivel  60 , the tubes  58 ,  62  are retained in position yet allowed to revolve or rotate around the swivel for ease of movement of the patient P. 
     In summary, numerous benefits result from the oxygen deliver system  10  for supplying oxygen from a supply tank under pressure to a patient wearing a nasal cannula as illustrated in this document. The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.