Patent Publication Number: US-2020282167-A1

Title: Nasal cannula for a portable oxygen concentrator

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/815,559, filed on Mar. 8, 2019. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to a nasal cannula for supplying oxygen to a user. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the medical field, oxygen may be supplied to patients to treat a variety of conditions such as heart failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or any weakened lung or heart state. Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) are one known device used in the medical field to supply supplemental oxygen to a patient. POCs take in ambient air, filter it, and deliver a relatively high purity flow of oxygen to the patient. At times, supplemental oxygen is used for purposes outside of the medical field, such as for recreational purposes. Supplemental oxygen may be used to shorten recovery time for exhausted athletes, or may be used at high altitudes to make breathing easier during skiing, mountain biking, or other sporting activities. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an example oxygen delivery system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of the example oxygen delivery system. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example magnetic coupling in a detached state. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the example magnetic coupling of  FIG. 3  in an attached state. 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates another example oxygen delivery system. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates, somewhat schematically, yet another example oxygen delivery system. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     A nasal cannula for an oxygen delivery system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cannula having an end configured to attach to an oxygen source and a face piece configured to deliver a fluid from the oxygen source to a user. A magnetic coupling is arranged along the cannula. 
     In a further embodiment, the magnetic coupling comprises a first magnet and a second magnet. 
     In a further embodiment, the first and second magnets have a ring shape. 
     In a further embodiment, a protrusion is arranged in a center of the first magnet, and a cavity is arranged in a second center of the second magnet, the protrusion configured to engage with the cavity. 
     In a further embodiment, a seal extends about at least one of the first and second magnets. 
     In a further embodiment, the first magnet is arranged at the end of the cannula and is configured to engage with the second magnet arranged on the oxygen source. 
     In a further embodiment, the first and second magnets are arranged along the cannula between the end and the face piece. 
     In a further embodiment, the fluid is configured to travel through the magnetic coupling. 
     In a further embodiment, the magnetic coupling comprises a mounting piece having at least one hole configured to mount the magnetic coupling to the oxygen source. 
     In a further embodiment, the at least one hole is a threaded hole. 
     In a further embodiment, the magnetic coupling comprises an alignment guide. 
     In a further embodiment, the oxygen source is a portable oxygen concentrator. 
     In a further embodiment, the user is an athlete. 
     A portable oxygen concentrator system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a portable oxygen concentrator having a filter arranged within a housing, the filter configured to draw in ambient air, remove other gases, and deliver concentrated oxygen through an outlet on the housing. A first magnet is at the outlet. A cannula having an end with a second magnet is configured to attach to the first magnet. 
     In a further embodiment, the cannula has a face piece at a second end opposite the end, the face piece configured to deliver the concentrated oxygen to a user. 
     In a further embodiment, the first and second magnets have a ring shape. 
     In a further embodiment, the first magnet extends about the outlet. 
     In a further embodiment, a seal is arranged between the first and second magnets. 
     In a further embodiment, the cannula is configured to deliver the concentrated oxygen to a user, and the user is an athlete. 
     In a further embodiment, the portable oxygen concentrator is configured to deliver the concentrated oxygen at a purity of less than 86%. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure relates to a nasal cannula for supplying oxygen to a user, such as from a portable oxygen concentrator (POC). 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example oxygen delivery system  20 , and includes a breakout showing the detail of a magnetic coupling. The system  20  includes a nasal cannula  26  connected to an oxygen source, such as a POC  22 . The nasal cannula  26  is configured to deliver oxygen from the POC  22  to a user. Although a POC  22  is shown in  FIG. 1 , the oxygen source may be any type of oxygen delivery system, such as an oxygen tank, or another breathing aid, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. 
     The POC  22  includes an air compressor, one or more filters, and a battery. In an embodiment, the filter is a molecular sieve which separates (i.e., adsorbs) nitrogen from the ambient air. The POC  22  may use pressure swing adsorption (PSA), vacuum swing adsorption (VSA), or pressure vacuum swing adsorption (PVSA) technology. The POC  22  may further include a storage chamber, or reservoir. The battery may be rechargeable. 
     The POC  22  delivers oxygen via the cannula  26  to an interface, which in this example is mask or face piece  28 , which delivers the oxygen to a user. The POC  22  may be a pulse delivery device or a continuous flow device. A continuous flow POC provides a continuous flow of oxygen to the patient. A pulse delivery POC only provides oxygen when the patient is inhaling. Thus, with pulse delivery, there is a reduced load on the POC compared to a continuous flow device. 
     Ambient air contains about 21% oxygen and about 79% nitrogen and other gases. The POC  22  compresses the ambient air and filters the nitrogen out of the air, leaving oxygen as the primary gas in the product delivered to the user via the face piece  28 . The nitrogen is released back to the ambient environment and/or held in the filters. In a typical medical grade POC, the gas delivered to a patient is around 90-95% oxygen. In other embodiments, such as in POCs for recreational use, a lower oxygen purity is delivered to the patient. The POC  22  may include flow control buttons and indicators for breath detection or alerts, and sometimes includes the ability to toggle between a continuous flow and a pulse flow. 
     It should be understood that the POC  22  includes a control unit programmed with executable instructions for interfacing with and operating the various components of the POC  22 . The control unit is further programmed to provide the other functionality discussed above, among other features. It should be understood that the control unit could be part of an overall control module. The control unit includes a processing unit and non-transitory memory for executing the various control strategies and modes of the POC system. 
     In this example, the cannula  26  wraps around a user&#39;s head and has a face piece  28  that rests at the base of the nose for delivery of oxygen. In this example, the face piece  28  includes first and second nostril protrusions  40 ,  42  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) for delivering oxygen to the user&#39;s nose. In some embodiments, the cannula  26  is made entirely of silicone, or other soft elastomer. The cannula  26  and face piece  28  may be provided in different sizes to accommodate different users. Although a nasal cannula is shown, other interfaces, such as other facial masks, fall within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Opposite the face piece  28 , the cannula  26  has a magnetic coupling  44  which connects the cannula  26  to the POC  22 . In the example of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first magnet  46  is arranged at an end of the cannula  26  and a second magnet  48  is arranged on the POC  22 . The first and second magnets  46 ,  48  have opposite poles such that they attract one another. The first and second magnets  46 ,  48  are ring shaped to permit the flow of oxygen through the magnetic coupling  44  when the POC  22  is in use. Known POC devices have a threaded attachment for a cannula. The disclosed system  20  has the second magnet  48  secured directly to the POC  22  for attaching the cannula  26 . The second magnet  48  may be secured to the POC  22 , such as with an adhesive, or may be integrated into a housing  24  of the POC  22  such as by overmolding. 
     In some examples, one of the magnetic portions  46 ,  48  is a ferromagnetic material, such as steel, while the other of the magnetic portions  46 ,  48  is another type of magnetic material. This may provide a less expensive alternative to both magnetic portions  46 ,  48  being magnetic materials. An alignment guide  160  may be provided on the POC  22  or the cannula  26  to ensure the magnets  46 ,  48  are aligned. The attraction between the magnets  46 ,  48  must be strong enough to form a seal at the magnetic coupling  44 . This seal permits oxygen to flow through the cannula  26 , passing through the magnets  46 ,  48  before reaching the cannula  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first magnet  46  is secured at the end  50  of the cannula  26 . In this example, the magnet  46  is attached to a coupling piece  52  having a stem  54 . The stem  54  extends into the cannula  26 , and is secured within the cannula  26  via a friction fit (press fit). In some examples, the magnet  46  and coupling piece  58  are a single integrated structure. The magnets  46 ,  48  may be secured to the cannula  26  and/or POC  22  via a friction fit or an adhesive, for example. In other examples, the magnets  46 ,  48  are over-molded in plastic. This may ensure all materials in the system  20  are medical grade materials. 
     The magnetic coupling  44  permits a user wearing the face piece  28  to detach and reattach to the POC  22  quickly and easily. The magnetic coupling  44  may also detach when the cannula  26  snags on something, preventing any discomfort to the user from a sudden jerk on the face piece  28 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate additional details of an example magnetic coupling. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the coupling piece  52  may include a protrusion  62  extending outward from a center of the first magnet  46 . The protrusion  62  has a through hole  63  for permitting the flow of fluid. The second magnet  48  is secured in place with a mounting piece  64 . The mounting piece  64  has a central cavity  66  configured to receive the protrusion  62 . In other words, a plane is formed where the magnets  46 ,  48  attach, and the protrusion  62  extends beyond the plane. A through hole  65  is centered in the cavity  64 . The protrusion  62  and cavity  66  help ensure the first and second magnets  46 ,  48  are properly aligned when attached to one another. This alignment also ensures the holes  63 ,  65  are aligned to permit fluid to flow through the magnetic coupling  44  from the POC  22  to the face piece  28 . Although the protrusion  62  is shown near the first magnet  46  while the cavity  66  is shown near the second magnet  48 , these could be switched so that a cavity is near the first magnet  46  while a protrusion is near the second magnet  48 . Other locating features may also be utilized in place of a cavity and protrusion. 
     In this example, the magnets  46 ,  48  do not contact one another when the magnetic coupling  44  is attached. The magnets  46 ,  48  may be spaced by at least one of the coupling piece  52  and the mounting piece  64 . In the illustrated example, the mounting piece  64  includes three projections that connect the cavity  66  to an outer circumference. The thickness of these projections defines the gap between the magnets  46 ,  48 , in some examples. The magnets  46 ,  48  and the gap between the magnets is selected such that the attraction between the magnets  46 ,  48  is strong enough to form a seal at the magnetic coupling  44 . 
     In some examples, a seal  68  may be arranged on or near the first magnet  46 . The seal  68  extends circumferentially about the hole  63 . In other examples, the seal  68  may be arranged on the second magnet  48 . In other examples, the seal  68  can be arranged between the protrusion  62  and the cavity  66 , and does not necessarily touch the magnets  46 ,  48 . The seal  68  prevents fluid from escaping the cannula  26  at the magnetic coupling  44 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mounting piece  64  is configured to attach the second magnet  48  to the POC  22 . In this example, the mounting piece  64  has two threaded holes  70  extending through two radial protrusions  72  for attachment to the POC  22 . Although two holes  70  are illustrated, more or fewer may be utilized. Although the holes  70  are threaded, other attachment mechanisms may be used to secure the mounting piece  64  to the POC  22 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another example oxygen system  120 , and includes a breakout schematically illustrating the detail of another magnetic coupling. In this example, the magnetic coupling  144  is arranged along the cannula  126  between the face piece  128  and the POC  122 , and is not provided at the end of the cannula  126 . In this example, the cannula  126  is split into a first portion  156  and a second portion  158 . The first magnet  146  is secured to the first portion  156  and the second magnet  148  is secured to the second portion  158 . The first and second magnets  146 ,  148  secure the portions  156 ,  158  together such that fluid can flow from the POC  122  to the face piece  128 . The first and second magnets  146 ,  148  may be secured to the cannula  126  via an adhesive or a friction fit, for example. In some examples, the first and second magnets  146  may be secured to the cannula  126  via a coupling piece (shown in  FIG. 2 ). In this example, the cannula  126  may be secured to the POC  122  using known methods, such as a threaded attachment or friction fit. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another example oxygen system  220 . A POC  222  is arranged within a case  224 . In the illustrated embodiment, the case  224  is a backpack with shoulder straps  232 . Buttons  229  and indicators  233  may be located on the case  224  to allow the user  230  to control the POC  222 . The POC system  220  is lightweight and portable, making it ideal for recreational use. For example, the POC system  220  may be used for skiing or biking at high altitudes, where a user may need supplemental oxygen to make breathing at the high altitude easier. The system  220  may be used for other sporting activities at high altitude and extreme sporting generally. In some examples, the system  220  may be used on the sidelines during sporting events for tired athletes to recover more quickly. To this end, the system  220  may be configured to deliver oxygen purity of less than about 86% in normal conditions, making it such that the system  220  is not a medical device, and thus can be used by recreational users without a prescription. In a further embodiment, the system  220  may be configured to deliver oxygen purity of less than 85% in normal conditions. 
     The above-discussed cannula and magnetic coupling may be beneficial in this system. For instance, the cannula  226  quickly detaches from the POC  222  via a magnetic coupling  244 . When a user  230  is engaged in recreational activities, the cannula  226  may snag on an object, such as another person, a nearby tree, or sporting equipment, as examples. Depending on the activity, such a snag could be dangerous. For example, if the user  230  is mountain biking down a hill along rough terrain and the cannula  226  snags, the user  230  may fall off the bike and sustain a serious injury. Instead, with this disclosure, such a snag would cause the magnetic coupling  244  to quickly detach the cannula  226  from the POC  222  to prevent discomfort or injury. While there may be added benefits in recreational contexts, the magnetic coupling  44 ,  144  provides similar benefits in everyday environments. 
     It should be understood that terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” and “about” are not intended to be boundaryless terms, and should be interpreted consistent with the way one skilled in the art would interpret those terms. 
     Although the different examples have the specific components shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples. 
     One of ordinary skill in this art would understand that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and non-limiting. That is, modifications of this disclosure would come within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.