Patent Publication Number: US-2015068530-A1

Title: One-sided nasal cannula device and attachments

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to medical devices and more particularly cannula devices for delivering supplemental oxygen. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     Numerous patients require respiratory assistance such as the delivery of supplemental oxygen. Oxygen is normally delivered to the patient through oxygen delivery devices such as nasal cannula or masks. The nasal cannula is often preferred over the mask because it does not interfere with the ability to communicate, eat or drink. Those requiring use of the nasal cannula often include elderly patients. The nasal cannula may also be used by pilots and passengers in small unpressurized aircraft that don&#39;t exceed certain altitudes. 
     The existing nasal cannula device comprises a first nasal tubing and a second nasal tubing. Each nasal tubing has a first end connected to a gas source and a second prong end configured to be placed within a patient&#39;s nostril. Each nasal tubing is placed over a patient ear, thereby providing a removable stabilizing connection for the nasal cannula via the patient&#39;s two ears. Such cannula devices may provide therapeutic gas to the patient. For example, pure oxygen; a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen; a nitrous oxide mixture; or other gases may be provided. 
     Gas may flow freely out of the prong end portions of the cannula device positioned within the patient&#39;s nostrils. This gas flow may continue even when the patient is not inhaling, causing the therapeutic gas being provided to flow out of the patient&#39;s nostrils where the gas is lost. Furthermore, this lost gas may irritate the patient&#39;s eyes. 
     Current cannula devices may cause significant rubbing, cutting, scabbing, and irritation where the cannula device makes contact with the patient&#39;s skin. This is especially problematic for elderly patients because such patients have a reduced ability to heal. 
     As previously described, the current nasal cannula devices normally attach to the patient by each nasal tubing coming from the nose and hooking around the ears on both sides of the face and thereafter connecting under the chin by a sliding connector configured to hold each nasal tubing in place . The first end of each nasal tubing may then be connected to a mobile or static gas source. For those patients who desire to sleep on their side, the nasal cannula often digs into the side of the face, leaving unsightly marks or, in some cases, causing bruising or scraping the skin. In this position, the ear being slept upon is sandwiched between the nasal tubing positioned above the ear and the sleeping surface, causing discomfort and disrupting blood flow to both the ear lobe. Where the nasal tubing is flexible, the nasal tubing may be pinched, impeding the flow of therapeutic gas to the patient. The described discomfort and other considerations forces the patient to sleep on their back to avoid such injuries. Such considerations are not limited to sleep positions. Any situation which causes the patient to place something against one side of their head or an ear (e.g., wearing headphones) may cause similar discomfort. 
     To further complicate matters, many patients find that the tube often gets stuck around items such as a protruding piece of furniture, a door knob, a door itself, the wearer&#39;s feet or even the feet of someone within close proximity. When a portion of a current cannula device is caught on an object, not only does the nasal tubing painfully pull against the patient&#39;s ear, the prong end portions may scrape or uncomfortably impact the sensitive inner portions of the patient&#39;s nose. 
     Some patients requiring supplementary oxygen may be instructed to minimize their exposure to environmental contaminants such as dust, bacteria, viruses and pollens. Such patients include those suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In these circumstances, oxygen masks have traditionally been utilized because they reduce exposure of the patient&#39;s airways to the surrounding environment and the associated contaminants. The oxygen face mask is a plastic oxygen delivery device that is shaped to fit over a patient&#39;s nose and mouth. The mask contains open slits which allow air from the room to enter the mask and dilute the oxygen, while allowing exhaled carbon dioxide to leave the restrained space. Like the nasal cannula, plastic tubing is fixed to the bottom of the mask and connected to an oxygen source. The mask is held in place by an elastic band which goes over the patient&#39;s head and above the patient&#39;s ears to hold the mask in place. The masks pose great difficulty in performing everyday tasks such as talking and eating, as well as being cosmetically unattractive. 
     Given the foregoing, what is needed is a nasal cannula device capable of delivering therapeutic gases while reducing rubbing, scraping, and other damage or discomfort to the patient during, especially during long term use. Additionally, cannula devices are desired which inhibit the patient&#39;s movement less than current cannula devices. A cannula device which minimizes exposure of the patient&#39;s nasal airways to the outside environment is also desired. 
     Additionally, what is needed is a cannula device which does not cause the patient to deviation from their preferred sleep position (i.e., forcing the patient to sleep on their back when they may prefer to sleep on their side). 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the subject matter. 
     This disclosure addresses the above-described needs by providing nasal cannula devices configured to deliver therapeutic gases (e.g., supplemental oxygen) to a patient via a one-sided device which reduces rubbing, scraping, or other damage or discomfort to the patient. Such devices may enable greater range of motion for the patient, allow easier access to portions of the patient&#39;s face, ear, and neck not engaged by the device, and enable the patient to sleep in their preferred sleep position (e.g., on their side). 
     In an aspect, a nasal cannula device removably attaches to a patient&#39;s body on one side of the head and comprises an anchor and gas tubing. The gas tubing comprises a gas source connector, a gas tubing body, and a nasal member. The gas source connector is configured to engage a gas source (e.g., mobile oxygen canister) and enable the flow of gas into the remaining portions of the nasal cannula device. The gas tubing body may be a flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid length of tubing configured to transport gas received at the gas source connector to the patient&#39;s nasal airways via the nasal member. The nasal member may be a rigid member comprising a first nasal member end portion and two nasal interfaces. The first nasal member end portion in configured to receive gas from the gas tubing. Each nasal interface is configured to removably interface with a patient nostril and provide therapeutic gas to the patient nostril. The nasal interfaces may be rigid, parallel tubes configured to be inserted into the corresponding patient nostril. Such nasal interfaces may be connected by a rigid tube, thereby separating them a distance from one another. This separation distance may be chosen in order to position each nasal interface within each patient nostril. 
     The anchor is attached to the gas tubing at the gas tubing body and is adapted to removably connect the nasal cannula device to a patient ear. The anchor may be a curved member extending over the patient ear and attaching to the gas tubing body at an anchor end portion. The anchor end portion may slidably, removably and/or rotatably connect with the gas tubing body, enabling the patient to adjust the position of the gas tubing body in order to increase their comfort level while wearing the device. A rotatable connector also enables the patient to switch the ear over which the anchor hangs, allowing the patient to sleep on a preferred side or otherwise leave a preferred ear unencumbered. 
     In other aspects, the anchor is configured to interface with the patient ear in a different manner. 
     In an aspect, a nasal cannula device removably attaches to the patient&#39;s head via an over the scalp connector. 
     Other aspects of the present disclosure provide attachments for a nasal cannula device which minimizes exposure of the patient&#39;s nasal airways to the outside environment. In such aspects of the present disclosure, the traditional prongs of existing nasal cannula devices may be replaced by two compressible members, such as foam hemispheres, sealed with a filtering element. The compressible member may comprise a gas passageway which connects to the cannula and allows therapeutic gas to enter the patient&#39;s nostril. The compressible members may be configured to snugly, removably fit into the nostrils, thereby providing a comfortable connection for the cannula which preventing unfiltered air and environmental contaminants to enter the patient&#39;s body via the nostrils. 
     In an aspect, nasal cannula attachments may be utilized with one-sided nasal cannula devices disclosed herein. 
     Further features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as the structure and operation of various aspects of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the Detailed Description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device being worn by a patient, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device, depicting an alternative configuration of the anchor, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device being worn by a patient on an alternate side, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device being worn by a patient on an alternate side, wherein the gas tubing of the one-sided nasal cannula device is also configured to anchor the device, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a one-sided nasal cannula device being worn by a patient, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a one-sided nasal cannula device being worn by a patient, wherein the anchor end portion comprises a swivel, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a one-sided nasal cannula device being worn by a patient, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device, wherein the cannula device comprises a secondary anchor, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device, wherein the anchor is configured to be placed on top of the patient head, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a of a one-sided nasal cannula device, depicting an alternative configuration of the anchor, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a nasal member equipped with two nasal inserts, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a nasal member equipped with two nasal inserts, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a nasal member equipped with two nasal inserts, depicting an alternative configuration, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a detail view of a nasal member equipped with two nasal inserts, shown inserted into patient nostrils, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of a nasal cannula equipped with two nasal inserts being worn by a patient, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device equipped with two nasal inserts being worn by a patient, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to devices and attachments which allow for delivery of therapeutic gases (e.g., pure oxygen; a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen; a nitrous oxide mixture; other gases and the like) to a patient via a one-sided device which reduces rubbing, scraping, or other damage or discomfort to the patient. Such devices may enable greater range of motion for the patient, allow easier access to portions of the patient&#39;s face, ear, and neck not engaged by the device, and enable the patient to sleep in their preferred sleep position (e.g., on their side). 
     In an aspect, a nasal cannula device removably attaches to a patient&#39;s body on one side of the head and comprises an anchor and gas tubing. 
     Devices in accordance with the present disclosure may be utilized with nasal cannula devices in order to minimize exposure of the patient&#39;s nasal airways to the outside environment. 
     Unless otherwise noted, for the purposes of the present disclosure, “patient” and its plural forms refers to humans, animals, and other living creatures which may receive therapeutic gases using devices disclosed herein. In particular, patient includes individuals seeking medical care, individuals under long term care, pilots, athletes, horses, dogs, other mammals, and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device  100  being worn by a patient  102 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
     Nasal cannula device  100  removably attaches to a patient&#39;s body on one side of the patient head (e.g., at an ear  108   a  (labeled, for clarity, only as ear  108   a  in  FIG. 1 )) and comprises an anchor  118  and gas tubing  110 . 
     Gas tubing  102  is configured to deliver therapeutic gases received from gas source  122  to a patient airway via a patient nose  104 . Gas tubing  110  may comprise a gas source connector  112 , a gas tubing body, and a nasal member  114 . 
     Gas source connector  112  is configured to engage gas source  122  (e.g., a portable oxygen tank, wall supply source in the hospital setting, and the like) and enable the flow of gas into the remaining portions of nasal cannula device  100 . Gas source connector  112  may be a permanent connector, a screw-on connector, a removable connector, a quick-release connector, or any other connection means apparent to those having skill in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. 
     The gas tubing body may be a flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid length of tubing configured to transport gas received at gas source connector  112  to the patient&#39;s nasal airways via nasal member  114 . Tubing may be the diameter or standard nasal cannula tubing. In another aspect, gas tubing body may have an increased diameter, in order to deliver a therapeutic volume of gas at a therapeutic rate. The gas tubing body maybe be several feet long to only a few inches, depending on application. 
     In another aspect, the gas tubing body is an expandable bladder or other member configured to transport gas received at gas source connector  112  to the patient&#39;s nasal airways via nasal member  114 . 
     Nasal member  114  may be a rigid member comprising a first nasal member end portion and two nasal interfaces a (labeled, for clarity, only as nasal interface  116   b  in  FIG. 1 .). The first nasal member end portion in configured to receive gas from the remainder of gas tubing. Each nasal interface  116  is configured to removably interface with a patient nostril and provide therapeutic gas to the patient nostril. Nasal interface  116  may be rigid, parallel tubes configured to be inserted into the corresponding patient nostril. Such nasal interface  116  may be connected by a rigid tube, thereby separating them a distance from one another. This separation distance may be chosen in order to position each nasal interface  116  within each patient nostril. 
     Anchor  118  is attached to gas tubing  110  at, for example, the gas tubing body. Anchor  118  is adapted to removably connect nasal cannula device  100  to a single patient ear  108 . Anchor may be a curved member extending over patient ear  108  and attaching to gas tubing  110  at an anchor end portion  120 . Anchor end portion  120  may slidably, removably and/or rotatably connect with gas tubing  110 , enabling patient  102  to adjust the position of gas tubing  110  in order to, for example, increase their comfort level while wearing nasal cannula device  100 . 
     Anchor  118  may be at least partially constructed of polymer, ABS plastic, carbon fiber, metal, rubber, or another durable material. Anchor  118  may loop over patient ear  108  and extend down behind patient ear  118  in order to connect with gas tubing  110  at anchor end portion  120 . In another aspect ( FIG. 7 ), anchor loops over patient ear  108  and extends down in front of patient ear  118  in order to connect with gas tubing  110  at anchor end portion  120 . 
     In another aspect, anchor  118  may comprise a flexible material that may be secured over patient ear  108 . 
     Anchor end portion  120  may be a permanent or removable connection to gas tubing  110 . Anchor end portion  120  may comprise a sliding connector assembly or other removable connection means as will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. 
     In some aspects, patient  102  may position nasal cannula device  100  on either side of the face. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 , if patient  102  prefers to sleep on the right side of his/her body, patient may choose to secure nasal cannula device  100  on the left side of the face via placing anchor  118  on left patient ear  108   b  so as not to disturb patient  102  while sleeping. Similarly, if patient  102  prefers to sleep on the left side of his/her body, patient  102  may choose to secure nasal cannula device  100  on the right side of the face via placing anchor  118  over right patient ear  108   a  so as not to disturb the patient  102  while sleeping. The preference of patient  102  may be taken into account at any time and is not limited to the time in which patient  102  is sleeping. 
     In some aspects, patient  102  may choose to wear nasal cannula device  100  under his/her clothing on either side of his/her body so as to prevent patient  102  from tripping over a portion of device  100 . In other aspects, patient  102  may choose to wear nasal cannula device  100  under his/her clothing so as to prevent a portion of device  100  from getting caught on items such as a door, door knob, table, or the like. 
     Nasal cannula device  100  may be a lightweight device constructed of one or more materials such plastic, silicone or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a front view of one-sided nasal cannula device  100 , depicting an alternative configuration of anchor  118 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
     In an aspect, nasal cannula device  100  comprises gas tubing  110 . Gas tubing  110  comprises gas source connector  112 , gas tubing body, and nasal member  114 . Gas tubing body comprises formed member  124 . Formed member  124  is a portion of gas tubing body which is rigid or semi-rigid (i.e., having some flexibility or ability to be formed into a shape by patient  102  or a third party) having a shape which facilitates placement over patient ear  108 , thereby retaining nasal cannula device  100 . 
     In an aspect, as least a portion of nasal cannula device  100  is flexible. This flexibility facilitates, for example: placement and positioning of nasal member  114 ; placing nasal cannula device  100  on either patient ear  108 ; and the like. Some or all of gas tubing  110  may be flexible including, but not limited to portions of gas tubing body. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a side view of one-sided nasal cannula device  100  being worn by patient  102 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
     Anchor  118  may be designed with varying heights, widths, and cross sections. In an aspect, anchor  118  may be custom designed for patient  102 . In another aspect, anchor may be configured to break away from gas tubing  110  at, for example, anchor end portion  120  in the even that gas tubing snags on an object, thereby avoiding tugging on patient ear  108  or nose  104 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a side view of one-sided nasal cannula device  100  being worn by patient  102 , wherein anchor end portion  120  comprises a swivel  202 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
     In an aspect, anchor end portion  120  may comprise swivel  202  or other movable member. Swivel  202  facilitates placement of nasal cannula device  100  during use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a front view of a one-sided nasal cannula device, wherein the cannula device comprises a secondary anchor  806 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
     Secondary anchor  806  may be configured to removably connect nasal cannula device  100  to patient clothing  802 . In an aspect, secondary anchor  806  is a clip which removably connects gas tubing  110  to collar  804 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a front view of one-sided nasal cannula device  100 , wherein anchor  118  is configured to be placed on top of the head of patient  102 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
     In an aspect, anchor  118 , similar to the brace of a unidirectional headset or a headset microphone worn by disc jockey, is configured to pass over the head of patient  102 . Anchor  118  comprises boom  902 . Boom  902  may be a rigid or flexible member which extends to a position where anchor end portion  120  connects to gas tubing  110 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , anchor  118  may further comprise pivot  1002 , thereby allowing boom  902  to be moved to a desired position during use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a front view of nasal member  114  equipped with two nasal inserts  1102  (labeled as nasal inserts  1102   a  &amp;  b  in  FIG. 11 ), in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
     Nasal insert  1102  is a compressible member configured to be removably inserted into patient nose  104  at a nostril of patient  108 . Nasal insert  1102  may be constructed of foam, rubber, latex, sponge, “memory” foam, or another deformable or flexible material apparent to those having skill in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Nasal insert  1102  may be configured to serve one or more purposes including: forming a barrier between the nasal airway of patient  108  and the surrounding environment; facilitating retaining nasal member  114  in a position where therapeutic gases may be delivered to the nasal airway; and protecting the inner surface of nose  104  from impacts with nasal interface  116  (labeled as nasal interfaces  116   a  &amp;  b  in  FIG. 11 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , in an aspect, nasal insert  1102  is a hemisphere of foam material having a cylindrical conduit through its axis. The diameter of the cylindrical conduit may be equal to the outer diameter of the nasal interface  116  of nasal cannula devices, thereby enabling the placement of nasal insert  1102  over nasal interface  116 . Nasal interfaces  116  equipped in this manner may then be inserted into the nostril, as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     In another aspect, nasal insert  1102  comprises a cylindrical conduit through its vertical axis configured to removably receive nasal interface  116 . The outer shape of nasal insert  1102  may be a portion of an ellipsis, a cylinder, or another shape which loosely or tightly conforms to the inner region of a nostril of nose  104 . 
     In an aspect where nasal insert  1102  provides a barrier to environmental contaminants, nasal insert  1102  may comprise a flared end in order to facilitate creation of an air tight barrier to the nostril. In another such aspect, nasal insert  1102  may form an air tight or near air tight barrier via the shape of nasal insert  1102 , via expansion of nasal interface  1102  within the nostril, via comprising an air impermeable bottom surface, or via another means apparent to those having skill in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. 
     Nasal insert  1102  may be semipermeable. In an aspect, nasal insert  1102  may, for example, be configured to allow carbon dioxide to exit the nostril. In another aspect, nasal insert  1102  may be at least partially constructed of a filtering material which allows purified air from the surrounding environment to enter the nostril. 
     In an aspect, nasal insert  1102  is constructed of a deformable, compressible material. In order to wear nasal member  114  equipped with nasal inserts  1102 , patient  102  compresses each nasal insert  1102  along its vertical axis and inserts the nasal insert-equipped nasal interfaces  116  into each nostril of nose  104 . Each nasal insert  1102  may then slowly expand until reaching the inner walls of the nostril. Nasal insert  1102  may be constructed such that the static perimeter of nasal insert  1102  is larger than the perimeter of the inside of the nostril. In this manner, nasal insert  1102  may press against the inner walls of the nostril, providing a retaining force and protecting the inner walls from impact with nasal interface  116 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , nasal insert  1102  may be configured to cover only a portion of nasal interface  116 . 
     Nasal insert  1102  may be removably attached to nasal member  114  or permanently attached via, for example, adhering nasal insert  1102  to nasal interface  116 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 15 &amp; 16 , front views of nasal inserts  1102  being utilized with one-sided nasal cannula device  100  and a two-sided nasal cannula device, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, are shown. 
     Nasal insert  1102  may be used with a variety of styles of nasal cannula devices now know or developed in the future. 
     While various aspects of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
     In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present disclosure, are presented for example purposes only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, certain features from different aspects of the devices and systems of the present disclosure may be combined to form yet new aspects of the present disclosure. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present disclosure in any way.