Patent ID: 8783257

Claim:
A breathing assistance apparatus comprising: a nasal cannula adapted to deliver humidified gases to a user, said nasal cannula comprising: a tubular body having a first end and a second end, at least one prong extending from the first end of the tubular body and shaped to fit within the user's nare, the second end comprising a partial spherical shaped socket; a connector having a first end and a second end, the first end of the connector comprising a partial spherical shaped ball received in the socket of the tubular body and the second end of the connector being configured to be connected to a conduit configured to supply the gases to the cannula; and at least one of the ball and socket comprising at least two discrete channels positioned along an interface between the ball and socket such that the channel is configured to externally vent gases, wherein the at least two discrete channels are separated from each other along an entire length of the at least two discrete channels.