Patent ID: 7832400

Claim:
A single, unitary nasal cannula comprising: a hollow main body having opposed first and second ends with a first opening formed in the first end and a second opening formed in the second end, and the main body defining an internal chamber therein; a partition dividing the internal chamber of the hollow main body into completely separate first and second flow compartments, the first flow compartment comprising the first opening and the second flow compartment comprising the second opening; a flow passageway of a first nasal prong communicating with the first flow compartment of the hollow main body and a flow passageway of a first mouth piece communicating with the first flow compartment of the hollow main body to define a first flow path which communicates with both a first nostril and a mouth of a patient for preforming a first function, the first nasal prong being integrally coupled to the main body and extending from the main body in one direction to facilitate communication between the first nasal prong and the first nostril of the patent, the first mouth piece being integrally coupled to the main body and extending from the main body in another direction to facilitate communication between the first mouth piece and the mouth of the patient; a flow passageway of a second nasal prong communicating with the second flow compartment of the hollow main body and a flow passageway of a second mouth piece communicating with the second flow compartment to define a second flow path which communicates with both a second nostril and the mouth of the patient for preforming a second function simultaneously during performance of the first function, the second nasal prong being integrally coupled to the main body and extending from the main body in one direction to facilitate communication between the second nasal prong and the second nostril of the patent, the second mouth piece being integrally coupled to the main body and extending from the main body in another direction to facilitate communication between the second mouth piece and the mouth of the patient; wherein the first nasal prong is integrally coupled to the main body at a first location and the first mouth piece is integrally coupled to the main body at a second location such that the flow passageway of the first nasal prong is completely independent of the flow passageway of the first mouth piece; and the second nasal prong is integrally coupled to the main body at a third location, and the second mouth piece is integrally coupled to the main body at a fourth location such that the flow passageway of the second nasal prong is completely independent of the flow passageway of the second mouth piece.