Patent ID: 8517022

Claim:
A nasal cannula, comprising: a hollow body, comprising: a chamber; an intake port leading to the chamber, the intake port configured for connection to a pressurized therapeutic gas line for receiving therapeutic gas for delivery into the chamber inside the hollow body; and two exit ports, each exit port in fluid communication with the intake port and the chamber and configured for delivering the therapeutic gas to a patient; and two nasal inserts, each nasal insert connected to one of the two exit ports and configured for placement within a nostril of a patient, each nasal insert further comprising: a nasal insert tube connected to one of the exit ports, the nasal insert tube configured to be inserted into a nostril of a patient for delivering the therapeutic gas; only one exhale aperture adjacent to, but not surrounding, the nasal insert tube, the exhale aperture comprising a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of the nasal insert tube; and an annular sleeve surrounding the nasal insert tube and the exhale aperture, the annular sleeve comprising an external contact surface formed thereon having a distal end opposite the hollow body, the distal end having tear drop cross-section, the external contact surface configured for placement against an inside surface of the nostril to achieve a friction fit.