Breathing assistance apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9974914-B2
Application number	US-201414333134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Feb 23, 2004
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

In one embodiment, a nasal cannula is shaped to fit within a user's nares, where the nasal cannula includes at least one prong allowing high flow delivery of humidified gases and creates positive airway pressure in the patient's airway. The prongs have angled ends such that, in use, gases flowing through the prongs are directed to the user's nasal passages. The nasal cannula body is partially swivelling and preferably has a ball joint connector. In another embodiment the nasal cannula may have at least one flared end prong that preferably seals within a patient's nare.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nasal cannula configured to deliver humidified gases to a user, the nasal cannula comprising:
a prong part comprising a prong part body having a first end with two openings, a second end with a single opening, and two prongs extending from the two openings, respectively and integrally formed with the first end and the second end, the two prongs spaced from each other and shaped to fit within nares of a user in use, the second end being disposed opposite the first end along a central axis extending through the first and second ends, the prong part body comprising an outer surface extending around the central axis and between the first and second ends, the outer surface having at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion facing toward a user's face in use and the second portion facing away from a user's face in use, the first portion comprising a curved segment disposed between the first and second ends and curving inwardly toward an interior of the prong part body; and
a body part having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the prong part body is configured to be connected to the first end of the body part, and the second end of the body part is configured to be coupled to a conduit configured to supply humidified gases to the nasal cannula, the body part further comprising an outer surface having at least a user-side portion facing toward a user's face in use, the user-side portion comprising a curved part, curving inward toward an interior of the body part;
wherein the two prongs are angled toward each other and toward the central axis, the two prongs having a first side adjacent the curved segment and a second side adjacent the second portion, the first sides of the two prongs being disposed further apart than the second sides of the two prongs.

2. The nasal cannula of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the body part is disposed opposite to the first end of the body part and, when the prong part is connected to the body part, each of the two prongs extend from the prong part along a first axis that is substantially parallel to a second axis extending from the first end of the body part to the second end of the body part.

3. The nasal cannula of claim 1 further comprising first and second headgear extensions on the body part and a headgear strap coupled to the body part at the first and second headgear extensions, the first and second headgear extensions being disposed on left and right sides of the user-side portion respectively.

4. The nasal cannula of claim 1 , wherein each of the two prongs comprises a flange proximate, but spaced from, its end, wherein the flange is configured to cause sealing of the respective prong in an associated nare of a user in use.

5. The nasal cannula of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the body part is configured to be coupled to the conduit.

6. The nasal cannula of claim 1 , wherein the first end, the second end, and the two prongs of the prong part is made of a single piece of silicone.

7. The nasal cannula of claim 1 , wherein the body part is made of a rigid plastic material.

8. The nasal cannula of claim 1 , wherein the body part comprises a plurality of apertures configured to externally vent gases exhaled by the user through the nares of the user, the plurality of apertures facing away from a user's face in use.

9. A nasal cannula configured to deliver humidified gases to a user, the nasal cannula comprising:
a prong part comprising:
a prong part body having a first end with two openings, a second end with a single opening, and an outer surface extending between the two openings of the first end and the single opening of the second end and having at least a curved user-side portion facing toward a user's face in use, the user-side portion curving inwardly toward an interior of the prong part body; and
two prongs extending from and integrally formed with the first end of the prong part body, the two prongs being angled toward each other, each of the two prongs having a first side adjacent the user-side portion and a second side opposite the first side, the first sides of the two prongs being disposed further apart than the second sides of the two prongs,

the prongs being spaced from each other and being shaped to fit within corresponding nares of a user to deliver the gases thereto in use, and
the second end of the prong part body being disposed opposite to the first end and being configured to receive the humidified gases.

10. The nasal cannula of claim 9 , wherein the prong part is made of silicone and is configured to be coupled to a more rigid body part.

11. The nasal cannula of claim 9 further comprising a body part having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the prong part is configured to be connected to the first end of the body part, the second end of the body part being configured to be coupled to a conduit configured to supply humidified gases to the nasal cannula, and air flowing through the body part being in the same direction as the prongs extend from the prong part body, the body part further comprising an outer surface having at least a curved user-side portion facing toward the user's face in use, the user-side portion curving inward toward an interior of the body part.

12. The nasal cannula of claim 11 , wherein the prong part is made of silicone and the body part is made of a more rigid plastic material.

13. The nasal cannula of claim 11 , wherein the body part comprises a plurality of apertures configured to externally vent gases exhaled through nares of a user in use, the plurality of apertures facing away from a user's face in use.

14. The nasal cannula of claim 13 , wherein the body part comprises a recessed surface, and the plurality of apertures are positioned on the recessed surface.

15. The nasal cannula of claim 9 , further comprising a body part configured to be connected to the second end of the prong part and a headgear arrangement configured to maintain the prong part in a position with the two prongs against a user's nares in use, the headgear arrangement comprising first and second headgear extensions and a headgear strap, the first headgear extension having a distal end connected to a left peripheral side of the body part on a distal side of the prong part at a location spaced from a user in use, and a proximal end disposed proximally toward a left side of a user's face in use.

16. The nasal cannula of claim 15 , wherein the first headgear extension comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the first headgear extension comprising the distal end of the first headgear extension and extending at least along a first lateral direction extending laterally away from the left peripheral side of the body part and beyond an outer periphery of the prong part.

17. The nasal cannula of claim 16 , wherein the second portion of the first headgear extension extends from the first portion, along a second direction extending more proximally toward a user in use than the first direction in use, the second headgear extension having a distal end connected to a right peripheral side of the body part on the distal side of the prong part at a location spaced from a user in use, and a proximal end disposed proximally toward a right side of a user's face in use.

18. The nasal cannula of claim 17 , wherein the second headgear extension comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the second headgear extension comprising the distal end of the second headgear extension and extending a

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Mcauley Alastair Edwin
• Prentice Craig Robert
• Gleeson Oliver

Classifications

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M16/0666 Primary

  Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02) · CPC title

• A61M16/08

  Bellows; Connecting tubes {(having means for taking samples G01N1/22); Water traps; Patient circuits} · CPC title

• A61M16/109

  the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent · CPC title

• A61M16/0683

  Holding devices therefor · CPC title