Nasal cannula having improved and asymmetrical flow control
Inventors
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Assignees
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Hamilton Medical Inc.Hamilton Medical is focused on the development, manufacturing, and training for advanced respiratory support technologies. The company provides intelligent ventilation systems, high flow oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, and educational platforms for healthcare professionals. Their offerings emphasize patient safety, data-driven decision making, and regulatory compliance across intensive care, transport, neonatal, and emergency settings.
Hamilton Medical is focused on the development, manufacturing, and training for advanced respiratory support technologies. The company provides intelligent ventilation systems, high flow oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, and educational platforms for healthcare professionals. Their offerings emphasize patient safety, data-driven decision making, and regulatory compliance across intensive care, transport, neonatal, and emergency settings.
Publication Number
US-11666723-B2
Publication Date
2023-06-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
A nasal cannula includes a distribution conduit running along a virtual distribution path. The distribution path defines a longitudinal direction and has two branch openings. A respective supply conduit branches off from each branch opening. The distribution conduit also has two coupling openings arranged spaced apart from the branch openings. The nasal cannula has a plug via which one of the two coupling openings can be sealed as a closure opening. Another of the two coupling openings is designed as a supply opening. The plug has a flow-directing configuration with an exposed flow-directing surface. In a reference state in which the plug is closing the closure opening, the flow-directing surface is arranged in the distribution conduit in the longitudinal extension region of at least one branch opening and positioned relative to the distribution path to deflect treatment gas flowing in the distribution conduit from the supply opening along the distribution path towards at least one of the branch openings.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a nasal cannula for nasally supplying a patient with therapeutic gas. The nasal cannula comprises a distribution conduit component in which a distribution conduit extends along a virtual distribution path passing centrally through it, with the distribution path defining a longitudinal direction. The distribution conduit includes two branch openings, each having a respective supply conduit branching off to supply the patient with the therapeutic gas.
In addition to the branch openings, the distribution conduit comprises two coupling openings arranged at a distance from the branch openings. One coupling opening constitutes a closure opening that is closable by a plug for a flow of gas through it. The other coupling opening constitutes a delivery opening for connection of a gas delivery line to the distribution conduit.
The plug comprises a flow-directing configuration with an exposed flow-directing surface that, in a reference state when the plug closes off the closure opening, extends in a longitudinal region up to at least one branch opening. The flow-directing surface is canted with respect to the distribution path so that it deflects the therapeutic gas flowing in from the delivery opening along the distribution path to at least one of the branch openings.
A further aspect is a nasal cannula therapy kit comprising the nasal cannula and at least two plugs. The kit specifies that a first plug and a second plug each have a flow-directing configuration with corresponding flow-directing surfaces arranged to close off the closure opening while deflecting the therapeutic gas to a respective branch opening. The flow-directing configurations can differ in length and/or conformation, and the second flow-directing configuration can extend only over a partial cross-section to define a flow-through opening past the second flow-directing configuration to the first flow-directing configuration.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims cover two independent claim sets: one directed to a nasal cannula with a canted flow-directing plug and two coupling openings, and a second directed to a nasal cannula therapy kit with at least two plugs that selectively deflect gas to respective branch openings. The inventive features include the coupling-opening and plug closure arrangement, the exposed flow-directing surface extending longitudinally toward the branch opening(s), and kit-level plug interchangeability with differing flow-directing surface length/conformation and partial cross-section flow-through behavior.
Canted plug flow deflection to branch openings
A plug has an exposed flow-directing surface arranged, in a reference state closing the closure opening, in a longitudinal region extending to at least one branch opening and being canted with respect to the distribution path so that it deflects therapeutic gas flowing in from the delivery opening along the distribution path to at least one branch opening.
Distribution conduit with centrally passing virtual distribution path and dual branch openings
A distribution conduit component has a distribution conduit extending along a virtual distribution path passing centrally through it, with the distribution path defining a longitudinal direction, and the distribution conduit comprises two branch openings each having a respective supply conduit supplying the patient with therapeutic gas.
Two coupling openings including a closable closure opening and a delivery opening
The distribution conduit includes, in addition to the branch openings, two coupling openings arranged at a distance from the branch openings, one coupling opening being closable by a plug for a flow through it as a closure opening and the other coupling opening being embodied for connection of a gas delivery line as a delivery opening.
Therapy kit with at least two plugs for different branch deflection
A nasal cannula therapy kit comprises a nasal cannula and at least two plugs, in which the closure opening is closable by one of the at least two plugs, and each of a first plug and a second plug includes a first and second flow-directing configuration with corresponding flow-directing surfaces arranged in a reference state to close off the closure opening and deflect therapeutic gas to a respective branch opening.
Differing plug flow-directing configuration length and/or conformation
The first flow-directing configuration and the second flow-directing configuration differ in length and/or the first flow-directing surface and the second flow-directing surface differ in conformation.
Partial cross-section second configuration with flow-through opening to first flow-directing configuration
The second flow-directing configuration extends over only a partial cross-section of the distribution conduit, and where it extends it deflects therapeutic gas into the respective other branch opening, while outside where it extends it constitutes, together with the distribution conduit, a flow-through opening for therapeutic gas past the second flow-directing configuration to the first flow-directing configuration through which a portion of therapeutic gas can flow to the first flow-directing configuration.
Across the provided independent claims, the coverage focuses on a nasal cannula architecture with a centrally passing virtual distribution path, two coupling openings at a distance from the branch openings, and a canted exposed flow-directing surface on a plug that deflects therapeutic gas to branch opening(s). The therapy kit claim additionally covers selective plug use with first and second flow-directing configurations that differ in length and/or conformation and can include a partial cross-section second configuration that creates a flow-through opening to the first flow-directing configuration.
Stated Advantages
Loss/noise reduction [procedural detail omitted for safety]
Defined gas flow to at least one of the branch openings via the canted exposed flow-directing surface.
Reduction/avoidance of wall-corner eddies using described curvature/flow-directing surface features.
Mirror-symmetry enabling either left/right use and intentional asymmetrical therapeutic gas delivery using different plug geometries.
Documented Applications
Nasally supplying a patient with therapeutic gas using the described nasal cannula.
A therapy kit use case in which selecting among at least two plugs configures deflection of therapeutic gas to corresponding branch openings.
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