Nasal cannula

Abstract

A nasal cannula comprising: a base portion defining a gas passageway and one or more nozzles defining a second gas passageway in gaseous communication with the first gas passageway for directing a therapeutic flow of gas to a user's nares. The nasal cannula may include one or more sensors for measuring the properties of gas within a user's nares. The nozzle may be a nasal insert that is inserted into the user's nares; recesses or grooves are provided for preventing sealing of the nasal insert with the nare. The nozzle may be shaped to avoid insertion into the user's nares, thus preventing sealing with the nares. A stop may be positioned between two nozzles to engage a user's columella and prevent the nozzles from inserting into the user's nares. Elongate extensions are provided for inserting into the user's nares and supporting sensors for measuring gas properties therein.

1 . A nasal cannula comprising: 
 a base portion defining a first therapeutic gas passageway;    a nasal insert disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a second therapeutic gas passageway, said first therapeutic gas passageway being in gaseous communication with said second therapeutic gas passageway; and    at least one sensor for measuring the properties of gas adjacent said nasal insert.    
   
   
       2 . The nasal cannula of  claim 1 , wherein said nasal insert further defines an elongated conduit that is adapted to route gas from adjacent an exterior portion of said nasal insert and through said conduit and to said sensor.  
   
   
       3 . The nasal cannula of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one sensor is disposed within said conduit.  
   
   
       4 . The nasal cannula of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said nasal cannula defines an outlet for said conduit; and    said sensor is disposed adjacent said outlet.    
   
   
       5 . The nasal cannula of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said nasal insert is a first nasal insert;    said at least one sensor comprises a first sensor;    said data is a first set of data; and    said nasal cannula comprises: 
 a second nasal insert disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a third therapeutic gas passageway, said third therapeutic gas passageway being in gaseous communication with said first therapeutic gas passageway, and  
 a second sensor for measuring the properties of gas adjacent said second nasal insert.  
   
   
   
       6 . A nasal cannula comprising: 
 a base portion defining a first interior portion;    a nasal insert disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a second interior portion, said first interior portion being in gaseous communication with said second interior portion; wherein:    said nasal insert defines a passage that is adapted to guide a sensor between:    (a) a first position in which the sensor is outside said cannula, and    (b) a second position in which the sensor is positioned to monitor gas data adjacent an exterior portion of said cannula.    
   
   
       7 . A nasal cannula comprising: 
 a base portion defining a first interior portion;    a nasal insert disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a second interior portion, said first interior portion being in gaseous communication with said second interior portion, wherein:    said nasal insert defines a recess that is adapted to prevent said nasal insert from creating a seal with a user's nare when the nasal insert is operatively positioned within said nare.    
   
   
       8 . The nasal cannula of  claim 7 , wherein said recess comprises an elongate groove.  
   
   
       9 . The nasal cannula of  claim 7 , wherein said recess comprises an elongate channel.  
   
   
       10 . A nasal cannula comprising: 
 a base portion defining a first interior portion;    a nasal insert disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a second interior portion, said first interior portion being in gaseous communication with said second interior portion, wherein:    said nasal insert defines a passageway that is adapted to prevent said nasal insert from creating a seal with a user's nare when the nasal insert is operatively positioned within said nare, said passageway being dimensioned to: (1) allow the user to inhale ambient air through said passageway, when said nasal insert is operatively positioned within said nare; and (2) to allow the user to exhale air through said passageway when said nasal insert is operatively positioned within said nare.    
   
   
       11 . The nasal cannula of  claim 10 , wherein said nasal cannula further comprises at least one sensor that is configured for determining the internal environment of the user's upper airway for continuous positive airway pressure.  
   
   
       12 . The nasal cannula of  claim 10 , wherein said nasal cannula further comprises at least one sensor that is configured for determining the internal environment of the user's upper airway for high flow respiratory support.  
   
   
       13 . The nasal cannula of  claim 10 , wherein said nasal cannula further comprises at least one sensor that is configured to transmit data to a control system that is adapted for: (A) receiving data from said at least one sensor; and (B) adjusting the delivery of respiratory gas to said nasal cannula based on said data.  
   
   
       14 . The nasal cannula of  claim 10 , wherein said nasal cannula further comprises at least one sensor that is configured to transmit data to a control system that is adapted for receiving data from said at least one sensor and for issuing an alarm in response to said data satisfying pre-determined criteria.  
   
   
       15 . A nasal cannula comprising: 
 a supply tube defining an interior portion;    a nasal insert defining a therapeutic gas passageway that is in gaseous communication with said interior portion of said supply tube; and    at least one sensor for measuring the properties of gas adjacent said nasal insert.    
   
   
       16 . A nasal cannula comprising: 
 a base portion defining a first therapeutic gas passageway;    at least one nozzle disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a second therapeutic gas passageway, said first therapeutic gas passageway being in gaseous communication with said second therapeutic gas passageway, said at least one nozzle adapted to provide a directed flow of therapeutic gas from said second therapeutic gas passageway and into a particular one of a user's nares when said nasal cannula is operatively positioned adjacent said user's nares; and    an elongate extension disposed adjacent said nozzle, wherein: 
 said nasal cannula is adapted so that, when said nasal cannula is operatively positioned adjacent said user's nares: 
 said at least one nozzle is spaced apart from said particular one of said user's nares; and  
 said elongate extension extends into an interior portion of said particular one of said user's nares.  
 
   
   
   
       17 . The nasal cannula of  claim 16 , wherein said nasal cannula further comprises at least one sensor for measuring the properties of gas within at least one of a user's nares.  
   
   
       18 . The nasal cannula of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one nozzle is sized and shaped to prevent insertion into a user's nare when said at least one nozzle is operatively positioned adjacent said nare.  
   
   
       19 . The nasal cannula of  claim 16 , further comprising a stop disposed adjacent said base portion, wherein said stop is positioned to engage a user's columella and prevent insertion of said nozzle into a user's nare when said nozzle is operatively positioned adjacent said nare.  
   
   
       20 . The nasal cannula of  claim 16 , wherein said elongate extension lies within said second gas passageway and wherein a distal end of said elongate extension extends beyond a distal end of said nozzle.  
   
   
       21 . The nasal cannula of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one sensor is disposed adjacent a distal end of said elongate extension.  
   
   
       22 . A nasal cannula comprising: 
 a base portion defining a first gas passageway;    a nozzle disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a second therapeutic gas passageway, said first gas passageway being in gaseous communication with said second gas passageway, said nozzle being sized and shaped to prevent insertion into a user's nare when said nozzle is operatively positioned adjacent said nare;    an elongate extension disposed adjacent said nozzle and defining a third passageway; and    at least one sensor for measuring the properties of gas adjacent a distal end of said elongate extension.    
   
   
       23 . The nasal cannula of  claim 22 , wherein a distal end of said elongate extension is adapted to be disposed adjacent a particular one of said user's nares when said nasal cannula is operatively positioned adjacent said user's nares.  
   
   
       24 . The nasal cannula of  claim 22 , wherein a distal end of said elongate extension is adapted to be disposed within a particular one of said user's nares when said nasal cannula is operatively positioned adjacent said user's nares.  
   
   
       25 . The nasal cannula of  claim 24 , wherein said sensor is disposed within said elongate extension.  
   
   
       26 . A nasal cannula comprising: 
 a base portion defining a first gas passageway;    at least one nozzle disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a second gas passageway, said first gas passageway being in gaseous communication with said second gas passageway, said at least one nozzle adapted to provide a directed flow of therapeutic gas from said second therapeutic gas passageway and into a particular one of a user's nares when said nasal cannula is operatively positioned adjacent said user's nares; and    a stop disposed adjacent said base portion, wherein said stop is positioned to engage a user's columella and prevent insertion of said nozzle into said particular one of said user's nares when said nozzle is operatively positioned adjacent said user's nares.    
   
   
       27 . The nasal cannula of  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said nasal cannula further comprises an elongate extension disposed adjacent said nozzle; and    said nasal cannula is adapted so that, when said nasal cannula is operatively positioned adjacent a user's nares, said elongate extension extends into an interior of said particular one of said user's nares.    
   
   
       28 . The nasal cannula of  claim 27 , further comprising at least one sensor for measuring the properties of gas adjacent said elongate-extension.  
   
   
       29 . The nasal cannula of  claim 28 , wherein a distal end of said elongate extension extends beyond a distal end of said nozzle.  
   
   
       30 . A system for delivering therapeutic gas to a user, said system comprising: 
 a nasal cannula that comprises: 
 a base portion defining a first therapeutic gas passageway,  
 a nasal insert disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a second therapeutic gas passageway, said first therapeutic gas passageway being in gaseous communication with said second therapeutic gas passageway, and  
 at least one sensor for measuring the properties of gas adjacent said nasal insert; and  
   a therapeutic gas delivery control system that is adapted to receive data from said at least one sensor, and to adjust a flow of respiratory gas to said nasal cannula based, at least in part, on said data.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said therapeutic gas delivery control system is further adapted for adjusting a flow of respiratory gas through said first and second passageways based on said data.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said nasal insert defines a recess that is adapted to prevent said nasal insert from creating a seal with a nare of said user when the nasal insert is operatively positioned within said nare.    
   
   
       33 . The nasal cannula of  claim 32 , wherein said recess comprises an elongate groove.  
   
   
       34 . The nasal cannula of  claim 32 , wherein said recess comprises an elongate channel.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 said nasal insert is a first nasal insert;    said at least one sensor comprises a first sensor;    said data is a first set of data; and    said nasal cannula comprises: 
 a second nasal insert disposed adjacent said base portion and defining a third therapeutic gas passageway, said first therapeutic gas passageway being in gaseous communication with said third therapeutic gas passageway, and  
 a second sensor for measuring the properties of gas adjacent said second nasal insert.  
   
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein: 
 said therapeutic gas delivery control system is adapted for: 
 receiving a second set of data from said second sensor, and  
 adjusting said flow of respiratory gas to said nasal cannula, at least in part, based on said second set of data.  
   
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said first set of data is a different type of data than said second set of data.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said first sensor is a different type of sensor than said second sensor.