Method and Device for Supplying Oxygen to a Patient

Abstract

A system for delivering oxygen to a substantially stationary patient without coupling a device to the body of the patient is disclosed. The system includes a source of oxygen coupled to a delivery system wherein the delivery system has a pump configured to pressurize oxygen and an elongate hollow member operatively coupled to the pump. The elongate hollow member has a proximal end and a distal end and is constructed to receive oxygen in its proximal end and deliver oxygen to the patient out the distal end. The length and diameter of the elongate member, the flow of oxygen through the elongate member, and the distance from the distal end of the elongate member to the face of the patient are optimized to collimate a stream of oxygen such that when the stream of oxygen reaches the patients face it envelops the face of the patient.

1 . A system for delivering oxygen to a substantially stationary target, comprising:
 a source of oxygen coupled to a delivery system, the delivery system comprising:   at least two elongate hollow members each comprising a proximal end operatively coupled to the source of oxygen, and a substantially straight portion of tubing terminating in a distal end; and   a target area disposed at least 150 mm from the distal end of each of the elongate hollow members;   wherein the substantially straight portion of each the elongate hollow members is longitudinally directed toward the target area and collimates a stream of oxygen such that a stream of oxygen exits the distal end of each the elongate hollow members in a substantially collimated laminar state and transforms to a turbulent state when it reaches the target area.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of each of the at least two elongate hollow members with respect to the target area ranges from between approximately 10 and 45 degrees with respect to an imaginary plane that contains the centroid and the uppermost point of the target area. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of each of the at least two elongate hollow members is disposed at least 150 mm and no greater than 300 mm from the target area. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the at least two elongate hollow members is between approximately 5 mm and 16 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate of the stream of oxygen is between approximately 2 and 10 liters per minute. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate of the stream of oxygen from each the elongate hollow members is substantially equal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two elongate hollow members are disposed on opposite sides of the target. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two elongate hollow members each comprises an adjustable bend. 
     
     
         9 . A system for delivering oxygen to a substantially stationary patient without coupling the system to the body of the patient, comprising:
 a pump configured to deliver oxygen to a target;   an elongate hollow member operatively coupled to the pump, the elongate hollow member configured to be positioned about the target such that a distal end of the elongate hollow member is disposed at least 150 mm from the target; and,   a flow of oxygen delivered by the pump, emanating as a stream of oxygen from the distal end of the elongate hollow member in a substantially collimated laminar state and extending from the elongate hollow member until the first stream of oxygen transform into a turbulent state at the target.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate hollow member comprises a substantially straight portion of tubing longitudinally directed toward the target. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the substantially straight portion is at least 300 mm in length. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate hollow member comprises an adjustable bend. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable bend ranges between forty-five and one hundred thirty-five degrees relative to a proximal end of the elongate hollow member. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising an attachment device coupled to the elongate hollow member and configured to position the elongate hollow member, wherein the attachment device is not in contact with the target. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment device comprises a first portion extending outward from the attachment device and a second portion disposed at an angle ranging from 45 to 135 degrees relative to the first portion, the second portion configured to extend toward the target. 
     
     
         16 . A method of delivering oxygen to a substantially stationary patient without coupling a device to the patient, comprising:
 positioning a first elongate hollow member with a substantially straight portion of tubing longitudinally directed toward a target, wherein a distal end of the elongate hollow member is positioned at least 150 mm from a target;   positioning a second elongate hollow member on an opposing side of the target from the first elongate member, the second elongate hollow member having a substantially straight portion of tubing longitudinally directed toward the target, wherein the distal end of the elongate hollow member is positioned at least 150 mm from the target; and   transmitting a stream of oxygen through the first elongate hollow member at between approximately 2 and 10 liters per minute;   wherein the stream of oxygen exits the distal end of the elongate hollow member in a substantially collimated laminar state.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the flow rate of oxygen through each of the first and second elongate hollow members is substantially equal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the exit velocity of the stream of oxygen from the first and second elongate hollow members is approximately one meter per second. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the angle of each of the at first and second elongate hollow members with respect to the target area ranges from between approximately 10 and 45 degrees with respect to an imaginary plane that contains the centroid and the uppermost point of the target. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second elongate hollow members each comprises an adjustable bend.