Septi-Cannula

Abstract

A nasal cannula including a manifold having a delivery channel and a collection channel fluidly connected to a delivery nasal prong for delivering a gas to be inhaled from a patient's nose and to a collection prong for collecting gas exhaled from the patient's nose. The prongs are composed of a resilient material having sufficient memory that allows the prongs to be resiliently spread apart to be inserted into the respective nares of the patient's nose and when released, gently grasp the columella of the patient's nose to secure the cannula in position. The prongs are oriented leftwardly or rightwardly of the channels so that the right or left portions of the patient's face remain unobscured during surgery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 delivering oxygen to a patient's nose while collecting exhaled gases from the patient's nose using a nasal cannula during a medical procedure being performed on a side of the patient's head, the nasal cannula comprising:
 a pair of nasal prongs including (a) a delivery nasal prong inserted into and delivering oxygen to one of the patient's nostrils through a first orifice and (b) a collection nasal prong inserted into and collecting exhaled gases from the other nostril through a second orifice, the pair of nasal prongs being composed of a resilient material that allows the pair of nasal prongs to be spread apart and inserted into the nostrils and to move back together grasping the patient's columella to hold the nasal cannula in place during the surgical procedure; and 
 a manifold connected to the nasal prongs, the manifold including a delivery channel in fluid communication with the delivery nasal prong and a collection channel in fluid communication with the collection nasal prong, the delivery channel and collection channel extending in parallel towards the opposite side of the patient's head in such a way that a delivery tube and a collection tube connected to the manifold do not obstruct the side of the patient's head on which the medical procedure is being performed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nasal cannula is not held in position during the medical procedure by draping the delivery tube and/or the collection tube over an ear of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nasal cannula is not held in position during the medical procedure by joining the delivery tube and collection tube under the patient's chin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nasal cannula includes a hinge that allows easier resilient spreading of the pair of nasal prongs apart yet still have sufficient resiliency when released to grasp the columella with sufficient force to prevent the nasal prongs from releasing the columella during surgery. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each nasal prong includes a comfort pad respectively adjacent the first orifice and second orifice, the comfort pad contacting the columella when the nasal prongs grasp the columella. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nasal prongs and manifold are composed of the same single piece of resilient material. 
     
     
         7 . A nasal cannula comprising:
 a delivery channel in fluid communication with a delivery tube for delivering a gas to be inhaled from a patient's nose   a collection channel in fluid communication with a collection tube for collecting gas exhaled from the patient's nose;   a pair of nasal prongs including a delivery nasal prong in fluid communication with the delivery channel and a collection nasal prong in fluid communication with the collection channel;   the pair of nasal prongs having an arcuate configuration facing one another to define a space between respective ends thereof;   the pair of nasal prongs being composed of a resilient material having sufficient memory that allows the nasal prongs to be resiliently spread apart to increase the space allowing the ends to be inserted into the respective nares of the patient's nose and when released, move the ends to grasp a columella of the patient's nose, wherein a hinge allows easier resilient spreading of the nasal prongs apart so they can be more easily spread apart for insertion into the patient's nose and yet still have sufficient resiliency when released to grasp the columella with sufficient force to prevent the nasal prongs from accidentally releasing the columella during surgery; and   the delivery channel and collection channel being curvilinear at approximately ninety degrees such that the delivery tube and collection tube extend approximately ninety degrees relative to the nasal prongs.   
     
     
         8 . The nasal cannula of  claim 7 , further comprising comfort pads on facing surfaces of the ends. 
     
     
         9 . The nasal cannula of  claim 7 , wherein the delivery channel and collection channel are within a manifold and the manifold and nasal prongs are one-piece injection molded with their respective said channels. 
     
     
         10 . The nasal cannula of  claim 7 , wherein the delivery tube and collection tube are solvent-welded into annular seats formed in said manifold. 
     
     
         11 . The nasal cannula of  claim 7 , wherein the hinge is formed in a wall of the nasal prongs. 
     
     
         12 . The nasal cannula of  claim 7 , wherein the collection tube and delivery tube extend over only one cheek of a patient when the nasal prongs are worn by the patient so as to provide not obstruct a side of the patient's head on which a surgical procedure is being performed. 
     
     
         13 . A nasal cannula comprising:
 a manifold having a first delivery channel in fluid communication with a delivery tube and a first collection channel in fluid communication with a collection tube;   a pair of nasal prongs including a delivery nasal prong in fluid communication with the first delivery channel and a collection nasal prong in fluid communication with the first collection channel;   the pair of nasal prongs having an arcuate configuration facing one another to define a space between respective ends thereof;   the pair of nasal prongs being composed of a resilient material having sufficient memory that allows the nasal prongs to be resiliently spread apart to increase the space allowing the ends to be inserted into the respective nares of the patient's nose and when released, move the ends to grasp a columella of the patient's nose, wherein a hinge allows easier resilient spreading of the nasal prongs apart so they can be more easily spread apart for insertion into the patient's nose and yet still have sufficient resiliency when released to grasp the columella with sufficient force to prevent the nasal prongs from accidentally releasing the columella during surgery; and   the first delivery channel and first collection channel extending parallel to each other and bending at approximately ninety degrees such that the delivery tube and collection tube extend over a single cheek of the patient when the nasal prongs are being worn.   
     
     
         14 . The nasal cannula of  claim 13 , further including comfort pads affixed on facing surfaces of the ends. 
     
     
         15 . The nasal cannula of  claim 13 , further comprising a second collection channel, wherein the first and second collection channels are fluidly connected together by a bypass channel extending transversely through the manifold such that when the collection tube is directly connected to the first collection channel, the collection tube is indirectly connected via said bypass channel to said second collection channel. 
     
     
         16 . The nasal cannula of  claim 13 , wherein the nasal prongs each have an internal delivery channel and an external collection channel formed on an exterior of said nasal prongs. 
     
     
         17 . The nasal cannula of  claim 13 , wherein the manifold and the nasal prongs are one-piece injection molded with their respective said channels. 
     
     
         18 . The nasal cannula of  claim 13 , wherein the delivery tube and collection tube are solvent-welded into annular seats formed in the manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The nasal cannula of  claim 13 , wherein the hinge is formed in a wall of the nasal prongs.