Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Respiratory gas supply means enters nasal passage
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-14
2001-12-11
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Respiratory gas supply means enters nasal passage
C128S207170, C128S200250, C128S201180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328038
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a means for securing nasal cannulae, and more specifically to nasal cannulae which are used to provide oxygen to a patient.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently nasal cannulae are held in place by routing the cannula tubing over the ears of a patient and retaining them on the patient's head by use of elastic bands. This routing has a disadvantage in that the cannula often becomes dislodged from the patient's nose when the patient moves. In addition, such a routing is uncomfortable for the patient, especially when the cannula must be in place for long periods of time, as is common. For example, the patient's skin may become chafed and irritated by movement of the patient's head, and the cannula may be pulled when the patient moves during sleep.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A nasal cannula retainer has a flexible member and cannula grips. The flexible member has a central nose portion with an adhesive backing for adhering to a patient's nose and two cheek portions connected to the nose portion, each of the cheek portions having an adhesive backing for adhering to a patient's cheek. The adhesive layers are covered with a peel layer which is removed prior to applying the retainer.
The cannula grips are attached to the cheek portions to secure a nasal cannula on each of the patient's cheeks. The grips are releasable and reusable, allowing the cannula facilely to be repositioned or temporarily removed without the need for the retainer to be discarded and replaced, and without the use of tape to secure the cannula to the retainer after the cannula is repositioned. Since the grips do not use an adhesive, there is no adhesive residue on a repositioned cannula that otherwise might cause the cannula to become dirty or to stick to the patient or to other items.
The nasal cannula retainer of the present invention offers several other advantages over the various prior devices: the cannula grips are securely attached to the patient, better and more securely anchoring the cannula when compared with devices which attach to the cannula by means of flexible tape strips or loops; the cannula grips are attached to the patient's cheeks, where they are close enough to where the cannula enters the patient's nose to minimize the problem of the cannula becoming dislodged from the nose or misaligned relative to the nostril(s) when the patient moves his or her head, and where the retainer does not interfere with the patient's eating or drinking and does not get soiled by eating and drinking; and the flexible member is attached to both the nose and cheeks of the patient, so that any forces tending to pull off the retainer are spread over a large area.
The grips have many possible designs. Some of the possible designs for the grips are enumerated below, although the invention is not limited to these designs.
The grips may be snap-in clips made of a resilient material, each grip having either a single piece or multiple pieces. Such clips may have a semicircular recess conforming to the cannula. Alternatively, the clips may each include a base portion and protrusions attached to the base, the protrusions securing the cannula when it is snapped into the clip.
The grips may be hinged clamps with a releasable locking device, each section of a clamp having a semi-circular recess conforming to the shape of the cannula.
The grips may include a strip or strips made of synthetic material with separable adhering hooks and loops, such as the material sold under the trademark VELCRO.
According to one aspect of the invention, a nasal cannula retainer includes a flexible member for adhering to a patient, and a pair of releasable and reusable grips attached to the flexible member for securing a nasal cannula on opposite sides of a nose of a patient.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of releasably retaining a nasal cannula includes the steps of adhering a nasal cannula retainer having a pair of releasable and reusable grips to a patient such that the grips are on opposite sides of a nose of the patient, and securing the nasal cannula with the grips.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a nasal cannula retainer includes a bendable substrate having an adhesive layer thereon for adhering to a patient, and a pair of releasable fasteners attached to the substrate for holding the cannula, the fasteners being on opposite sides of a nose of the patient.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
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Breathe Right® nasal strips/10 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Breathe Right® nasal strips/ Apr. 23, 1998/ pp. 1-2.
So Science Proves That Breathe Right Nasal Strips Work. But How?/ Apr. 23, 1998/ pp. 1-2.
Statlock Securement Devices/ The Science of Securement/ pp. 1-12.
Berzon David Michael
Kessler Fred Bruce
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
Srivastava V.
Weiss John G.
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