Infant CPAP nasal cannula seal

Abstract

A method and assembly for attaching a flexible longitudinal medical element to the face of a patient by providing a polymer strip having adhesive material on one side and hook material on the other. Also, a strip of loop material is affixed about the flexible longitudinal element. The loop material is engaged to and secured by the hook material, thereby affixing the flexible longitudinal element to the patient's face, at a desired location.

1 . A method of securing a flexible longitudinal medical element to a patient's face, comprising:
 (a) providing a polymer strip having adherent material on a first side and hook material on a second side;   (b) adhering said adherent side of said polymer strip onto an area of said patient's face, where it is desired to secure said flexible longitudinal medical element;   (c) securing a strip of loop material about said flexible longitudinal medical element; and   (d) engaging said loop material to said hook material, thereby engaging said flexible longitudinal medical element to said polymer strip and by way of said polymer strip, to said patient's face, at said desired location.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer strip forms a part of a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) seal, also including a portion adapted to cover a patient's nose, but defining nostril apertures to permit breathing. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said nasal CPAP seal is an infant nasal CPAP seal, sized to fit the face of an infant. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible longitudinal element is a respiratory tube, adapted to deliver air or oxygen to a patient. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said respiratory tube is a CPAP tube. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said CPAP tube is a nasal CPAP tube. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer strip is placed on said patient's upper lip area. 
   
   
       8 . An assembly adapted to facilitate the retention of a flexible longitudinal medical element to a patient's face, comprising:
 (a) a polymer strip having adherent material on a first side and hook material on a second side, said adherent material being adhered to an area of a patient's face at a location where it is desired to secure said flexible longitudinal medical element;   (b) providing a flexible longitudinal medical element having a strip of loop material secured around it; and   (c) wherein said loop material is engaged to and thereby secured to said hook material thereby engaging said respiratory tube to said polymer strip and by way of said polymer strip, to said patient's face, at said desired location.   
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said polymer strip forms a part of a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) seal, also including a portion adapted to cover a patient's nose, but defining nostril apertures to permit breathing. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said nasal CPAP seal is an infant nasal CPAP seal, sized to fit the face of an infant. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said flexible longitudinal element is a respiratory tube, adapted to deliver air or oxygen to a patient. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said respiratory tube is a CPAP tube. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said CPAP tube is a nasal CPAP tube. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said polymer strip is placed on said patient's upper lip area.