Nasal cannula systems and methods

Abstract

A nasal interface is provided that can allow for delivery of flow of a gas to a patient for respiratory support while preventing injury or irritation to the patient. The nasal interface can include a nasal pillow set having a nasal pillow, which can engage against a nose, and relief port, which can permit a gas to be released from the nasal interface. A nasal cannula can include a cannula body to direct a gas through the nasal interface, and can have an opening to direct a gas out of the cannula body. The gas can be directed from the cannula body, through the opening, toward a nasal pillow and a patient's nare. The nasal interface can be coupled with a head harness, which can be worn on the patient's head, and can include a guide that extends toward the nasal interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nasal interface comprising:
 a nasal pillow set comprising a pillow body and first and second nasal pillows, each of the first and second nasal pillows extending in a direction away from the pillow body and having a proximal portion coupled to the pillow body, a distal portion having a pillow aperture, and an inner surface forming a pillow cavity, wherein the inner surface of the nasal pillow set comprises a channel forming a first branch of a pressure monitoring passage having an opening at the proximal portion of the first nasal pillow and is fluidly coupled to the cavity of the first nasal pillow, and a second branch of a pressure monitoring passage having an opening at the proximal portion of the second nasal pillow and is fluidly coupled to the cavity of the second nasal pillow; and   a nasal cannula comprising a cannula body and first and second prongs, each of the first and second prongs extending in a direction away from the cannula body and having a proximal portion coupled to the cannula body and a distal portion forming a distal end thereof;   wherein the nasal cannula is coupled to the nasal pillow set such that each of the first and second prongs extends into each of the first and second nasal pillows, respectively, and the distal end of each of the first and second prongs is positioned between the opening of the pressure monitoring passage and the pillow aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The nasal interface of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second nasal pillows comprises an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions of the first and second nasal pillows, respectively, and the intermediate portion comprises a pressure relief port. 
     
     
         3 . The nasal interface of  claim 2 , wherein the distal portion of each the first and second nasal pillows tapers such that a cross-sectional width of the first and second nasal pillows decreases in a direction away from the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         4 . The nasal interface of  claim 1 , wherein the nasal cannula comprises a first gas port fluidly coupled to the first prong, and a second gas port fluidly coupled to the second prong. 
     
     
         5 . The nasal interface of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second gas ports extend through opposing portions of the cannula body. 
     
     
         6 . The nasal interface of  claim 1 , wherein the nasal cannula comprises a septum configured to separate an inner passage of the nasal cannula between the first and second prongs. 
     
     
         7 . The nasal interface of  claim 1 , wherein the pillow body comprises a cannula body channel configured to receive the cannula body therein. 
     
     
         8 . The nasal interface of  claim 1 , wherein the pillow body comprises a locating slot, and wherein the cannula body comprises a locating tab that is configured to be received into the locating slot of the pillow body. 
     
     
         9 . The nasal interface of  claim 1 , wherein a plane formed by the distal end of the first and second nasal prongs is transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of each of the first and second nasal prongs. 
     
     
         10 . The nasal interface of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second branches of the pressure monitoring passage extend from a single pressure monitoring port. 
     
     
         11 . A nasal interface comprising:
 a nasal pillow set and a nasal cannula removably coupled to the nasal pillow set with a first prong of the nasal cannula extending into a first nasal pillow of the nasal pillow set, and a second prong of the nasal cannula extending into a second nasal pillow of the nasal pillow set, wherein the first nasal pillow, and a distal end of the first nasal prong is positioned between a pressure monitoring passage opening at the proximal portion of the first nasal pillow and a pillow aperture at a distal end of the first nasal pillow, and wherein proximal portion of the second nasal prong extends through a proximal portion of the second nasal pillow, and a distal end of the second nasal prong is positioned between a pressure monitoring passage opening at the proximal portion of the second nasal pillow and a pillow aperture at a distal end of the second nasal pillow.   
     
     
         12 . The nasal interface of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second nasal pillows comprises an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions of the first and second nasal pillows, respectively, and the intermediate portion comprises a pressure relief port. 
     
     
         13 . The nasal interface of  claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of each the first and second nasal pillows tapers such that a cross-sectional width of the first and second nasal pillows decreases in a direction away from the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         14 . The nasal interface of  claim 11 , wherein the nasal cannula comprises a first gas port fluidly coupled to the first prong, and a second gas port fluidly coupled to the second prong. 
     
     
         15 . The nasal interface of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second gas ports extend through opposing portions of the nasal cannula. 
     
     
         16 . The nasal interface of  claim 11 , wherein the nasal cannula comprises a septum configured to separate an inner passage of the nasal cannula between the first and second prongs. 
     
     
         17 . The nasal interface of  claim 11 , wherein the nasal pillow set comprises a cannula body channel configured to receive the nasal cannula therein. 
     
     
         18 . The nasal interface of  claim 11 , wherein the nasal pillow set comprises a locating slot, and wherein the nasal cannula comprises a locating tab that is configured to be received into the locating slot of the nasal pillow set. 
     
     
         19 . The nasal interface of  claim 11 , wherein a plane formed by the distal end of the first and second nasal prongs is transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of each of the first and second nasal prongs. 
     
     
         20 . The nasal interface of  claim 11 , wherein first and second branches of a pressure monitoring passage extend from a single pressure monitoring port to the pressure monitoring passage openings in the first and second nasal pillows, respectively.