Granted Patent B2

US 12,623,041 · App. 17/839,874 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventor: Ari Namon (Lakeville, CT)

A61M16/0666A61M16/0816A61M16/0672

Abstract

Claims (35)

1 . A nasal prong for providing airflow to a patient, the nasal prong comprising:

a tube configured to be partially placed in an entrance of a nasal passage of the patient, the tube having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and a lumen extending therebetween;

the first end configured to be positioned inside the nasal passage proximal the entrance and below a top of an inferior concha, the first end having an elongated opening to the lumen that is configured to face supero-medially within the nasal passage and towards a roof of the nasal passage to direct the airflow out of the elongated opening posteriorly and superiorly within the nasal cavity, above the inferior concha, around the middle concha, and towards the roof of the nasal passage of the patient to increase humidification and temperature of gas in the nasal passage;

the second end configured to be positioned outside the nasal passage; and

the intermediate portion of the tube having a concave bend having an angle relative to a posterior portion of a nostril and that is configured to rest a portion of the bend of the nasal prong on a portion of a floor of the nasal passage at and/or near an outer posterior edge of the nostril and to face the first end supero-medially within the nasal passage.

2 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein the second end is configured to attach to a nasal cannula.

3 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein the second end is in fluid communication with a tubing connected to an oxygen device and a mixture of oxygen flows through the lumen into the nasal passage of the patient.

4 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein an interior of the lumen comprises at least one of baffles, ridges, crimps, and rifling to redirect the airflow and create turbulence in the airflow.

5 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein the elongated opening of the first end directs the airflow in a manner that also reduces at least one of an oxygen hunger, a nasal dryness, a nosebleed risk, a perforation risk, a discomfort, and a mucous crusting of the patient.

6 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein the direction of airflow in the nasal passage is between 30 and 60 degrees superior from the floor of the nasal passage.

7 . The nasal prong of claim 6 , wherein the direction of airflow in the nasal passage is 45 degrees superior from the floor of the nasal passage.

8 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein the elongated opening is elliptical or ovular in shape and angled to direct the airflow superiorly and posteriorly within the nasal passage.

9 . The nasal prong of claim 8 , wherein the elongated opening has a minor axis diameter of 2 mm and a major axis diameter of greater than 2 mm.

10 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein the first end is further configured to be positioned near a portion of an outer nasal wall of the patient.

11 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein the nasal prong is configured to make the airflow directed out of the nasal prong non-laminar to more accurately match physiological airflow through the nostril.

12 . The nasal prong of claim 1 , wherein the nasal prong is configured to direct the airflow in a manner that increases the humidification and temperature of the airflow before the airflow reaches at least one lung of the patient.

13 . A method comprising:

placing a nasal prong partially within a nasal passage of a patient to direct airflow to the patient, wherein the nasal prong is attached to a nasal cannula and the nasal prong comprises:

a tube configured to be partially placed in the nasal passage of the patient, the tube having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and a lumen extending therebetween,

the first end configured to be positioned in the nasal passage below a top of an inferior concha and having an elongated opening faced supero-medially within the nasal passage and towards a roof of the nose,

the second end configured to be positioned outside the nasal passage, and

the intermediate portion of the tube having a concave bend having an angle relative to a posterior portion of a nostril and that is configured to keep a portion of the bend of the nasal prong on a portion of a floor of the nasal passage at and/or near an outer posterior edge of the nostril;

aligning the nasal prong in the nasal passage of the patient so the concave bend of the intermediate portion at least partially rests on the portion of the floor of the nasal passage and the first end and the elongated opening face superior-medially within the nasal passage; and

dispensing a mixture of oxygen through the nasal prong to the patient such that the elongated opening of the nasal prong directs the mixture of oxygen posteriorly and superiorly within the nasal cavity, above the inferior concha, around the middle concha, and towards the roof of the nose in a manner mimicking physiological airflow to increase humidification and temperature of the mixture of oxygen.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the dispensing the mixture of oxygen further comprises directing the airflow out of the elongated opening of the nasal prong at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees superior of the floor of the nasal passage.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the angle is approximately 45 degrees.

16 . A nasal prong for directing airflow to a patient, the nasal prong comprising:

a tube configured to be partially placed in a front portion of a nasal passage of the patient, the tube having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, and a lumen extending therebetween;

the second end comprising an opening being configured to receive laminar airflow and configured to be positioned outside the nasal passage;

a portion of the lumen being configured to alter the laminar airflow to turbulent airflow; and

the first end configured to follow contours of a floor of an outer edge of an entrance of a nasal cavity and to be positioned within the nasal passage below a top of an inferior concha, wherein the first end comprises a other opening configured to direct the turbulent airflow into the nasal passage, wherein the first end is cut at an angle greater than 15° and less than 90° relative to the second end such that the other opening of the first end is elongated compared to the opening of the second end, and wherein the other opening of the first end is configured to face supero-medially in the nasal passage, towards a roof of the nose, and to direct 70% of the turbulent airflow through a middle third of the nasal cavity around a middle concha and 15% each in a lower third and an upper third of the nasal cavity, respectively, to accurately reflect a physiological airflow path and protect tissue underneath the nasal prong from a direct force of the turbulent airflow.

17 . The nasal prong of claim 16 , wherein the portion of the lumen is an interior of the lumen that comprises at least one of baffles, ridges, crimps, and rifling to add turbulence to the laminar airflow to create the turbulent airflow.

18 . The nasal prong of claim 16 , wherein the second end is configured to connect to a nasal cannula in fluid communication with an oxygen source, and the oxygen source directs laminar airflow through the nasal cannula and the nasal prong.

19 . The nasal prong of claim 16 , wherein the intermediate portion comprises a concave bend at an angle relative to a posterior portion of the nasal passage such that the other opening of the first end is configured to direct the turbulent airflow at least partially superiorly within the nasal passage while the concave bend at least partially holds the nasal prong in the nasal passage.

20 . The nasal prong of claim 16 , wherein the nasal prong is configured to reproduce physiological airflow.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (27)