Mary Elizabeth Smart

US Patent:

46854568, Aug 11, 1987

Filed:

Dec 2, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/803320

Inventors:

Mary Smart - Long Beach CA

International Classification:

A62B 700

US Classification:

12820522

Abstract:

An improved, self-retracting oxygen conduit is provided for supplying oxygen to an oxygen face mask or nasal cannula on the face of a human being. One end of the improved conduit is connected to an oxygen reservoir, such as a steel cannister filled with oxygen or oxygen enriched gas and having a pressure regulator at its outlet, while the other end is connected to a facial respirator. The improved conduit is formed of a length of flexible, resilient hollow tubing, preferably formed of medical grade polyurethane. The central section of the tubing is permanently formed into a multiplicity of helical coils or loops. The coils normally reside contracted into serial contact with each other, although with the application of longitudinal tension on the tubing, the coils may be resiliently drawn apart into spatial separation from each other, thereby resiliently increasing the longitudinal distance between the opposite ends of the tubing. The tubing is not coiled at its ends. The coiled central section of the tubing thereby serves as a resilient, retraction mechanism.