• Timothy Dinesen, Lee McDonald, Sandy McDonald, and Donald DuVall.
• Dinesen Research Group, One Leeds Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 1N9.
• Resp Care. 2003 Feb 1;48(2):120-3.

ObjectiveCompare the performance of the OxyArm to that of nasal cannulae in the delivery of supplemental oxygen to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.MethodsWe tested various oxygen flows with 10 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients who were receiving prescribed supplemental oxygen. Blood oxygen saturation (measured via pulse oximetry [S(pO2)]), was measured with each device, and mean data were compared with paired, 2-sample tests.ResultsMean S(pO2) was equivalent with OxyArm and nasal cannulae for 7 of the 10 subjects, over a range of oxygen flows (2-5 L/min). Mean S(pO2) was higher with the OxyArm with 2 subjects and lower with 1 subject (p < 0.01).ConclusionThe OxyArm maintained stable S(pO2) over the range of oxygen flows studied and at levels equivalent to those maintained by nasal cannulae in 9 of the 10 subjects. The OxyArm does not contact the face and may be ideal for patients on long-term home oxygen therapy.

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