Evaluation of Oxygen Delivery Through Nasal Cannula in Volunteers

This study will evaluate patient comfort and oxygen delivery efficiency when providing supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula to volunteers using an instrumented oxygen delivery system. The goals of the study are to evaluate different oxygen flow rates and oxygen delivery modes. In addition, the investigators will investigate if the system can detect apnea (cessation of breathing) and removal of the nasal cannula. The investigators will also investigate how well high flow oxygen delivered only during inspiration is tolerated and how much the end-tidal oxygen increases after two minutes of high oxygen flow delivered only during the inhalation phase of the breath.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy volunteers drawn from the general public and students, staff, and faculty of the University of Utah.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Volunteers who self report respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia and lung cancer will be excluded. In addition, volunteers who self report respiratory conditions such as nasal or bronchial congestion due to a cold or allergies will be excluded.