A system for delivering warm, humidified oxygen to patients at very low
flow rates, the system including a conduit having an inlet connected to a
source of humidified oxygen at a first flow rate and an outlet end for
delivering humidified oxygen to a patient at a second flow rate that is
less than the first flow rate. A first flowpath extends through a sidewall
of the conduit for continuously bleeding oxygen from the conduit and a
second flowpath extends through the sidewall of the conduit downstream
from the first flowpath for continuously bleeding oxygen from the conduit
at a rate of from about 0 liters/minute or above. A substantially solid
member is movably positionable adjacent the second flowpath for
selectively blocking and unblocking portions of the second flowpath for
defining a variably dimensionable flow path in order to control over the
amount of oxygen flowing through the second flowpath.
