Etymology of “nasal specs” as a synonym for “nasal cannula”

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For context, this is in the UK—I was told by someone they had been given "nasal specs"—which was the term they had been told when they got them, and then I asked someone I know who is a retired medical professional, and they said that was the term they used (to the extent "nasal cannula" was an unusual term for them, while they understood it, not something they would use).

So this appears to be a common term used in the UK, as far as I can tell, but I couldn't find anyone who knows or any source for where it comes from. Searches online treat it as a synonym, and I can find usages of it, but I can't find anything describing the origin or what "specs" is in this context.

My assumption is that it is an analogy to glasses, i.e: "nasal spectacles" because of the way you wear them. It still feels odd to me but it's the only idea I have that makes any sense. I'm interested if anyone can prove or disprove this theory?

Here is what the device looks like:

A woman wearing a tube running over her ears, across her face, with two prongs to deliver a gas directly into her nose.

Best Answer

Nasal cannulas are medical devices used when people are unable to get sufficient oxygen to keep their body functioning optimally, whether that's due to a condition like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), another respiratory disorder, or an environmental change. verywellhealth.com [with photo]

Dual prong nasal cannulae or 'nasal specs' actually perform like a variable performance mask. Peter Driscoll et al.; Safe Transfer and Retrieval

Nasal cannulae should be positioned with one cannula in each nostril... The oxygen tubing should be placed over and around the patient's ears, and secured under the chin (like wearing a pair of glasses). Hence they are colloquially known as nasal specs. T. Martin; Aeromedical Transportation

I was wondering whether there is also a connection to the instrument, a nasal speculum, but the only connection I've found so far is this example of "specs" short for (vaginal) specula:

Single-use speculum eliminates the time and expense of reprocessing metal specs AxiomMedicals

speculum (plural specula also speculums)

An instrument inserted into a body passage especially to facilitate visual inspection or medication m-w

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