Abstract: A mask for supplying gas under pressure to the nasal airway of an infant human includes a manifold for supplying air to an aperture in the mask. A shaped membrane structure formed from a thin walled membrane defines an enclosure for receiving at least the nares of an infant human nose and a generally trapezoidal aperture adapted to fit around the nasal area of the infant human. Part of the membrane around the aperture is sufficiently flexible to mold to the shape of the infant human's nasal area or is contoured to generally match the contours around that nasal area while the membrane structure itself has sufficient rigidity to support the weight of the backing plate without collapsing. The provision of a generally trapezoidal rather than the generally triangular apertures for fitting around the nares provides a substantially improved fit when the mask is used with infants.

Abstract: A mask for supplying gas under pressure to an airway of a human including a flexible manifold shell, an air inlet connected to an air delivery pipe, and at least two side walls which are at least partially formed by portions of the manifold shell. A flexible face contacting element defines an orifice to accommodate the nose of the human. Straps connected to the mask allow forces exerted by the straps to deform the manifold shell at least along X and Y axes, creating a variety of different orifice shapes. The face contacting part includes a flexible membrane allowing X and Y axis movement of the mask and movement of the mask along a Z axis between the user's face and the manifold shell. The flexible membrane may deform while retaining a gas seal against the face of a wearer.

Abstract: A self supporting head mounted harness for mounting a respirator mask on the face of a user, the harness including a harness body having a material stiffness sufficient to enable the harness to be retained and self supported on the head of a user independent of whether or not the mask is attached to the harness.

Abstract: A mask for supplying gas under pressure to the nasal airway of an infant human includes a manifold for supplying air to an aperture in the mask. A shaped membrane structure formed from a thin walled membrane defines an enclosure for receiving at least the nares of an infant human nose and a generally trapezoidal aperture adapted to fit around the nasal area of the infant human. Part of the membrane around the aperture is sufficiently flexible to mould to the shape of the infant human's nasal area or is contoured to generally match the contours around that nasal area whilst the membrane structure itself has sufficient rigidity to support the weight of the backing plate without collapsing. The provision of a generally trapezoidal rather than the generally triangular apertures for fitting around the nares provides a substantially improved fit when the mask is used with infants.

Abstract: A mask for supplying gas under pressure to an airway of a human including: a flexible manifold shell, being made of a flexible material, the manifold including means for connection to a gas delivery pipe. There are at least two side walls which are at least partially formed by portions of the manifold shell; a flexible face contacting element defining an orifice to accommodate the nose of the human; a first connecting strap having a first end connected to the mask and a second end connectable to a mask retaining strap; and a second connecting strap having a first end connected to the mask and a second end connectable to the mask retaining strap. The first strap and the second strap engage respective side walls of the mask for distributing opposing distortional forces to a substantial portion of the respective side walls when the mask is in use.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the treatment of an upper airway flow limitation, the apparatus including a means to detect an interruption in an upper airway inspiratory flow rate of the patient and further including a treatment means which treats the upper airway flow limitation on detection of the interruption cycle.

Abstract: A mask (10) for supplying gas under pressure to the nasal airway of a human includes a manifold (30) including means (36) for connection to a gas supply means, a gas supply element or elements (26) for providing said gas to the nasal airway without pressurising the exterior of the nose and a flexible strap (12) formed from an elastomeric material for securing the manifold (30) in position. The strap (12) extends either side of the manifold (30) and is shaped to generally conform with the shape of the upper lip and adjacent cheek area to act as a distributed anchor means for the mask (10).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the treatment of an upper airway flow limitation, the apparatus including a means to detect an interruption in an upper airway inspiratory flow rate of the patient and further including a treatment means which treats the upper airway flow limitation on detection of the interruption cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the treatment of an upper airway flow limitation, the apparatus including a means to detect an interruption in an upper airway inspiratory flow rate of the patient and further including a treatment means which treats the upper airway flow limitation on detection of the interruption cycle.

Abstract: A biophysical sensor including a sound vibration sensing element (12) to produce a sensed output, and two or more separate signal processing paths to process the sensed outputs to produce output signals. The output signals may reflect specific frequency bands within the raw biological signal. In a further aspect the invention concerns an electronic stethoscope in which the sound vibration sensing element (12) is a PVDF membrane, the signal processing involves an operational amplifier (OP amp) (10) connected to the PVDF membrane, and a unity gain buffer amplifier is connected to the output of the OP amp to allow the connection of headphones directly to the sensor output.

Abstract: A mask for supplying gas under pressure to the nasal airway of a human includes a series of flexible stretchable straps formed from an elastomeric material for locating the mask against the human face. The straps are integrally formed or joined to define a perimeter enclosing an aperture adapted to fit around the nasal area of a human. The straps are configured to approximate to the three dimensional shape of the region around the nasal area of the human face as they arm stretched, to form a tight fitting seal. The mask may be used with or without a manifold.