Abstract: A device for exchanging gas volumes in an anesthetic system has an inlet, an outlet, a first chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet, a second chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet, a switching valve for selective connection to the first chamber or the second chamber for forming a flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and a controller for controlling the switching valve.

Abstract: A head enclosing gas hood for treating respiratory ailments is placeable over a patient's head for providing a gas, preferably oxygenated, to said patient. The treatment gas hood has a hood portion which is connected to a hood ring. The hood ring slides over a two-piece neck ring, the two-piece neck ring consisting of an upper neck ring and a lower neck ring retained in adjacent relationship. The hood ring slides over the two-piece neck ring and forms a sealing relationship therewith. The two-piece neck ring has a neck seal retained therein and has a sealing ring on the outer periphery thereof for engagement with the working surface of the hood ring. Ports may be provided for directing a flow of a gas into and from the interior portion of the hood where the individual's head is located. The neck seal provides an adequate seal between the neck ring and the individual's neck such that a pressurized environment may be created in the hood if desired.

Abstract: The invention prevents dynamic airway compression during ventilatory support of a patient. The respiratory airflow is determined by measurement or calculation, and a measure of the degree of dynamic airway compression is derived from the determined airflow. This measure is servo-controlled to be zero by increasing expiratory pressure if the measure of the degree of dynamic airway compression is large or increasing, and by reducing expiratory pressure if the measure of the degree of dynamic airway compression is small or zero.

Abstract: A customizable face or nose mask for the noninvasive ventilation of patients in general, which comprises a mask body forming at least one surface portion which can be coupled to the face of the patient. The peculiarity of the invention consists in that it comprises, at least at the surface portion, a chamber for containing at least one product without shape memory which can be activated to produce a chemical and/or physical reaction for the transformation of the at least one product without shape memory into a product having shape memory which spontaneously models itself on the patient's face.

Abstract: An apparatus for determination of a recruitable volume in a lung has a control system connectable to a pneumatic unit and to a measurement system and operable to, at a first point in time, regulate the pneumatic unit to generate a first test breath having predetermined parameters with respect to flow and/or pressure of the gas flow, register volume and pressure in the lung during the first test breath, measured by the measurement system. The control system is at a operable second point in time, to regulate the pneumatic unit to generate a second test breath identical to the first test breath, register volume and pressure in the lung during the second test breath, measured by the measurement system. The control system compares the registered volume and pressure for the first test breath and the second test breath, and determines a recruitable volume based on the comparison.

Abstract: A full face mask has a body frame having a continuous, closed sidewall extending and compliantly resting on bony contours around facial features of a wearer, and a lateral partition extending and resting on bony contours of a wearer's face from one side to another side of the sidewall between the areas of the nose and upper lip. The lateral partition separates the frame into a lower mask section having a lower cavity with a pod opening and an upper mask section having an upper cavity. Lenses supported by the frame define a forward field of view and integrated in the frame are components including a radio frequency antenna receiving dive information signals, a display in a peripheral area outside of the forward field of view, a controller coupled for processing the signals to generate outputs, and a control that passes outputs for display at the visual display.

Abstract: A small oxygen enriching apparatus which can supply oxygen-enriched gas at high flow rate without imparting unnatural sensation to a user, as well as a controller and recording medium therefore. In step 100, a judgment is made as to whether a flow rate set by use of a flow-rate setting unit 47 is equal to or less than a continuous base flow rate (2 liters/min). When the set flow rate is a low flow rate of not greater than 2 liters/min, breath-synchronized operation is not performed (continuous supply is to be performed), and therefore, in step 110, oxygen-enriched gas is supplied continuously at the set flow rate. When the set flow rate is a high flow rate of greater than 2 liters/min, breath-synchronized operation is to be performed (supply during the inhalation period only of each breathing cycle), and therefore, in step 120, oxygen-enriched gas is continuously supplied at the continuous base flow rate.

Abstract: A valve manifold assembly with a valve body having at least one inlet and at least one outlet. The outlet has an opening disposed inside a chamber formed in the valve body. The valve body has at least one groove defined therein. A valve member is attached to the valve body. A retaining member is disposed in at least one groove in the valve body so that the retaining member engages with the valve member to cause it to sealingly engage with the outlet opening. The retaining member is capable of being removed from the groove such that it no longer engages with the valve member and it causes the valve member to disengage from the outlet opening.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assessing the condition of and treating patients for stroke during the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are disclosed. By determining central and obstructive apnea occurrences or the percentile of pressure delivered to the patient from patient airflow, stroke indicators may be calculated and analyzed to provide information on the type of stroke a patient has suffered and the degree of a patient's neuro-recovery. The apparatus may be programmed with a particular protocol intended to identify between alternative forms of CPAP treatment appropriate for the patient based upon an assessment of the patient's condition. The device can select and recommend between the various treatment forms, identify billing reimbursement codes and generate data to track patient response to stroke treatments.

Abstract: A method and corresponding medical ventilator for nullifying the work of breathing imposed by the ventilation breathing apparatus during ventilation support of a patient having a source of breathing gas, a pressure sensor, a microprocessor, at least one actuator of a pneumatic system, and driver circuits. The medical ventilator is in fluid communication with the source of breathing and an endotracheal tube which is in fluid communication with the lungs of the patient. At least one driver circuit adjusts at least one actuator to change the supply of the breathing gas. The pressure sensor measures the pressure of the gas proximate the distal end of the endotracheal tube and generates an output based on the sensed pressure. The microprocessor controls the supply of the breathing gas exiting the pneumatic system of the ventilator and is electrically coupled to the output of the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Controlled pressurized air is supplied to the upper anatomical airways of a patient suffering from a sleep disorder, such as apnoea. The apparatus measures the air flow and pressure to the airway, and determines whether to increase or decrease the pressure based on a determination of several factors, such is the occurrence of hypopnoea, hyperventilation, air leakage and acoustical vibrations. The method of controlling the pressure includes determining a mean amplitude of the flow of air to the patient during a predetermined number of respiratory cycles. A hypopnoea time counter is incremented when the amplitude of the flow of air during a current respiratory cycle is less than the mean amplitude of the flow of air multiplied by a hypopnoea factor. The pressure of the flow of air to the patient is increased when the hypopnoea time counter is greater than or equal to a hypopnoea time threshold.

Abstract: A pulmonary dosing system and method for supplying to a patient a predetermined amount of respirable therapeutically active material. The system comprises a patient interface to introduce the material into the patient's lungs. The patient interface is connected to a flexible inhalation tube and a flexible exhalation tube. The exhalation tube is connected to a filter having an outlet connected to atmosphere. The inhalation tube is connected to an apparatus for providing pulsed amounts of the material entrained in filtered atmospheric air. A control unit operates the pulmonary dosing system in accordance with operator inputs regarding the number of patent exhales between pulses, and pulse length. The exhaust filter and the apparatus for providing pulsed amounts of the therapeutically active material may be enclosed in a containment case and the patient's interface may comprise a mouth tube-mask combination when the therapeutically active material comprises at least one toxic drug.

Abstract: A dryer having a filter sensing system that warns a user that a filter requires servicing is provided. The dryer includes a drum that retains laundry. Hot air is drawn through the drum (for drying) and out an exhaust casing having a filter for removing lint and other particles. The temperature difference of the air in front of the filter (on the drum side) and behind the filter is determined using temperature sensors. When that temperature difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, a control unit causes a notice unit to produce a warning signal that informs a user that filter service is required.

Abstract: A hand dryer has a body case with a blower with an air-blowing nozzle on its lower surface, and a water receiver disposed below the body case and forming a hand-inserting space with the body case. The water receiver is detachable from the body case. The water receiver has a receiving portion which covers a lower front surface, a back surface which is connected to the receiving portion and which covers a wall surface, and a pair of side surfaces, connected to the receiving portion, rising from opposite sides of the back surface. Water receiver-side retaining portions are on upper portions of the side surfaces, body case-side retaining portions are on opposite sides of the body case, and the water receiver is mounted to the body case by the water receiver-side retaining portions and the body case-side retaining portions. The water receiver-side retaining portions are hooked on the body case-side retaining portions, so that the water receiver can be fixed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the spray drying of solvent-containing compositions. A liquid or paste-form solvent-containing composition is heated to a temperature above the boiling point of the solvent, transported under excess pressure and at a temperature above the boiling point of the solvent to a relaxation space where it is sprayed to evaporate the solvent. The relaxation space is not under excess pressure and is at a temperature that is above the boiling point of the solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a compact drying chamber for drying printed circuit boards and electronic connectors and components mounted thereto by enhanced evaporation to remove residual water and completely dry printed circuit boards. The compact drying chamber comprises features that help maximize a velocity at which heated air impacts printed circuit boards to significantly enhance evaporation from surfaces of printed circuit boards and to raise the temperature of electronic connectors and components to allow evaporation therefrom, while maintaining low power consumption with respect to heating and circulating air. The compact drying chamber also comprises features that help maximize a dwell time of printed circuit boards in high velocity heated air within practical conveyance speeds, while maintaining overall dimensions that allow a compact design.

Abstract: This invention is about portable mini clothes and hair dryer which is designed to collapse and fit into a standard suitcase. It possesses all the features of the standard clothes dryer but is approximately one tenth the size and weighs less than 25 pounds. The dryer will not operate in its collapsed state or if the lid is opened. It comprises a simple but reliable heater and motor assembly. The single flat motor drives both the blower fan and the rotating drum of the machine but the rotating drum can be disengaged when the unit is used for drying hair only. Clothes and other items can be packed in and around the dryer when traveling.

Abstract: Stowage systems having boxes with covers are addressed. Exemplary systems include mechanisms for biasing covers toward their closed positions and for blocking, or maintaining, covers in their open positions when necessary or desired. Such systems are particularly (although not exclusively) useful for cockpit storage of oxygen masks, where open covers might impede use of certain flight controls during aircraft operation but facilitate removal or reinsertion of the masks by a mechanic when the aircraft is not operating.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying long fiber hay. A first step involves providing round bales of long fiber hay. A second step involves separating the bales to form a loose mass of long fiber hay. A third step involves feeding the loose mass of long fiber hay into a rotary dehydration drum. A fourth step involves separating the loose mass of long fiber hay from air containing entrained moisture by passing the long fiber hay through a cyclone separator with a first stream of air passing to an exhaust and a second stream of the loose mass of long fiber hay passing into an air lock. A fifth step involves cooling the loose mass of long fiber hay. A sixth step involves passing the loose mass of long fiber hay through a hay baler, whereby the loose mass of long fiber hay is formed back into bales.

Abstract: Trays are provided with identical vertical spacers which enable the trays to be stacked on top of each other in a centered way, with a suitable or appropriate spacing between them, and enable the various adjacent stacks of trays to be raised and lowered in steps, by an elevating and lowering system which acts only on the bottom tray of each stack. The sides of the stacks of trays of the kiln are thus free and can be engaged by conveyors for the translation of the trays between the stacks, both in a normal operating cycle and in a short operating cycle. However, the lower translation conveyors, which transfer the trays from the stack with an unloading station to that with a loading station, are positioned in the conventional way, i.e., under the stacks of trays and transversely with respect to the trays.