Abstract: An incubator for maintaining a warm environment for infants includes a substantially elongated resting or bed surface which is surrounded by a hood. At least one side wall of the front side has closable access openings. An air outlet for supplying air into the hood and an air inlet for carrying air away from the hood are provided at the peripheral region of the resting surface. In the incubator, the air is guided to maintain a stable incubator air temperature to reduce heat losses from convection and radiation with the hood closed and, with the front side opened, the buildup of a stable warm-air curtain is promoted. For this purpose, the air outlet is disposed along the front side, and the air inlet is disposed along the rear side opposite this front side.

Abstract: A state of a sensible subject such as a person, e.g a pain state, is monitored utilizing an instrument which generates a sound of increasing harshness as an analog to the state of being as that state worsens. The device is used to quantitate the depression, anxiety, pain or other dysphoric condition experienced by the patient and allows comparison between states of the patient at different times.

Abstract: A ventilation system for use by artists when working with paints and solvents is disclosed. The system includes a palette assembly wherein a palette is mounted on the inside of a housing which is connected to a blower so as to create a negative air pressure in the housing to force harmful vapors through the housing, into the blower, and away from the artist. The system also includes a respiration unit to be used by the artist when mixing paints and solvents or painting with them. The unit includes a compressor (air pump) which is placed in clean air and provides a supply of air, a filter for further purifying the air, and a mask for receiving the fresh air for use in a studio. In an alternate embodiment, the mask further includes rebreather bag to ensure the user of a sufficient supply of purified air at lower SCFM output.

Abstract: A ventilating and aspirating assembly comprising an aspirating catheter tube internally disposed within and coextensive with a surrounding flexible collapsible sterility preserving film envelope, a connector by which ventilating air is involuntarily delivered to and exhausted from the lungs of a medical patient, said connector comprising structure which accommodates the manual insertion of the catheter tube into and manual removal from the trachea/bronchi patient through the connector. This facilitates aspiration of undesired respiratory fluids.

Abstract: A protective facial mask covering the oral and nasal cavities. It slips over the user's head and comprises a single generally cylindrical, generally tubular, piece of an expandable impervious material open at each end. Two diametrically opposed ear slots and an opening below and extending between the ear slots hold the mask in place and provide for better conformity to the user's head. A filtered breathing cannula on the interior of the mask allows air to enter the nasal cavity only.

Abstract: The invention provides a filtration face mask which has an expanded filtration surface area and high filter efficiency. The mask includes at least two sidewall portions generally extending away from the face of the wearer and away from an annular base. A frontal portion bridges the sidewall portions and at least two supporting arche structures are disposed at the junction of the sidewall and frontal portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for testing out a spinal orthose or corset on a patient, whereby the device consists of a frame (2), which is width and height adjustable, a back beam (3), a back plate (16) with a support means (17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25) belonging thereto and an abdominal plate (26). The device (1) is fixed on the back of the patient by adjusting the frame to the correct height and width, whereafter the back plate is fixed in the correct position by means of the support means. The values measured in such a way are transferred to a corset blank by means of a measurement rod (36) (FIG. 1).

Abstract: An endotracheal device employing two or three integrated flexible tubes, a relatively large one and one or two smaller ones. One end of the larger tube is positioned in the trachea of a patient, and air or other breathable gas is administered through the other end, which end is external to the patient. One end of one of the smaller tubes is also positioned in the trachea, and this tube extends along the larger tube and terminates, external to the patient, in a puncturable membrane. This membrane is punctured by a hypodermic needle attached to a syringe containing a pharmaceutical fluid, and this fluid is pumped by the syringe through the small tube to the trachea. The fluid then passes into the lungs where it is absorbed into the patient's bloodstream. The second small tube, which is optional, depending upon the size of the endotracheal device, communicates with an inflatable cuff positioned in the trachea which, when inflated, "seals off" the trachea and helps maintain proper device positioning.

Abstract: A device for inserting a nasal tube through the nose into the oropharynx includes an elongate, collapsible sleeve to which is attached an elongate, relatively slender arcuate member extending along a longitudinal dimension of the sleeve for guiding it through the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. The sleeve has openings at its distal and proximal ends. A soft, blunt distal tip is formed at the distal end of the device extending beyond the distal end opening in the sleeve for extending into the oropharynx. Once the device is in place, a tube can be inserted through the sleeve and guided through the nose to the oropharynx. A dilating member formed from a resilient, compressible material may be used to erect the sleeve and dilate the nasal passageway, if necessary.

Abstract: A removable inner cannula is provided with grooved-ribbed locking member end for snap-fit interconnection inside an outer cannula. The inner cannula includes a ring-pull grasping member associated with the locking member which is easily accessible for withdrawal of the inner cannula from the outer cannula connection.

Abstract: A breathing detection air bag is disclosed, which includes an air bag and a detector. The air bag includes a sponge body capable of being expanded and contracted with contraction and expansion of a pectoral or abdominal part of a person, a sponge cover enclosing the sponge body for preventing air contained in the pores of the sponge body from escaping from the pores, and a flange provided integrally with the edge of the sponge cover and an air guide tube for guiding an air stream caused by the expansion and contraction of the sponge body.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for coating the airways of the lung of a patient substantially uniformly with a mist formed by aspirating a liquid which includes restricting the maximum size of the particles of the mist to about 1.2 microns with the major portion of the particles being in the range of 0.056 microns to 1 micron causing the mist to behave as a gas, conduits for feeding the mist together with a gas containing oxygen to a patient to be inhaled during the normal breathing process, and valves connected with the conduits for diverting the exhaled mist and gas through a discharge path. By radioactively tagging the liquid prior to production of the mist, the uniform deposition of the mist throughout the entire lung without encountering heavy accumulations in the large airways and at branch points, enables the production of high definition image scans of the lung.

Abstract: An air supply device which may be used for emergencies such as an escape from a buring building comprises an air tank having a hose connected to a face mask and an activation element and a regulation element. The activation element consists of a spring biased valve which will automatically move to an opened position when a holding pin is released. The regulation element consists of a U-shaped valve having a first end for covering apertures leading to the hose and a second end in engagement with an expansion element. As air is removed from the tank during use of the device, the expansion element will expand due to a decrease in air pressure within the tank. As the expansion element enlarges, the U-shaped valve will move so as to expose additional apertures. A constant supply of air is therefore easily and automatically maintained.

Abstract: A collapsible inhalation valve is provided for administering asthmatic medication or the like. The valve comprises an upright cylindrical air chamber adapted to be held in the hand. A reciprocating member holds a pressurized cartridge of medication for reciprocation between storage position substantially within the air chamber and raised using position substantially exterior to the air chamber. A mouthpiece is pivoted on the air chamber and is movable between storage position substantially within the air chamber and using position projecting from the air chamber. A one-way valve is provided at the bottom of the air chamber to allow movement of air into the air chamber while preventing movement of medication out of the air chamber. Another one-way valve is provided at the entrance to the mouthpiece permitting inhaling of misted medication, but preventing exhaling into the air chamber.

Abstract: An incubator comprises an incubating chamber for accommodating an infant, and air supply means for supplying conditioned air into the incubating chamber. The air supply means comprises a dry passage and a wet passage which are partitioned from each other by a partition wall. The dry passage and the wet passage communicate by means of a first opening and a second opening, respectively, with the incubating chamber. The wet passage communicates by means of a connecting passage having an opening formed in a wall of the dry passage extending along the direction of air flow through the dry passage with the dry passage. A water tank containing water for humidifying air is provided in the connecting passage. A restricting means is provided at least for the first opening to regulate the flow rate of air that flows through the first opening.

Abstract: A mask-hood assembly for supplying persons, such as aircraft passengers, with clean air or oxygen during emergency situations such as a cabin depressurization, a fire emergency and when the passenger attempts to escape through a smoke-filled environment. The mask is applied and held against the user's face so that it overlies his nose and mouth and communicates with an emergency oxygen supply system via valving disposed in a two-part housing. During escape attempts the passenger separates the two housing parts, one remaining attached to the emergency oxygen supply system and the other one remaining attached to the mask. Upon separation of the two parts, an activated charcoal filter disposed in the housing part attached to the mask is automatically positioned so that the passenger only inhales air from which particulate contaminants, smoke and/or toxic gases have been removed by the filter. A tightly folded hood is wrapped about the exterior of the mask.

Abstract: "A breathing system for divers includes a breathing bag (211) from which the inhalation gas to the diver is delivered and to which the exhalation gas from the diver is supplied, a compressed gas source for the supply of breathing gas, and a pneumatic cylinder/piston unit (308, 209) operatively connected to the compressed bag source and having the piston (209) coupled to the breathing bag (211) to contract or expand the bag. A sensor responds to pressure variations in the breathing gas caused by the diver's inhalation and exhalation, and causes at least two valves and associated controls (173-205) to switch the compressed gas source to either side of the piston (209) in the pneumatic cylinder (208). The valves (176, 177) ensure that the breathing gas to and from the diver is maintained at a pressure approximately equal to the ambient pressure.

Abstract: The present invention includes a tracheal tube in which a cuff is mounted on an elongated tube. The cuff includes an inner inflatable balloon member and an outer inflatable balloon member. The inner inflatable member is disposed on the elongated tube in surrounding relationship and the outer inflatable member is disposed on the elongated tube and over the inner member in surrounding relationship. The inner balloon member is operatively connected to a source to receive gases for inflation to a diameter corresponding to the smallest diameter of the trachea. The outer balloon is operatively connected either to a positive ventilation device or to the airway pressure corresponding to the pressure in the respiratory tract to seal the respiratory tract during high pressure phases of mechanical ventilation.

Abstract: An incubator has a transparent covering hood having at least one side wall on which two flaps are mounted for closing access openings formed in the side wall. The flaps are each provided with a hinge and closure element. The flaps and access openings are so configured that the maximum possible freedom of movement is provided for the person treating the patient while at the same time the smallest possible outlet area is attained to prevent heat and oxygen losses from within the incubator to the ambient. For this purpose, the access openings are configured to be elongated and so that their respective longitudinal axes conjointly define an upwardly facing obtuse angle. To improve visibility for observing the premature infant and to improve ergonomically correct actuation of the operating elements, both the hinge and the closure element are located together on one side of the flap.

Abstract: A high-efficiency and compact high-frequency artificial respirator is disclosed. A patient circuit (1) of the artificial respirator is supplied with a respiration gas from a respiration gas supply source (6), and an oscillation generator (2) imparts high-frequency oscillation to the respiration gas thereby supplied. The patient circuit (1) has at one thereof a chamber defined by a vessel (12d) or a serpentine passage (31). A positive pressure is exerted on the chamber as a result of the gas being injected from nozzles (12e, 32).