Abstract: A lightweight oxygen delivery device for a patient comprising an elongated tube, releasably connectable to an oxygen delivery source at one end and to a rigid elbow at the other. The wall circumscribes a centrally positioned oxygen outlet communicating with the tube through the elbow so as to receive oxygen from the elbow and direct the flow of oxygen delivered from the elbow generally towards the patient's nose and mouth. Flexible wings are secured to the tube, between its ends, the wings extending outwardly to either side. An elongated flexible strap is secured to and extends between the wings, the strap to extend around a patient's head and secure the wings in position to hold the diffuser proximal to the patient's nose and mouth.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining the occurrence of an apnea, patency and/or partial obstruction of the airway are disclosed. Respiratory air flow from a patient is measured to give an air flow signal. The determination of an apnea is performed by calculating the variance of the air flow signal over a moving time window and comparing the variance with a threshold value. One determination of partial obstruction of the airway is performed by detecting the inspiratory part of the air flow signal, scaling it to unity duration and area and calculating an index value of the amplitude of the scaled signal over a mid-portion. Alternatively, the index value is a measure of the flatness of the air flow signal over the mid-portion.

Abstract: A blind intubation guide (10) includes a guide wall (42), which aims an orotracheal tube (120) into the laryngeal opening (230), the guide wall (42) being pivotally mounted to an aft member (16) of the guide (10) to accommodate throats (202) of variable shallowness. The guide (10) may also include a flexible spout (100).

Abstract: A mask and harness system for use in providing breathing oxygen and protection from pollutants for the eyes and respiratory system as might be encountered in high altitude aviation environments. In one preferred embodiment, the mask system has a face seal, a soft flexible lens, a pneumatically-actuated harness, and a regulator with microphone to control the flow of oxygen and to facilitate communications in aircraft flight decks and other aircraft compartments. The system is designed for required five-second donning with one hand and because of the flexible lens, is capable of storage in the relatively preferred on crowded flight decks. It is connected to an oxygen source and, optionally, with aircraft communications. The regulator controls the flow rate of oxygen to the wearer based on altitude and physiological requirements. The regulator includes a valve for purging the condensation-prone moist gases from the lens area and provides positive pressure in the mask.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask airway has a curved tubular guide for insertion through the patient's mouth and oropharynx. After insertion of the guide, the beveled distal opening of the guide abuts the laryngeal inlet, while the guide's proximal opening remains outside the patient's mouth. A laryngeal mask surrounds the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide A ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide supplies air/oxygen through the guide into the patient's lungs. An endotracheal tube can then be advanced along the length of guide and through the patient's larynx without interrupting ventilation.

Abstract: A nasal mask assembly that includes a seal member defined from a unitary piece of elastomeric material. The seal member defines a nose receiving cavity and has a first end portion and a second end portion generally opposite the first end portion. A first opening in the first end portion allows at least a portion of a nose to enter the nose receiving cavity such that the nares of the patient communicate with the nose receiving cavity. The seal member includes a neck portion defined in the second end portion and a second opening defined in the neck portion in communication with the nose receiving cavity. A reinforcement area is provided on the side walls of the seal member. The reinforcement area comprises a saddle shaped contoured area on each side of the seal member. Each saddle shaped area has an upper and a lower protrusion portion for providing supporting contact with the face.

Abstract: A breathing mask is provided for a helmet which reduces the formation of water on the lens of the eyeglasses of the wearer or on the shield of the helmet. The helmet comprises a head portion, a shield portion, and a breathing mask. The shield portion comprises a jaw shield and an eye shield. The breathing mask is hermetically adapted to the face of the wearer to evacuate the wearer's breath outside the helmet through breathing channels. The jaw shield can be pivotally opened or closed and is locked to the head portion in the closed position. The eye shield is pivotally connected to the head portion and includes a see-through shield and a tinted shield. The tinted shield can be lowered inside the helmet to protect the wearer from sun rays and reflexions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a nebula or aerosol to a patient. In one aspect, a nebulizer is pressure sensitive so that nebulization is coordinated with a breathing cycle of the patient. The nebulizer includes a movable gas diverter that diverts pressurized gas across a liquid outlet. The diverter is moved in response to the patient's breathing cycle. In one aspect, a biasing member moves the diverter. According to another aspect of the nebulizer, an annular liquid orifice disperses an aerosol in a radial direction in response to a pressurized gas flow from an orifice located concentrically thereto. Multiple liquid orifices may be provided. In a further aspect of the nebulizer, a reservoir includes an upper, wide portion and a lower narrow portion to apply relatively uniform pressure at a liquid orifice.

Abstract: A gas administering method for administering gas to an airway of a patient having a nasal vestibule and for use with a gas administering apparatus comprises a primary gas source that is operable to provide gas and a nasal vestibular portion arranged so as to receive the gas from the primary gas source. Further, the nasal vestibular portion is capable of releasing the primary gas into the nasal vestibule. The method comprises inserting the nasal vestibular portion into the nasal vestibule, forming a seal between the nasal vestibular portion and an inner surface of the nasal vestibule, administering an amount of a gas from the primary gas source at a constant flow rate into the nasal vestibule via the nasal vestibular portion, and administering an anesthetic to the patient. The anesthetic induces depression of a portion of the nervous system of the patient.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask airway has a curved tubular guide for insertion through the patient's mouth and oropharynx. After insertion of the guide, the beveled distal opening of the guide abuts the laryngeal inlet, while the guide's proximal opening remains outside the patient's mouth. A laryngeal mask surrounds the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide. A ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide supplies air/oxygen through the guide into the patient's lungs. An endotracheal tube can then be advanced along the length of guide and through the patient's larynx without interrupting ventilation.

Abstract: An integrated tracheal tube/suction ventilation and co-committal secretion removal device having first and second coaxially arranged conduits where the first interior conduit forms a lumen to deliver gas, and a circumferentially arranged second conduit lumen is structurally adapted to serve as an integral suction lumen for removal of both expiratory gases and secretions. The distal end outlets of both lumens terminate between the device's fixing member and its distal end. The two lumen outlets are arranged such that relative to each other and the device the first interior pipe conduit forming lumen's outlet is located at the distal end and the second pipe conduit lumen's outlet is located at or near the distal side of the fixing member. This selection of relative positioning facilitates optimal deliver of breathing gas to a user in conjunction with removal of expiratory gases and secretions.

Abstract: A CPAP controller that supplies oxygen enriched air to a respiratory circuit that utilizes a venturi-jet arrangement within a chamber, which enriches ambient air. Ambient air is drawn into the chamber by a primary oxygen flow source via an oxygen jet that directs oxygen into the venturi. Besides the conventional ability to adjust oxygen/air ratio via changes in the primary oxygen flow source's flow rate adjustment, the oxygen/air ratio may be altered by way of a secondary oxygen supply and its own flow control adjustment that is independent of the primary oxygen source and its adjustment mechanism. Hence the oxygen/air ratio may be adjusted independently of the primary oxygen source's flow rate. The controller further includes a pressure adjustment mechanism that allows the user to adjust pressure to the demand and/or need of the patient.

Abstract: A single breath induction anesthesia apparatus for anesthetizing a patient, comprises a gas delivery system for delivering at least one gas to the patient, an oxygen supply system for providing oxygen, and an oxygen/anesthesia gas supply system for mixing oxygen and at least one anesthesia gas at a preset optimum ratio sufficient to cause anesthesia of the patient with a single breath, thereby providing an oxygen/anesthesia gas mixture. The apparatus of the invention further includes a valve for providing selective gas flow communication between the oxygen supply system and the gas delivery system or between the oxygen/anesthesia gas supply system and the gas delivery system.

Abstract: A resuscitation valve assembly includes a housing with an inlet port adapted to be connected to a pressurized breathable gas source, such as oxygen, an outlet port adapted to be connected to a patient's airway and an ambient air port. The inhalation chamber is connected to the pressurized gas source when a manually operated valve, within the housing, is open and is disconnected from the inhalation chamber when the valve is closed. An inhalation/exhalation check valve is disposed between the inhalation chamber, the outlet port and the ambient air port to conduct the high pressure gas through the outlet port and into the patient's airway, vent the patient's exhaled gas through the ambient air port and allow ambient air to flow through the outlet port in response to the patient's spontaneous breathing.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube can be inserted into a patient's trachea during resuscitation by using a face mask and a curved guide. The guide is inserted through a flexible port in the face mask and has a curved distal portion that extends into the patient's mouth and hypopharynx. The patient is initially resuscitated by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the mask. For example, a resuscitation bag can be connected to a rotatable ventilation port on the face mask. Alternatively, a resuscitation attachment with an air filter and one-way valve can be removably attached to the ventilation port of the face mask to enable a health care provider to directly resuscitate the patient. An endotracheal tube is inserted over the distal end of a fiber optic probe.

Abstract: A dynamic respiratory control device includes a fast-response valve capable of dynamically imposing multiple resistive loads on the flow of respiratory gas to and from a patient. The resistive loads are applied in response to measured flow rates, patient lung volumes, and/or mouthpiece pressures. The device can precisely constrain tidal breathing, provide precise volumetric control of the airway, and impose multiple specific inspiratory and/or expiratory loading functions to evaluate respiratory function. The device is useful for pulmonary function testing, CT and MRI imaging of the chest, combined CT imaging/interventional radiology, radiotherapy delivery to the thorax/abdomen, and/or as a resistive muscle trainer for weaning patients off ventilators and for respiratory muscle training.

Abstract: A retention device and method for retaining an object, including preferably a gas mask, in position proximate a user's mouth. The retention device includes straps coupled to both sides of the object and having at ends thereof ear pieces. The ear pieces fit over the ears, and are configured to receive the strap at a point proximate the anterior, center portion of the ear, causing pulling forces to be on the posterior center portion of the ear rather than on the top of the ear.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gauging the levels of pH in the interiors of articles such as diapers, incontinence garments, pads, catamenial products, bedding, and would dressings are disclosed. This method and apparatus include sensing devices and relay systems for displaying the pH on the outside of the articles that provide visual and/or audible warnings that toxic levels are approaching and that it is time to remove and replace the article.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a nebula or aerosol to a patient. In one aspect, a nebulizer is pressure sensitive so that nebulization is coordinated with a breathing cycle of the patient. The nebulizer includes a movable gas diverter that diverts pressurized gas across a liquid outlet. The diverter is moved in response to the patient's breathing cycle. In one aspect, a biasing member moves the diverter. According to another aspect of the nebulizer, an annular liquid orifice disperses an aerosol in a radial direction in response to a pressurized gas flow from an orifice located concentrically thereto. Multiple liquid orifices may be provided. In a further aspect of the nebulizer, a reservoir includes an upper, wide portion and a lower narrow portion to apply relatively uniform pressure at a liquid orifice.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a system for monitoring the physiologic status of a plurality of individuals wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask. Each SCBA mask incorporates a series of physiologic sensors that monitor, among other things, heart rate and carbon monoxide and oxygen saturation levels. The physiologic sensors are connected to a transmitting apparatus attached to the SCBA. Each SCBA transmitter sends output data from the physiologic sensors, along with the wearer's location information, to a remote base unit. A processor within the base unit compiles the physiologic and location data. In this way, the base unit monitors the particular physiologic status of an individual in a hazardous environment from a remote location. A further embodiment of the present invention includes monitoring the physiologic status and location of groups of individuals by combining a plurality of base units into a station unit.