Abstract: Coveralls for protecting a wearer from a flash fire comprising a source of breathing air adapted to be carried on the wearer's back, a respirator adapted to supply air at the wearer's face, and a conduit connecting the source of breathing air and the respirator. The coveralls include a one-piece main suit and a detachable head covering comprised of a heat-resistant fabric adhered to a layer of aluminum that forms the outer surface of the main suit and head covering. An insulating inner liner is contained within the one-piece main suit and head covering. The main suit has main suit sleeves and leg portions connected to a torso portion with a waist area. The detachable head covering includes a viewing lens and a downwardly-draping hood dimensioned to envelope the wearer's head and upper area of the torso portion of the main suit such that the source of breathing air and the conduit are protected in the event of a flash fire.

Abstract: Movement of the cover relative to the housing spring loads and latches a piston carrier in the armed position. Inhalation causes a passageway door to open, releasing the carrier latch to permit the carrier to be moved toward the canister by the spring. The piston moves with the carrier, due to a fluid connection therebetween, applying a compression force on the spring loaded canister valve stem and causing it to dispense the inhalant through an opening in the piston which functions as a nozzle. After the inhalant is dispensed, the carrier fluid vents permitting the spring of the canister valve stem to move the piston relative to the carrier, and thus release the force applied to the valve stem by the piston. The sensitivity of the toggle linkage between the door and the carrier latch is adjustable. The linkage can be manually tripped for testing purposes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an oral airway for insertion within a surgical patient's mouth and over the patient's tongue for preventing blockage of the pharynx during surgical and like procedures. According to the present invention, the airway is provided with an arrangement for transmitting light through the patient's tongue from a point on the oral airway bearing a transmitting device to a point on the oral airway bearing a detecting device. The transmitting devices and detecting devices are positioned in a spaced-apart relation on the oral airway so that the light transmitted from the transmitting device passes through at least a portion of the patient's tongue before being received by the detecting device. Additionally, an operative connecting device is provided for connecting the transmitting device and detecting device with an oximeter for measuring saturation of the patient's blood as a function of the transmitted light received by the detecting device.

Abstract: A cuffed tracheal tube has a suction lumen extending along the tube and opening through a suction aperture immediately adjacent the upper, proximal end of the cuff. The inflatable cuff is attached to the external surface of the tube by collars. The proximal collar is everted within the inflatable portion of the cuff so that it does not extend beyond the inflatable portion and so that the maximum amount of secretions can be removed through the suction aperture.

Abstract: A CPAP apparatus including: a variable pressured air source and means to vary the air pressure delivered therefrom; a nose piece for sealed air communication with a patient's respiratory system; an air communication line from the air source to the nose piece; a sound transducer adapted to be in sound communication with the patient's respiratory system; and a feedback system controlling the output pressure of the air source in response to an output from the transducer so as to increase the output air pressure from said air source, in response to detection of sound indicative of snoring, in accordance with a predefined procedure. The sound transducer, in its most general form, comprises a pressure transducer which, in addition to detecting snoring sounds, can detect other respiratory parameters such as the rate of breathing, inhaled air flow volume, and inhaled air flow rate.

Abstract: Aircraft aircrew life support apparatus has a G-protection garment inflation pressure control valve disposed in a common body with a breathing demand regulator. Inflation pressure output by the garment inflation pressure control valve is ducted within the body to be directly applied as an operating force to a valve controlling outflow from a breathing-pressure control chamber of the regulator whereby positive pressure breathing obtains in the presence of G-load. The garment inflation pressure control valve comprises a pressure balanced valve adapted to be displaced against the bias of a spring in an opening direction by a pneumatic actuator. The pneumatic actuator is controlled by signals from an accelerometer sensing G-load for inflation of the garment when the aircrew member is subject to high G-load (typically in excess of 2G) and by signals from a cabin pressure sensor for inflation of the garment if the aircrew member is exposed to high altitude (typically in excess of 12000 metres).

Abstract: The breathing system comprises a canister carrying layered filtering material, including activated carbon granules, a desiccant, a catalyst for the catalyzation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, and electrostatically charged filters between the layers of filtering material. A mouthpiece carrying a noseclip, and inhalation and exhalation check valves and a whistle is disposed within a flexible, substantially completely transparent hear-through hood, both the mouthpiece and hood being disposed in the canister between the filtering material and a cover for the canister. In use, the cover is removed, air inlet apertures are uncovered, and the hood is drawn about an individual's head and substantially sealed about the neck. With the mouthpiece in the individual's mouth, and noseclip closing off the user's nose, inhalation causes air to flow through the filtering material and the inhalation check valve and past the exhalation check valves.

Abstract: A ventilator control system is responsive to a flow rate signal from a flow rate sensor that senses the flow rate of gas to a ventilated patient. The ventilator control system provides an episode signal to a ventilator to actuate the ventilator to provide an assisted breath. The ventilator control system has an interactive control panel for providing an operator selectable duration signal scaled to define a selected time interval between breaths. An operator also selects a flow rate threshold signal scale to define the flow rate that must be exceeded to qualify a breath from a patient as a valid breath. Episode signal circuitry responds to the flow rate signal, the flow-rate threshold signal, and the duration signal to generate an episode signal in response to the flow rate signal failing to exceed the flow rate threshold signal within the selected time interval.