Abstract: A laryngeal airway device for sealing against the laryngeal opening includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends and a sealing member attached to the distal end. The airway device includes a tubular extension or snout for delivering air directly into the laryngeal opening; the snout is tapered and “hooded” in a manner that facilitates effective positioning of the airway device. The sealing member includes a coupler for coupling the device to an introducer. Complementing the laryngeal airway device is an introducer that includes a track for receiving the coupler of the laryngeal airway device and guiding the sealing member to a sealing position with respect to the laryngeal inlet.

Abstract: A portable method and apparatus for allowing an individual to pre-adjust at sea level for future high altitudes is taught. The invention teaches the use of a small portable breathing gas control system to adjust the gas concentrations going to a subject's face mask.

Abstract: CPAP treatment apparatus in which upon detection of snoring the pressure is incremented. The increment is a function of the pressure, with the increment decreasing as the pressure increases. Each pressure range has an associated threshold value. Depending on the pressure, the associated threshold value is subtracted from a snore value, and the pressure increment that is applied is a function of the calculated difference.

Abstract: An ambient pressure control ventilation apparatus controls mechanical ventilation of a patient. The apparatus comprises: a sealable chamber adapted to accommodate a while body of a patient, a pump fluidically connected to the chamber, alternatively compressing and decompressing a ventilating gas within the chamber: a relief valve, fluidically connected to the chamber: and a control unit adapted to control the pump and the relief valve so as to create a periodic regime of alternating compression and decompression of ventilating gas within the chamber, about a predetermined baseline.

Abstract: A respiratory assistance device may include a tube that forms a main channel for connecting a distal end of the tube to a respiratory airway of a patient, such that the main channel connects the respiratory system of the patient to the outside. The device may also include an auxiliary channel, for connecting to a source of breathable gas to blow a ventilating gas stream into the patient's respiratory system. This auxiliary channel emerges in the main channel by a distal orifice arranged in front of a distal end of the main channel. A deflecting device may be provided, facing the distal orifice of the auxiliary channel, for deflecting the ventilating breathable gas stream toward the axis of the main channel. Also, a communication device, between the deflecting device and the distal end of the main channel, may be included for opening and closing a passageway.

Abstract: A device for dispensing powdered medicament by inhalation comprises an axially movable metering rod (3) equipped with a dosing recess in the form of a hole (5). The metering rod (3) extends through the interior of the medicament container (1). In a first position the dosing hole (5) is in the medicament container (1) and is filled with a dose of the powdered medicament. In the second position the filled dosing hole (5) is in the air channel (11). The device of the invention has good metering accuracy, it is not susceptible to jamming and provides complete discharge of the powdered dose into the breathing air even if used by a patient having reduced inhalation capacity.

Abstract: A blister pack for a inhalant medicator has a plurality of medical powder storage chambers spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction. The inhalant medicator includes a pricking tool with a pair of parallel pins that prick inflow and outflow holes in one of the medical powder storage chambers during a preliminary operation of inhalant medication. The inflow and outflow holes are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction parallel to a lid panel of the blister pack to produce turbulent airflow within the medical powder storage chamber during inhalation during which the medical powder is inhaled by a patient's breathing. The medical powder storage chambers are dimensioned and designed to properly regulate or control properties of the airflow passing through the medical storage chamber, to ensure the airflow is suitable for the medical powder storage chamber.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes a nasal delivery tube and an ear hook support tube that facilitates the delivery of fluids to the lungs of a user. The ear hook support tube is plugged at its distal end with an elongated flexible ear hook that is adapted to be hooked over one ear of the user. A slider support tube having an ear hook slider mounted thereon is coupled in an airtight manner to an opposite end of the nasal support tube and is adapted to be coupled to a supply of fluid, such as a supply of air. Another ear hook is mounted to the ear hook slider and is adapted to be hooked over the other ear of the user.

Abstract: A care system and associated methods are provided for alleviating patient pain, anxiety and discomfort associated with medical or surgical procedures. Embodiments of the system include a health monitor device coupled to a patient and generating a signal reflecting at least one physiological condition of the patient; a drug delivery controller supplying one or more drugs to the patient; a memory device storing a safety data set reflecting parameters of at least one patient physiological condition; and an electronic controller interconnected between the patient health monitor, the drug delivery controller and the safety data set. The electronic controller is capable of effecting a change in the drug supply delivered to the patient by the drug controller, said change depending on a comparison between at least one patient physiological condition at its corresponding value reflected in the safety data set.

Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for administering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a main body (102) comprising an elongate tubular member (108) for receiving a canister (107) containing medicament and having a valve stem (111) extending therefrom, the tubular member (108) including a lateral opening (114) at one end thereof; and an outlet assembly (104) comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block (120) for receiving the valve stem (111) of the canister (107) and delivering medicament from the canister (107) into the mouthpiece, the outlet assembly (104) being detachably mounted, through the lateral opening (114), to the main body (102) at an angle transverse to the length of the tubular member (108); characterized in that one of the main body (102) and the outlet assembly (104) further comprises at least one resiliently biased member, which is configured to engage with at least one part of the other of the main body (102) and the outlet assembly (104) and thereby

Abstract: A universally fitting headgear that is readily adjustable to a variety of different sized patients and that couples a patient interface device to an airway of the patient. The headgear includes a headpiece that fits on the user's heal in a cap-like fashion. The circumference of the headpiece is adjustable so that a single sized headgear can be fit to a number of different sized patient's. The headpiece includes adjustment straps which adjustably connect to each other on the sides of the patient's head. The headpiece further includes connecting straps to adjustably connecting the headgear to a patient interface device, such as a gas delivery mask. The headgear of the present invention fits a wide range of head sizes and shapes, is easy to use, and provides increased stability.

Abstract: A pressure regulator for regulating the expiratory flow in a CPAP system includes submerging a tube into a column of water. Improvements are included for adjusting the level to which the tube is submerged and for ensuring constant water level.

Abstract: An oxygen delivery and gas sensing nasal cannula system, comprising a main prong assembly and a pair of nasal prongs. There is also provided a pair of oxygen conduit tubes and a main oxygen delivery tube. There is also provided an adjustment sleeve to adjust the fit of the cannula system on a patient's head. There is also included a gas sampling, a gas sampling conduit end piece and a flared main oxygen delivery tube end piece to be receivably coupled to an oxygen supply.

Abstract: A compact multipurpose dustproof mask includes a body pipe having an outlet hole formed at one end and a mouth contact hole formed at the other end thereof, and the end where the mouth contact hole is formed is held in the mouth and/or nose, a backward flow preventing ball installed to be capable of moving back and forth and pressed by a returning means in a direction to block a narrow hole formed inside the body pipe so that the body pipe can be open/shut according to pressure of internal air, and a branch pipe formed between the mouth contact hole of the body pipe and the backward flow preventing ball, the branch pipe having an inlet hole having a shape corresponding to a filter formed at one end thereof so that the filter is connected. Thus, the manufacturing cost and the size of a product can be reduced. Also, the mask can be easily carried and kept.

Abstract: A vapor phase treated electret filter media includes an additive or mixtures thereof that enhance the charge stability of the media. The filter media achieves acceptable alpha values for a range of filtration challenges without significant decay in alpha values over time. Preferred charge additives include fatty acid amides and mixtures thereof. Exemplary vapor phase deposition monomers include fluorinated monomers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tracheal ventilating device, especially a tracheal tube or tracheal cannula which obturates the trachea as hermetically as possible for ventilating a patient, the device comprising a cuffed balloon which blocks the trachea below the glottis and through which a ventilating cannula is passed, with the cuffed balloon when filled or inflated and freely unfolded without any limitation, being larger than when placed in the trachea in an inflated state, and being made from a soft flexible foil material. To intubate a patient with said device as gently as possible at low pressures over a long period of time and with a low risk of infection, the invention suggests that the draped fold of the cuffed balloon should rest on the trachea and be designed in such a way that the loop created at the dead end of a fold has a small diameter which inhibits the free flow of secretion through the loop of said fold.

Abstract: An air filtration system includes a light weight container which stores a quantity of water for filtering contaminants from inhaled air. A coupling assembly is used to connect the container to a flexible hose for delivery of the filtered air to the dust mask worn by the user. The coupling assembly allows a user to interchange one light weight container with another in a quick and convenient manner if one container becomes saturated with contaminants. A user simply pulls downward on the slidable jacket to release the industrial plug and allowing the attachment of another container to the hose via the coupling assembly.

Abstract: A method to maintain isocapnia for a subject. A fresh gas is provided to the subject when the subject breathes at a rate less than or equal to the fresh gas flowing to the subject. The fresh gas flow equal to a baseline minute ventilation minus a dead space gas ventilation of the subject contains a physiological insignificant amount of CO2. An additional reserve gas is provided to the subject when the subject breathes at a rate more than the fresh gas flowing to the subject. The reserve gas has a partial pressure of carbon dioxide equal to an arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide of the subject. A breathing circuit is applied to the method to maintain isocapnia for a subject. The breathing circuit has an exit port, a non-rebreathing valve, a source of fresh gas, a fresh gas reservoir and a reserve gas supply.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask airway has a main tubular shaft (1) with a channel (2) of part circular section opening along its external surface. A mask portion (5) is attached to the patient end of the shaft, including a mount (50) and a cuff (60) attached to the mount. A channel (55) extends along the mount (50) from the channel (2) in the shaft (1) to the cuff (60). A small-diameter tube (70) opens at one end into the cuff (60) and extends along the channels (55 and 2) in the mount (50) and in the shaft (1). The channel (2) in the shaft (1) mechanically retains the small-diameter tube (70), the tube extending out of the channel through one of several notches (20) spaced along the channel. The tube (70) can be peeled away from the shaft (1) to extend out of one of the other notches (20), so that the shaft can be cut shorter.

Abstract: A life support system has a semi-closed rebreather supplying oxygen for multiple users, such as high altitude parachutists. A first tank supplies oxygen to initially purge the system, and a second, larger tank supplies oxygen at prescribed amounts for the duration of a mission. Users are connected by hoses to an inlet hose manifold on a scrubber body of the rebreather. The inlet hose manifold has an inlet port boss to receive exhaled gas from each user and an overpressure valve vents excessive amounts of exhaled gas. A CO2 absorbent in the scrubber body scrubs CO2 from the exhaled gas. An outlet hose manifold is connected to the scrubber body and has an inlet fitting to supply oxygen and at least one outlet port boss to feed the oxygen and the CO2 scrubbed gas to the users. This reliable system is lighter-weight and smaller than contemporary systems.