Abstract: A nebulizer is provided that includes an internal medication chamber and a pressurized gas diverter. The internal medication chamber is configured for holding a medication. The pressurized gas diverter includes a diverter orifice.

Abstract: A valved container assembly (10) comprising a container (12) for containing a fluid, the container (12) extending in an axial direction and having at least one venting opening (12a) at a front end and at least one dispensing opening (12b). The valved container assembly (10) further comprising a valve (14) disposed in the container (12) and a plunger element (20) disposed axially rearward of the valve (14), the plunger element (20) being axially moveable in the container (12) and defining a first volume (22) in the container (12) between the plunger element (20) and the valve (14), where the plunger element (20) is configured to increase the pressure of a fluid in the first volume (22) upon axial movement relative to the valve (14).

Abstract: An inflatable balloon cuff may be adapted to seal a patient's trachea when associated with an endotracheal tube. Configurations of these cuffs that include tapered regions with certain characteristics, such as cuff wall diameter and thickness, may provide improved sealing of the trachea.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for providing active and/or passive compression therapy to a body part can include a compression device worn over a compression stocking. The compression device can have a pulley based drive train that is driven by a motor to tighten and loosen compression elements, such as compression straps, in a precise, rapid, and balanced manner. Sensors can be used in the compression device and/or compression stockings to provide feedback to modulate the compression treatment parameters.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods related to respiratory support delivered to infants using limited-leak cannulas. Various embodiments include a method of providing respiratory support to an infant. The method can include attaching a limited-leak cannula having prongs to an inspiratory port of a ventilator with connection tubing. The method can include selecting an operations mode on the ventilator that is specific for unidirectional flow limited-leak cannula use. The method can include initiating a calibration procedure with the prongs of the cannula freely exposed. The calibration procedure can include measuring the flow rate of gas through the connection tubing at a set pressure. The method can include setting monitoring parameters on the ventilator, initiating respiratory support by inserting the cannula prongs into the nares of the infant, and continuously monitoring the flow rate of gas through the limited-leak cannula. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A massage apparatus is provided to enable an individual to perform a variety of massages by applying targeted pressure to effected muscle groups. In one embodiment, the massage apparatus includes a plurality of generally spherical balls and an oversleeve shrink-fitted over at least a portion of the plurality of balls. The oversleeve includes a first open end and a second open end opposite the first open end. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a massage apparatus includes selecting a plurality of balls having a desired density, shape, and outer diameter, arranging the plurality of balls within an oversleeve, and subjecting the oversleeve to heat to longitudinally and radially contract the oversleeve between an original position and a contracted position around at least a portion of the balls.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for delivery of therapeutic gas to patients, in need thereof, receiving breathing gas from a high frequency ventilator using at least enhanced therapeutic gas (e.g., nitric oxide, NO, etc.) flow measurement. At least some of these enhanced therapeutic gas flow measurements can be used to address some surprising phenomenon that may, at times, occur when wild stream blending therapeutic gas into breathing gas a patient receives from a breathing circuit affiliated with a high frequency ventilator. Utilizing at least some of these enhanced therapeutic gas flow measurements the dose of therapeutic gas wild stream blended into breathing gas that the patient receives can at least be more accurate and/or under delivery of therapeutic gas into the breathing gas can be avoided and/or reduced.

Abstract: An oral hygiene apparatus in the form of a fixture to provide a controllable pressurized water stream for cleansing the gums and teeth, especially in the interdental area, of a user. The hygiene apparatus may essentially comprise three parts including a water supply, an oral hygiene-ware and a water utility.

Abstract: A method for controlling a humidifier of a CPAP device including a controller, the method including controlling a heating element in the humidifier with command signals from the controller, sensing a temperature of a fluid in the humidifier with a sensor in the humidifier that transmits signals to the controller, establishing an acceptable operating range for the signal transmitted to the controller, determining whether the transmitted signal is within the acceptable operating range, if the signal is within the acceptable operating range treating the signal as being indicative of the temperature of the fluid in the humidifier and using the signal to control the heating element, and if the signal is outside of the acceptable operating range, the controller determines the humidifier to be unavailable.

Abstract: A breathing mask arrangement includes a mask frame, a sealing structure provided to the mask frame and adapted to form a seal with a patient's face, and a forehead support device movably mounted to the mask frame for adjustable movement with respect to the mask frame. The sealing structure is movably mounted to the mask frame for adjustable movement with respect to the mask frame, and the adjustable movement of the sealing structure is independent of the adjustable movement of the forehead support device.

Abstract: A gas apparatus for use in a medical procedure may include a housing, a heater, a port, and a dispensing device. The housing defines a chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The heater warms a gas flowing through the chamber. The port is positioned in fluid communication with the chamber. The dispensing device is inserted within the port for delivering water in aerosol form to warmed gas as it exits the gas outlet.

Abstract: A patient interface and a patient interface system comprise a responsive material and a method for preventing the formation of red marks due to wearing a patient interface that is pressing against the skin of a patient for a longer time and/or for reducing air leakages of the patient interface that may result from an unintended shift of the patient interface on the patient's face. The responsive material is configured for alternating the pressure exerted by the cushion element on the patient and/or the area on the patient where the pressure is exerted by the cushion element in response to a physical quantity acting on the responsive material. The formation of red marks and of air leakages can be reduced or even avoided by means of the responsive material.

Abstract: Described herein is a nasal cannula apparatus. The apparatus is configured to detect the pressurized flow of breathable gas to and/or from the airway of a subject through the nose of the subject. The apparatus comprises a body, a first nasal cannula system formed in the body configured to engage a first nostril of a first nasal passage, and a second nasal cannula system formed in the body configured to engage a second nostril of a second nasal passage of the subject. The second nasal cannula system is joined to first nasal cannula system by a bridge such that the first nasal cannula system engages the first nostril and second nasal cannula system engages the second nostril at the same time. The apparatus is configured to transmit expiratory and inspiratory nasal pressurized flow to connective conduits.

Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus includes an inner volumetric member pressurizable from a first pressure to a second pressure and an outer volumetric member surrounding at least a portion of the inner expandable volumetric member. The inner volumetric member pressurizes the outer volumetric member as the inner volumetric member is pressurized from the first pressure to the second pressure. In another embodiment, a breathing assistance apparatus includes exhalation and inhalation chambers with respective biasing members providing for the exhalation chamber to apply a pressure to the inhalation chamber and thereby provide assisted inhalation. Methods for assisting breathing are also provided.

Abstract: A device for spine correction, in a particular human spines, has a keyboard with numerous adjacent segments comprised of opposed back supports. The keyboard (3) has at least one set of cooperating segments A, B and C supported on curved arch elements which bias a patient back in engagement with the keyboard toward a desired back configuration. The device includes a support frame (1), and a relatively movable mobile frame (2) on which the keyboard is supported. A measurement system includes a controller (49), a server (50) and a screen (51). The controller is connected to sensors (26) which determine rotational positions of the segments. The server provides outputs from the screen (51) responsive to the sensed data.

Abstract: Provided are a fixing module and a motion assistance apparatus including the same, the fixing module including a base body, a plurality of side frames provided on both sides of the base body, and a height adjustment assembly provided on the base body, and on which a driving module is mounted to provide a power, wherein a distance between the plurality of side frames may be adjustable.

Abstract: An oscillating positive expiratory pressure device comprising a housing enclosing at least one chamber, a chamber inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the at least one chamber, and a chamber outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the at least one chamber. A channel is positioned in an exhalation flow path between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet, with the channel being moveably connected to a chamber of the at least one chamber. An air flow regulator is moveable with respect to the channel between a first position, where the flow of air through the channel is restricted and a second position, where the flow of air through the channel is less restricted, the air flow regulator being configured to repeatedly move between the first position and the second position in response to a flow of exhaled air.

Abstract: A method includes determining, on a processor, a current movement phase for a compound joint function based on sensor data. The method further includes determining, on the processor, a respective robot state parameter trace for each movement phase in a normal and impaired subject. The method further includes determining, on the processor, a deficit parameter for each movement phase. The method further includes determining, on the processor, an adaptive magnitude for the robot applied torque based on the deficit parameter of the current movement phase. The method further includes applying, to the robot joint, the adaptive magnitude for the robot applied torque for the current movement phase, based on an adaptive timing for the current movement phase. An apparatus is also described for providing deficit-adjusted adaptive assistance during movement phases of the impaired joint.

Abstract: A driving module and a motion assistance apparatus including the same may be provided. For example, the driving module including a driving source provided on one side of a user and configured to transmit power, a power transmitting rotary body configured to rotate by the power transmitted from the driving source, and a first decelerator configured to transmit power between the driving source and the power transmitting rotary body, the first decelerator having an input side rotary body configured to receive power from the driving source, and an output side rotary body configured to transmit power to the power transmitting rotary body may be provided.

Abstract: A system and a method for generating a respirable dry powder aerosol (15) from a liquid solution or liquid suspension at a respirable dry powder aerosol volume flow (91). A liquid aerosol generating nozzle (3) generates from the liquid solution or liquid suspension a liquid aerosol (13) that is diluted by dilution gas (4) and dried in a cylindrical evaporation chamber (6) to generate a dry powder aerosol (14) that is subsequently concentrated by a cylindrical single linear slit aerosol concentrator (9). The system and method may include heliox as a gas, specifically dilution gas (4), for enhancing both the drying process in the cylindrical evaporation chamber (6) and for enhancing the concentration efficiency, but also as a nozzle gas (2) for enhancing generating the liquid aerosol (13) from the liquid solution or liquid suspension.