Abstract: A horizontal flat-fold, filtering face-piece respirator 10 that includes a harness 14 and a mask body 12 that has a front surface, a first perimeter 24a, and a longitudinal axis 34. A nose clip 30 is secured to the mask body 12 centrally and adjacent to the first perimeter 24a of the mask body 12. An indicia 32 that is visible on the front surface of the mask body 12 in a vicinity of the nose clip 30 is provided to highlight a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the nose clip. The use of such an indicia, visible from the mask body front surface, enables a user to readily identify where the nose clip may be bent to prepare it for donning by the wearer.

Abstract: There is provided a nebulizer (2), comprising a first plate (20) configured to hold a transducer (14); a second plate (22) having an aperture therein, the first plate being positioned on a first side of the second plate such that the transducer is adjacent the aperture; and a third plate (24) configured to hold a mesh plate through which liquid can pass to form droplets, the third plate being positioned on a second side of the second plate opposite the first side such that the mesh plate (16) is adjacent the aperture, with the aperture, transducer and mesh plate forming a cavity for holding liquid to be nebulized. A method for manufacturing such a nebulizer is also provided.

Abstract: A massage apparatus includes a sheet member attachable to a skin of a body, and a pressure unit that presses the skin from the sheet member. The sheet member is elastic and thermoplastic such that the sheet member is hardened at a temperature of the skin and is softened at a predetermined temperate different from the temperature of the skin. The sheet member has one or more indications indicating an area of the skin to which the sheet member is to be attached. The pressure unit applies a pressure to the skin so as to provide a predetermined pressure distribution in which positions of the pressure distribution are defined with reference to one or more positions on the body in a situation in which the sheet member is attached to the area.

Abstract: A tool for use in conjunction with a pressure support system that is structured to provide therapy to a patient to treat a condition of the patient by delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient. The tool may be implemented on a portable electronic device or a PC and is configured to, among other things, provide customized/personalized education and feedback to the patient based, at least in part, on data that is measured by the pressure support system during the provision of therapy to the patient. The tool utilizes certain patient/therapy metrics, wherein each patient/therapy metric comprises raw data that was measured by the pressure support system and that has been processed (e.g., summarized and/or otherwise manipulated) to form the patient/therapy metric.

Abstract: The gases temperature supplied to a patient when the patient is undergoing treatment such as oxygen therapy or positive pressure treatment for conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is often measured for safety and to enable controlling of the humidity delivered to the patient. The invention disclosed is related to measurement of properties, particularly temperature (thermister 23), of gases flowing through a heated tube (3), supplying gases to a patient, which utilises the heating wire (21, 28) within the tube.

Abstract: A compression treatment system is provided that detects the number of and type of garments connected thereto. The system includes a plurality of ports, valves connected thereto and a number of garments having one or more bladders. The bladders are in fluid communication with a fluid source in a pneumatic circuit, to provide compression therapy once a user confirms the number of and type of garments connected to the system for use by a patient. A single pressure sensor communicates with a plurality of detected bladders located in the one or more garments.

Abstract: An electronic vibrating compression glove which simultaneously provides compression and vibration therapy to arthritic hands.

Abstract: Provided is a joint movement aid, which has a simple structure and is lightweight and which a user can easily put on and take off, and which has a novel structure capable of safely supporting a walking without impeding a user's autonomous fall-preventing movement even in a case of a disturbance such as external force on the user in a transverse direction. The walking movement aid includes a right and left pair of assisting units provided with drive sources, which exert a pulling force on flexible auxiliary force transmission parts, and a control member for controlling the respective drive sources of the assisting units corresponding to changes in a joint angle with user's hip joints.

Abstract: A lung isolation system configured for selective isolation and ventilation of the lung in conjunction with a standard endotracheal tube. The system includes an expandable bronchial isolation tube comprising a collapsible nitinol frame, a bifurcated adapter, and a steerable optical stylet.

Abstract: A system and to automate the integrity check of a breathing system and inform a ventilator to deliver a compensated gas volume, and alert the user if a vital component of a breathing circuit is absent or not fully connected. The system and method utilize an open RFID tag on a first point of connection and a conducting ring on the second point of connection such that when a circuit connection is made, the open RFID tag becomes active and provides an RFID reader with data regarding the circuit connection.

Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus is configured with features that improve serviceability of the apparatus. The apparatus can include animations to provide instruction regarding correcting easily-identified fault conditions and to provide instruction regarding routine maintenance routines. The apparatus also can be configured with top level control menus that are obscured in a manner to limit manipulation of the top level control elements by unauthorized users.

Abstract: A dry powder delivery device may be configured to provide micronized dry powder particles to airways of a user. The device may include a cylindrical container delimiting a chamber containing at least one magnetically-responsive object, a motor external to said chamber, a magnet external to the chamber and rotatably coupled with the motor, and an outflow member configured to direct airflow to a user. The magnetically-responsive object may be coated with micronized dry powder particles, and the motor may be operable to rotate the magnet about an axis. Rotation of the magnet creates a magnetic field that causes the magnetically-responsive object to move in response to the magnetic field and collide with a side wall of the container to deaggregate the dry powder particles and aerosolize the dry powder in the chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a method and system configured to in-exsufflate a subject by controlling the in-exsufflation pressure waveform. In some embodiments, the system comprises a pressure generator, a subject interface, one or more sensors, one or more processors, electronic storage, a user interface, and/or other components. The system is configured to assist the subject to loosen and/or expel secretions by inducing a percussive pressure waveform delivered to the subject during inhalation and/or exhalation. The system is configured to control the in-exsufflation therapy delivered to the subject without requiring regular manual setting and/or adjustment of pressures, pressure amplitudes, a frequency range, and/or other parameters of the percussive pressure waveform.

Abstract: A respiratory mask assembly including a frame and a cushion provided to the frame. The cushion including a non-face contacting portion removably attached to the frame and a face-contacting portion adapted to engage a patient's face. The face-contacting portion includes a side wall, a rim extending from the side wall and curving inwardly into a cavity of the cushion, and a membrane substantially surrounding the rim and including an inside surface spaced from an outside surface of the rim. The cushion includes a gusset portion extending radially outwardly from the side wall of the face-contacting portion and a reinforcing ring between the gusset portion and the face-contacting portion. The reinforcing ring is constructed and arranged to act as a stiffening hoop to reduce the tendency of the cushion to expand when under pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electrolytic cell having an electrolytic chamber to which subject raw water is introduced, at least one membrane that separates inside and outside of the electrolytic chamber, and at least one pair of electrode plates provided in the inside and the outside of the electrolytic chamber so as to sandwich the membrane, the electrode plate in the outside of the electrolytic chamber being provided to be in contact with the membrane; a direct-current power source that applies a direct-current voltage to the pair of electrode plates; and a diluent gas supplier for diluting hydrogen gas generated from the electrode plate that is to be a cathode, wherein the apparatus blows diluent gas supplied from the diluent gas supplier to the cathode thereby to constantly maintain a hydrogen gas concentration in the vicinity of the cathode during electrolysis at lower than 18.3 vol % so that mixed gas comprising the hydrogen gas and the diluent gas and having a hydrogen gas concentration of 0.1 to 18.

Abstract: A compression garment apparatus including a compression garment and a pressurizer. The pressurizer intermittently pressurizes a therapeutic bladder on the compression garment and maintains a baseline pressure in the therapeutic bladder to maintain the therapeutic bladder in position with respect to a target compression zone on a body part on which the garment is worn. The baseline pressure is adjusted in response to sensed physical characteristics.

Abstract: A vertebral column traction device is disclosed for expanding the vertebral column of an individual. The vertebral column traction device comprises a support body having a front surface generally adjacent to a first femur and a second femur for creating a first inclined orientation and a second inclined orientation respectively. A rear surface of the support body is distanced from a first tibia and a second tibia for creating a first cantilever orientation and a second cantilever orientation respectively. A pivot area of the support body is generally adjacent to the first tibia and the second tibia for defining a first fulcrum and a second fulcrum respectively. A first lever and the second lever are defined about the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum respectively for expanding the vertebral column.

Abstract: An ultrasonic nebulizer including a circuit unit, a nebulization module, and a frequency sweeping unit. Constant electric power in the nebulization module of the ultrasonic nebulizer is maintained by automatic compensation of electric power consumption and/or current consumption. A fixed current consumption and electric power consumption of the nebulization module of the ultrasonic nebulizer is achieved by auto compensation, thereby improving nebulization performance.

Abstract: A heating and cooling mat assembly includes a mat having a bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall. A conduit is positioned in the man and has fluid therein. A pump is in fluid communication with the conduit to pump the fluid through the conduit. A heat emitter is thermal communication with the liquid in the conduit. The heat emitter warms the liquid when the heat emitter is turned on. A cartridge is removably couplable to the mat. The cartridge includes a pair of first ports. The conduit is in fluid communication with a pair of second ports. Each of the first ports is removably coupled to one of the second ports to fluidly couple the conduit to the cartridge. The cartridge is fillable with a cold fluid so that the conduit is cooled when the pump is turned on and the cartridge is coupled to the conduit.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a humidifier tub including an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet may have an exit port positioned in a plane disposed below the air inlet. A base plate is provided to the bottom of the humidifier tub. The base plate and humidifier tub define a water chamber adapted to receive a volume of water. The humidifier tub may include a guidance structure adapted to direct air entering the humidifier tub via the air inlet to swirl downwardly and around within the humidifier tub reaching the water surface before exiting the exit port. The tub may include a structure to prevent the inadvertent entry of water from the tub to the flow generator.