Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for providing an optimized proportional assist breath type during ventilation of a patient. The disclosure describes a novel breath type that delivers a target airway pressure calculated based on a desired patient effort range to a triggering patient.

Abstract: An oral cannula for delivering oxygen and sampling end-tidal carbon dioxide includes an oxygen supply lumen having plural outlets and an end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) lumen having an inlet. The ETCO2 lumen and oxygen supply lumen form a unitary oral cannula such that the oxygen supply lumen outlet is spaced apart from the ETCO2 lumen inlet. The oral cannula is adapted for bending or has a bend such that the oral cannula is insertable and retainable in a patient's mouth.

Abstract: A cushion (16) for use with a mask (10) in delivering a flow of breathing gas to a user includes a first portion adapted to contact a surface of a user, a second portion adapted to be coupled to a mask shell (18), and a wall portion extending between the first portion and the second portion. The wall portion includes a chamber formed therein, the chamber having one of an electro-rheological fluid or a magneto-rheological fluid disposed therein. The cushion further includes a means (44, 50) for selectively varying the apparent viscosity of the fluid disposed within the chamber.

Abstract: Described herein is a head cooling system comprising: a source of compressed breathable gas; a vortex tube comprising an inlet, a hot gas outlet and a cold gas outlet, the inlet operably connected to the source of compressed breathable gas; and an interface for delivering cooled gas to a nasopharyngeal cavity in fluid communication with the cold gas outlet. The head cooling system may be used in a method to reduce neurodegeneration in a subject, for example neurodegeneration from ischemia, anoxia, cardiac arrest, trauma or neurodegenerative disease. The head cooling system may also be used in a method to prophylactically protect a subject at risk of neurodegeneration, for example neurodegeneration from ischemia, anoxia, cardiac arrest, trauma or neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: An apparatus, for assisted ventilation (1), includes at least one ventilatory device (2) connected to and controlled by a driver (3), and at least one sensor device (4) connected to the driver (3) and adapted to provide it with a signal of electrical activity produced by the diaphragm. The apparatus further includes at least one calculation device (5) connected to the driver (3), to the sensor device (4) and to the ventilatory device (2), the calculation device (5) receiving from the sensor device (4) a signal of diaphragmatic activity (Eadi) and from the ventilatory device (2) a ventilatory pressure signal (Paw) and providing the driver (3) with calibration parameters (Cal) calculated on the basis of a signal of diaphragmatic electrical activity (Eadi*) and a ventilatory pressure signal (Paw*) upon switching-off said ventilatory device (2) so as to cause an expiratory pause.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for compensating long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors used in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient by compensating for drift that may be specific to the sensors atypical use in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide gas to a patient. The long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors may be addressed using calibration schedules, which can factor in the absolute change in set dose of NO being delivered to the patient that can drive one or more baseline calibrations. The calibration schedules can be used to reduce the amount of times the sensor goes offline.

Abstract: A CPAP apparatus for supplying pressurized breathable gas to a patient includes a blower device including an electric motor, an impeller driven by the motor, and a housing to receive the motor and the impeller, a housing element that defines a blower receiving chamber to receive the blower device, and a suspension device to elastically support the blower device within the chamber of the housing element. The suspension device includes at least one elastic support chamber coupled to both the blower device and the housing element.

Abstract: An atomizing nozzle of an electronic atomizing inhaler, includes a casing body, provided with a cap at the opening of the front end, with a gas-outlet aperture on the cap, and provided with a rear closure at the opening of the rear end, with a gas-inlet aperture on the rear closure; a liquid-container and a heater provided in the cavity formed by the casing body, the cap and the rear closure, an airflow-passage being provided between the casing body and the liquid-container; a liquid-guiding device closing the mouth part of the liquid-container, with no liquid-storage medium provided in the liquid-container; and a heater provided on the top of the rear closure, contacting the lower surface of the liquid-guiding device. An electronic atomizing inhaler is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas regulating valve (1) for a respiratory system comprising:—a main path between an inlet (2) and an outlet (3), and—an evacuation path between the outlet (3) and an evacuation orifice (4), characterised in that:—the main path is provided with at least a non-return valve for preventing gas to circulate from the outlet (3) to the inlet (2), and—the evacuation path is provided with an obstructing membrane (10) arranged and designed for being deformed by gas from the inlet (2) to partially or fully obstruct the evacuation path. The invention also relates to a mask integrating such gas regulating valve, and to a respiratory system also comprising such gas regulating valve.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for providing novel back-up ventilation that allows the patient to trigger or initiate the delivery of breath. Further, this disclosure describes systems and methods for triggering ventilation when base flow and/or inspiratory flow is unknown or indeterminable by the ventilator.

Abstract: A device and process generates an alarm during a machine-assisted ventilation of a patient. A minute volume is measured and a median of the minute volume and a lower critical limit value of the minute volume and a time delay are determined and are recorded in a control device. A reference signal is determined as a function of the lower critical limit value for the minute volume and the time delay based on the median of the minute volume. From the reference signal an alarm limit value located below the lower critical limit value as well as a value for a maximum tolerated duration of apnea of the patient are derivable. An alarm signal is generated both during an undershooting of the lower critical limit value over a period of time that is longer than the established time delay and during an undershooting of the alarm limit value.

Abstract: A patient interface device (8) includes a cushion assembly (100) that is customizable to compensate for anatomical variances from patient-to-patient and, therefore, provides an effective seal with the patient's face. The cushion assembly includes a cushion member (102) having a first side structured to engage the patient's face, and a second side disposed opposite the first side, a plurality of plate members (108, 110, 112, 114, 116), and an adjustment mechanism (120, 122, 124). The adjustment mechanism is structured to adjust the position of the plate members, thereby changing the shape of the cushion member to generally conform to the patient's face.

Abstract: A device outputs portioned medications (M) from individual chambers of a strip arranged one behind the other. The strip includes a base strip and a closure strip and the raised chambers of the strip can be opened by pressing a handle by sharp-edged deflection of the closure strip. In order to simplify the design and for safe operation, a chamber elevation directed toward the mouthpiece opening blocks the actuation of the handle using a blocking element, in which position a chamber arranged in front that has already been freed from the closure strip lies above a fall-through opening, which opening is closed using a flap that can be moved into the opening position by the suction air flow.

Abstract: A droplet delivery device and related methods for delivering precise and repeatable dosages to a subject for pulmonary use is disclosed. The droplet delivery device includes a housing, a reservoir, and ejector mechanism, and at least one differential pressure sensor. The droplet delivery device is automatically breath actuated by the user when the differential pressure sensor senses a predetermined pressure change within housing. The droplet delivery device is then actuated to generate a stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter within the respirable size range, e.g, less than about 5 ?m, so as to target the pulmonary system of the user.

Abstract: An atomizer for an inhaler includes a housing, a gasket, a liquid absorbing sheet, a wick, and an atomizing element. The housing includes a first housing and a second housing, the first housing and the second housing form a liquid reservoir therebetween for storing liquid. The gasket is sleeved on the first housing, the gasket defines a liquid conducting hole in communication with the liquid reservoir. The liquid absorbing sheet is sleeved on the first housing in contact with the gasket, the liquid absorbing sheet is configured to absorb the liquid in the liquid reservoir via the liquid conducting hole. The wick is in contact with the liquid absorbing sheet and configured to draw the liquid from the liquid absorbing sheet. The atomizing element is fixed to the wick and configured to atomize the liquid in the wick.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, methods and devices for respiratory support. As one example, a method for respiratory support is described that includes providing a measured pressure, and calculating a net flow based on at least one measured inlet flow and measured outlet flow. A relationship between a first value related to the measured pressure, a second value related to the measured net flow and a third value related to patient effort is used to provide a prediction of patient effort. An interim value is updated based at least in part on the prediction of the patient effort, and used to help compute a patient effort. A ventilation cycle is initiated using the computed patient effort.

Abstract: A breathing circuit device has a breathing gas line for forming a closed breathing system, with a cooling device with at least one cooling element for cooling a breathing gas sent through the breathing gas line. The at least one cooling element is separated from the breathing gas with a wall and the wall is a deformable wall, so that a direct contact can be established between the at least one cooling element and the deformable wall by means of a deformation of the deformable wall.

Abstract: Systems and methods to estimate, on a breath-by-breath basis, the fraction of inhaled oxygen during ventilation of a subject. The fraction of inhaled oxygen may be based on exhaled tidal volume, a volume of dead space within the subject interface, leaked exhalation volume, and subsequently inhaled tidal volume and leaked inhalation volume.

Abstract: A blower filter device (50) for a respirator system (1) has a filter unit (31) receiving an air filter (30) and a blower unit (65) drawing in the filtered air and generating discharged air. The blower unit has a blower (53) and a driving motor (54). An improved respirator system is provided with the blower filter device having a pressure sensor (55) arranged in the discharged air measuring the pressure of the discharged air, a mass flow sensor (56) arranged in the discharged air measuring the mass flow of the discharged air, or a parameter-determining unit (59, 60) determining an operating parameter of the motor. A control unit (51, 52) determines the volume flow of the discharged air via the measured pressure, the measured mass flow or based on the operating parameter determined and sets the motor as a function of the volume flow determined.

Abstract: A heat and moisture exchanger includes: a heat and moisture exchanger material formed by coiling a strip-shaped porous body, the porous body having a plurality of slits formed therein that are arranged along the lengthwise direction, into a spirally-wound shape with the slits facing radially outwardly; and a housing that accommodates the heat and moisture exchanger material. Such a structure for an HME makes it possible to reduce pressure loss and improve moisture retention capabilities by means of a relatively simple structure, thereby allowing the inexpensive provision of an HME that lowers the burden on a patient.