Abstract: One or more anesthetic vaporizers may be fluidly connected to the anesthetic delivery machine via a vaporizer mounting bar. The vaporizer mounting bar may include multiple vaporizer mounting positions. Each vaporizer includes interlock pins that extend when the vaporizer is opened and prevent the vaporizer from being opened when pushed in. When a first vaporizer is opened, its interlock pins may extend and cause the interlock pins of adjacent vaporizers, and vaporizers within a chain of interlock pin connections, to be pushed in, preventing the other vaporizers from being opened simultaneously with the first vaporizer. In various embodiments, a paddle system may translate the extension of an interlock pin from one vaporizer to the interlock pins of each of the other vaporizers in the direction of the extension, including the interlock pins of vaporizers in non-adjacent and non-chain positions.

Abstract: A disposable hygiene article (2), such as an incontinence diaper or incontinence pad has a composite non-woven fabric (38) that is provided with at least one cuff element (16) and a non-woven fabric or film component (10, 12). The cuff element (14) is attached to the non-woven fabric or film component (10, 12) in at least some areas by means of a joining pattern (36) encompassing discrete ultrasonic welding points (30) in order to form the composite non-woven fabric (38). At least some sections of the joining pattern (36) are curved. The joining pattern has a maximum index (I) of variation of the ultrasonic welding points of 40 percent. An area seized by the welding points has a density within the joining pattern which decreases in rear and front end portions along endwards directed and inwardly curved extensions of the joining pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a vascular access includes a dialysis circuit having a venous needle and a blood pump of a peristaltic type which generates oscillatory perturbations in the circuit. An optical sensor, arranged on a patient's body by the venous needle, perceives the perturbations transmitted through the needle and sends a pulsating signal to an analysis device. The absence of a pulsating signal indicates a detachment of the needle.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical product in the form of an anti-snoring substance includes a container containing the anti-snoring substance, the anti-snoring substance being in the form of a solution pre-concentrate. The container is made by a blow-fill-seal technology, wherein the container material is Polyethylene or Polypropylene. The container includes a body portion containing the anti-snoring substance and a fluid outlet portion configured to deliver the anti-snoring substance.

Abstract: An artificial ventilation apparatus includes: a connecting portion which is connected to a respiratory system of a patient; an inspiratory circuit which is a flow path for flowing a gas from a ventilator to the connecting portion; an expiratory circuit which is a flow path for guiding a gas exhausted from the connecting portion to an exhaust portion of the ventilator; an expiratory valve which blocks a flow of a gas from the exhaust portion toward the connecting portion; a carbon dioxide concentration sensor which is disposed in a circuit that is provided at a downstream side of the expiratory valve and which detects a carbon dioxide concentration; and an alarm outputting unit which outputs an alarm based on an output of the carbon dioxide concentration sensor.

Abstract: A subglottic suctioning system with a tracheal tube having a ventilation lumen, a cuff inflation lumen, and a suction lumen are disclosed which may help reduce the incidence of ventilator associated (or acquired) pneumonia. The suction lumen communicates with the space in the trachea above the cuff where secretions accumulate. The suction lumen has a valve on the proximal end for connection to a source of vacuum. The valve is adapted to interrupt the supply of vacuum to the suction lumen to allow for the introduction of a rinsing fluid in its place and to automatically re-establish the connection to the source of vacuum upon completion of rinsing. The rinsing fluid aids in maintaining an open suction lumen and may include medicaments and mucolytic agents to enhance or promote healing or to alter the properties of the mucus to make removal easier. The user may easily and repeatedly alternate suction and rinsing fluid through the suction lumen, i.e.

Abstract: Provided herein is a hybrid system for generating oxygen on-board an aircraft for passengers and/or flight crew to breath. The system includes a first chemical oxygen generator component configured to promptly supply oxygen suitable for breathing upon an emergency situation arising and during an initial descent mode. Heat produced from the exothermic decomposition reactions inherent in several types of chemical oxygen generators can be harvested and feed to a second oxygen generator. The second oxygen generator is a solid electrolyte oxygen separation system that catalytically separates oxygen from air inside specialized ceramic materials at high temperatures, about 650° C. to 750° C., using electrical voltage. The ability to feed heat from the first oxygen generator to the second oxygen generator substantially reduces the lag time until the second ceramic oxygen generator is available to take over as the oxygen supply.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oxygen breathing device, in particular for providing oxygen to passengers or crew of an aircraft, the device comprising an oxygen source for providing pressurized oxygen, a valve connected to the oxygen source via a pressure line, a control unit for controlling said valve, and at least one nozzle for dispensing the oxygen passing through said valve. In particular, the present invention relates to an oxygen breathing device comprising a measuring unit for determining the mass flow rate of oxygen passing through said nozzle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for supplying oxygen to a person, in particular a flight passenger, using an oxygen breathing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting developing faults in a flow generator or ventilator during therapeutic use thereof are provided. The motor current may be measured to estimate the torque input by the motor, while the output torque from the impeller may be determined (e.g., as inferred from the motor control system model and/or by consulting a lookup table). One or more transducers may collect data useful in determining the input and output torques. A difference between the input (to the motor) torque and the output (from the impeller) torque may be calculated. The difference, optionally filtered using a low-pass filter to reduce noise, may be compared to a predetermined threshold once or over a period of time to detect gross failures and/or developing failures. Once a failure or developing failure is detected, a user may be alerted and/or the flow generator may be placed into a “service required” mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a corresponding method for intubating a human or non-human animal patient. In some embodiments, the present invention is used in the field of anesthesia and emergency medicine. In some embodiments, the present invention provides an intubation tube that includes an integrated Blaine Bafflex System having a plurality of blaines for sealing the trachea, wherein the intubation tube is formed from a single material. In some embodiments, the shape and outer circumference of each blaine of the system is selected according to the desired use of the intubation tube (e.g., for intubating a pediatric patient or an adult patient or for intubating a small animal or a large animal). In some embodiments, the distance between successive blaines is selected such that, when the intubation tube is inserted into the patient and the blaines bend, none of the blaines overlap with their nearest neighbor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a chemical oxygen generator for an emergency oxygen device, comprising an outer housing defining an interior space and comprising an outlet opening, a solid oxygen source within said interior space containing a material which is able to produce oxygen in a chemical reaction. According to embodiments of the invention, a hollow tube within said interior space is embedded in said solid oxygen source.

Abstract: A respiration system includes a pressure regulator including a housing, an inlet for connection to a pressurized gas comprising oxygen, and a first data communication system, and a respiration facepiece including an interface to which the pressure regulator is removably attachable, at least one seal system to form a sealing engagement with the face of a user to encompass the nose and mouth of a wearer; an inspiration port in fluid connection with the pressure regulator interface and in fluid connection with the interior of the facepiece and at least one display within a volume of sealing engagement with the face of the user that is within the field of view of the user. The pressure regulator interface includes a second data communication system to receive data from the first data communication system to control the at least one display. A sealing attachment may, for example, be formed between the pressure regulator and the interface of the facepiece.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention provide a disposable wearing article facilitating even an aged person having relatively weak forth to pull a waist-opening periphery in the transverse direction to widen the waist-opening to a desired size, despite this and the waist region should not slip down during use of the wearing article. Waist elastic elements (36) are stretched in the transverse direction X at a stretch ratio in a range of about 2.5 to about 3.0 and having fineness in a range of about 800 to about 1000 dtex, a dimension between the waist elastic elements (36) adjacent in the transverse direction X is in a range of about 5.5 to about 6.0 mm and each of waist elastic regions (38) in which the waist elastic elements (36) are present has a tensile stress at a moment of 255% stretching in the transverse direction X in a range of about 4.5 to about 6.0N/35 mm and a tensile stress at a moment of 167% stretching in the transverse direction is in a range of about 1.7 to about 2.1N/35 mm.

Abstract: A respirator system includes a regulator for use in connection with a facepiece of the respirator system. The regulator includes an interface. The respirator system further includes a hose assembly including a hose for carrying breathing gas to the regulator and a cable for carrying at least one electrical wire to the regulator. The respirator system also includes a connector system. The connector system includes a base operatively connectible to the interface of the regulator. The base includes a channel to seat at least a portion of the cable. The channel is in operative connection with an interior of the regulator upon connection of the base to the interface. The connector system also includes a rotatable member which is rotatable relative to the base.

Abstract: Wound treatment systems and methods (e.g., having hydrophilic wound inserts), such as for negative-pressure and/or fluid-installation wound therapies. Some embodiments include a check-valve assembly between a wound dressing and a vacuum source.

Abstract: A disposable wearable absorbent article having a hook and loop fastening system that comprises a nonwoven female fastening material and a male fastening material with a plurality of bidirectional micro-sized hooks, each having a cap and at least one arm. The height of each hook and cap may be defined relative to the overall thickness of the female fastening material. Caps may have a vertical engagement effective area that has: (a) at least two sides that are substantially parallel; (b) a width-to-thickness aspect ratio from 1 to 2; and (c) an area from 40,000 to 120,000 ?2. Caps may have an overall recessed width and a deepest recessed depth that is defined relative to the overall fiber cross-sectional dimension.

Abstract: A feminine care absorbent article (e.g., feminine care pad, sanitary napkin, tampon, etc.) is provided that employs a synergistic combination of an antimicrobial composition for inhibiting thegrowth of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, protozoa, yeast, fungi, etc.) and a pH sensor for signaling to the user when the antimicrobial composition is no longer operating at its full capacity. In this manner, the user can initially wear the article without fear of infection. After a certain period of time, the user can visually inspect the color of the pH sensor to obtain an indication of whether the antimicrobial composition is still active and effective in inhibiting microorganism growth, or whether it is time to replace or remove the article.

Abstract: Various embodiments of respiratory patient interfaces that may be used to treat a variety of disorders involving upper airway obstruction, such as, without limitation, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), obstructive sleep hypopnea, and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). A number of the embodiments employ a nasal pillow assembly including a frame that supports a nasal pillow sleeve and a clip that is slid over a flange of the fame to couple the nasal pillow sleeve to the frame.

Abstract: An entrainment-based mechanical ventilator may be initially set to approximate the patient's spontaneous respiratory frequency, enabling the patient to entrain to the ventilator if the ventilator frequency matches the patient's spontaneous breathing frequency or is within a reasonable range from it. If the preset frequency of the ventilator is set too high or too low from the spontaneous frequency, the patient will fall out of phase and “fight” the ventilator. The ventilator phase relative to the patient's breathing effort indicates the difference between the ventilator frequency and spontaneous frequency. Based on the phase difference, a closed-loop control mechanism may continuously adjust the ventilator frequency to match the patient breathing frequency until the phase shift is within a preset limit. Patient-ventilator entrainment will occur when the ventilator frequency is within a certain range from the patient breathing frequency.

Abstract: An adjustable laryngeal airway or airflow control apparatus and method to control air flow into and out of the body including a tube having an inner surface and an outer surface including a threaded portion. The adjustable laryngeal airway (ALA) includes at least one arm having a first portion and a second portion wherein the first portion is laterally spaced apart from the second portion. The arms include structure such as grooves, threads, or slots operable to connect with the threading on the outer surface of the tube. A mask is fitted around the outer surface of the tube to create a seal in the system. The tube engages the thread on the outer surface of the tube to allow the at least one arm to pivot about the first portion allowing the arms to rotate away from the tube.