Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an electrode and electrode catheter using thin metallic threads or wires, for example, microwires having diameters as low as 10?6 to 10?4 meters or less. The embodiments allow for the efficient mounting of at least one electrode on a catheter, resulting in the creation of a flexible ring-microelectrode that is suitable for, amongst other things, the detection of myoelectrical activity in a patient's muscle, such as the diaphragm or other inspiratory-related muscle.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an electrode and electrode catheter using thin metallic threads or wires, for example, microwires having diameters as low as 10?6 to 10?4 meters or less. The embodiments allow for the efficient mounting of at least one electrode on a catheter, resulting in the creation of a flexible ring-microelectrode that is suitable for, amongst other things, the detection of myoelectrical activity in a patient's muscle, such as the diaphragm or other inspiratory-related muscle.

Abstract: Described are an electrode and electrode catheter using thin metallic threads or wires, for example, microwires having diameters as low as 10?6 to 10?4 meters or less. The embodiments allow for the efficient mounting of at least one electrode on a catheter, resulting in the creation of a flexible ring-microelectrode that is suitable for, amongst other things, the detection of myoelectrical activity in a patient's muscle, such as the diaphragm or other inspiratory-related muscle.

Abstract: A medical device has a cuff adapted to be positioned in the trachea of a subject with a patient tube, and a first tube having a distal end coupled to the cuff and a proximal end communicable with the surroundings. More effective and simpler sample taking and/or dosing of medicament is achieved by a second tube that is coupled with a distal end to the cuff and communicable with the surroundings via a proximal end, together with a pumping device that is connected to the proximal end of the first tube and to the proximal end of the second tube in order to circulate a fluid through the cuff. The cuff has a membrane that is permeable to a specific substance, the membrane being disposed to allow transfer of the specific substance between the interior and the exterior of the cuff.

Abstract: Described are an electrode and electrode catheter using thin metallic threads or wires, for example, microwires having diameters as low as 10?6 to 10?4 meters or less. The embodiments allow for the efficient mounting of at least one electrode on a catheter, resulting in the creation of a flexible ring-microelectrode that is suitable for, amongst other things, the detection of myoelectrical activity in a patient's muscle, such as the diaphragm or other inspiratory-related muscle.

Abstract: In a method and device for preparation of a medicament for the treatment of lungs having a surfactant deficiency, a sample from a patient is quantitatively analyzed with regard to at least one of the proteins SP-A, SP-B, SP-C and SP-D, a determination is made as to whether a deficiency of one of the analyzed protein SP-A, SP-B, SP-C or SP-D exists and if that is the case, a determination is made of a therapeutically effective dose of a replacement substance for the analyzed protein SP-A, SP-B, SP-C or SP-D, and a medicament containing the therapeutically effective dose of the replacement substance is prepared.

Abstract: A high-frequency oscillator ventilator has a first gas conduit with an opening for gas connection with a patient's airways and a bias gas flow inlet and a bias flow outlet disposed to define therebetween a flow path for a bias gas within the first conduit. An oscillator operable to alternately introduce a volume of additional gas from a source into, and to withdraw at least the same volume of gas from, the first gas conduit, thereby inducing pressure oscillations in gas within the first conduit to move gas along a path intersecting the flow path for a bias gas alternately into and out of the opening at a predetermined high-frequency dependent on the output of a control signal generator.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining in a person's exhalation air the concentration of a specific substance in the blood by measuring the concentration of the substance and the concentration of water vapor in the exhalation air and utilizing a known relationship between these concentrations. When the method is applied, the exhalation air is exhaled freely in a defined air volume having a predetermined composition, and the concentrations are measured in this air volume. The apparatus for working the method comprises a device which defines a space for receiving the exhalation air, which has two mutually opposite openings through which the space communicates with the surrounding air, and means for selective quantitative detection of the substance in the air in the defined space.

Abstract: A fluid flow regulation system has an inlet, an outlet, and an adjustable flow regulator connected between the inlet and the outlet. The regulator has a closed position at which a leakage gas flow through the system is established. An extraction device is provided for fluid connection with one or both of the inlet and the outlet and is operable to extract fluid to provide a zero or negative flow from the outlet when the flow regulator is in the closed position.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining in a person's exhalation air the concentration of a specific substance in the blood by measuring the concentration of said substance and the concentration of water vapor in the exhalation air and utilizing a known relationship between these concentrations. When the method is applied the exhalation air is exhaled freely in a defined air volume having a predetermined composition, and said concentrations are measured in this air volume. The apparatus for working the method comprises a device (16) which defines a space for receiving the exhalation air, which has two mutually opposite openings through which the space communicates with the surrounding air, and means (18, 22, 23) for selective quantitative detection of said substance in the air in the defined space.

Abstract: A medical device has a cuff adapted to be positioned in the trachea of a subject with a patient tube, and a first tube having a distal end coupled to the cuff and a proximal end communicable with the surroundings. More effective and simpler sample taking and/or dosing of medicament is achieved by a second tube that is coupled with a distal end to the cuff and communicable with the surroundings via a proximal end, together with a pumping device that is connected to the proximal end of the first tube and to the proximal end of the second tube in order to circulate a fluid through the cuff. The cuff has a membrane that is permeable to a specific substance, the membrane being disposed to allow transfer of the specific substance between the interior and the exterior of the cuff.

Abstract: In a method and device for preparation of a medicament for the treatment of lungs having a surfactant deficiency, a sample from a patient is quantitatively analyzed with regard to at least one of the proteins SP-A, SP-B, SP-C and SP-D, a determination is made as to whether a deficiency of one of the analyzed protein SP-A, SP-B, SP-C or SP-D exists and if that is the case, a determination is made of a therapeutically effective dose of a replacement substance for the analyzed protein SP-A, SP-B, SP-C or SP-D, and a medicament containing the therapeutically effective dose of the replacement substance is prepared.

Abstract: A dosing system has a dosing unit for delivering an amount of an additive into an inspiration gas from a mechanical ventilator an introducer arrangement for introducing an indicator material into the inspiration gas at an onset time within an inspiration phase, and a control arrangement which monitors a level of a component of the expiration gas related to the indicator material during a successive expiration phase and to control the dosing unit to vary the timing of delivery of the additive dependent on both the monitored level and the onset time.

Abstract: A fluid flow regulation system has an inlet, an outlet, and an adjustable flow regulator connected between the inlet and the outlet. The regulator has a closed position at which a leakage gas flow through the system is established. An extraction device is provided for fluid connection with one or both of the inlet and the outlet and is operable to extract fluid to provide a zero or negative flow from the outlet when the flow regulator is in the closed position.

Abstract: A heating device has a microwave source and a radiating antenna for coupling microwaves from the source into respiration gas in a gas flow-path of a patient breathing circuit, such as in an expiration gas-flow section internally located in a mechanical breathing aid. The microwave source and antenna are arranged to couple microwave energy sufficient to heat respiration gas in the flow path at a location at or upstream of a measuring device, such as a flow meter, to prevent condensation at the device. A detector and signal processor also are provided to calculate a moisture content from the microwave interaction with the respiration gas.

Abstract: A high-frequency oscillator ventilator has a first gas conduit with an opening for gas connection with a patient's airways and a bias gas flow inlet and a bias flow outlet disposed to define therebetween a flow path for a bias gas within the first conduit. An oscillator operable to alternately introduce a volume of additional gas from a source into, and to withdraw at least the same volume of gas from, the first gas conduit, thereby inducing pressure oscillations in gas within the first conduit to move gas along a path intersecting the flow path for a bias gas alternately into and out of the opening at a predetermined high-frequency dependent on the output of a control signal generator.

Abstract: A valve for regulating a gas flow has a valve housing with an inlet for the gas to be regulated, an outlet for a regulated gas flow, a valve seat with a valve opening, and a movable sealing part with a controllable shaft, the terminal side of the sealing part making and breaking a seal between the valve seat and the sealing part such that the sealing part closes and opens the valve opening and regulates the gas flow through the valve opening. In order to allow particularly small gas flows to be repeatedly regulated with high precision and a large dynamic, the plane of the terminal side of the sealing part and the plane of the valve seat form a non-zero angle, allowing the terminal side of the sealing part to press against the valve seat, or to detach therefrom, so that the terminal side gradually closes and opens the valve opening.

Abstract: In a method an apparatus for vaporizing anesthetic liquids, in which a carrier gas is passed through a vaporizer so as to be saturated with vaporized anesthetic liquid, the vaporizer has a container, partially filled with anesthetic liquid, an inlet for a carrier gas, an outlet for carrier gas saturated with anesthetic and a pressure chamber. The carrier gas is supplied to the vaporizer at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure and is bubbled through the anesthetic liquid in the container in order to become saturated with anesthetic. The flow of gas at the outlet can be regulated as needed. Exact pressure and temperature conditions can be measured and/or regulated with a pressure meter, pressure regulator, thermometer and temperature regulator in order to regulate the partial pressure of anesthetic in the container.

Abstract: During the administration of NO to a patient, NO reacts with oxygen in the respiratory gas to form NO.sub.2. Since NO.sub.2 is a toxic gas, minimizing the formation of this gas is important. A previously unknown property of NO is that an initial amount of NO.sub.2 is formed when NO and O.sub.2 mix. By adding NO to respiratory gas at a number of spaced-apart mixing points, the total initial amount of NO.sub.2 formed can be reduced. In a method and a device for mixing and administering NO, the gas containing NO is supplied to a flow divider for distributing the flow and sending sub-flows to a number of various mixing points.

Abstract: An anesthetic system has an external gas reservoir and three gas bellows arranged in the external gas reservoir to alternatingly collect or deliver breathing gas from and to a ventilator unit. In this manner a completely closed system is achieved with minimal consumption of, primarily, anesthetic. The bellows are regulated by a regulatory unit which, via a valve system, can selectively connect a source of drive gas to one or more of the containers in order to compress the gas bellows respectively contained therein. When no drive gas is supplied, each bellows passively expands.