Abstract: A breathing apparatus has a first delivery device for adding a volume of a substance to a gas flow, the delivery device having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A unit monitors a presence of the substance in a gas downstream the delivery device using a first sensor unit at the gas outlet that provides a first measurement value based on an acoustic property of a gas in a first conduit. A second sensor unit at the gas inlet provides a second measurement value based on an acoustic property of a gas present in the second conduit. A control unit determines the presence of the substance based on the first measurement value or based on a comparison of the first measurement value and the second measurement value.

Abstract: A breathing system for ventilating a patient has a gas channel enclosing a gas channel volume (V), and a compliance (C). The system has a flow calculation unit operative to determine a gas flow estimate (Fe) at a flow estimate location in the gas channel. The gas flow estimate (Fe) is based on a relationship between a monitored gas flow (Fm) in the gas channel and a compressible gas flow (Fc) which depends on the compliance (C) in the gas channel. The monitored gas flow (Fm) is a gas flow at a monitoring location in the gas channel and the compressible gas flow (Fc) is a flow of gas in the gas channel between the flow estimate location and the monitoring location, and the flow estimate location is remote from the monitoring location.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus has a first delivery device for adding a volume of a substance to a gas flow, the delivery device having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A unit monitors a presence of the substance in a gas downstream the delivery device using a first sensor unit at the gas outlet that provides a first measurement value based on an acoustic property of a gas in a first conduit. A second sensor unit at the gas inlet provides a second measurement value based on an acoustic property of a gas present in the second conduit. A control unit determines the presence of the substance based on the first measurement value or based on a comparison of the first measurement value and the second measurement value.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus provides high frequency oscillatory ventilation [HFO] to a patient by supplying breathing gas to the patient according to an oscillating pressure profile oscillating between a positive pressure and a negative pressure. The breathing apparatus has a patient circuit including an inspiratory line for conveying breathing gas to the patient and an expiratory line for conveying gas away from the patient, and an inspiration valve for regulating a flow of pressurised breathing gas into the inspiration line, and a control computer that controls the inspiration valve. The control computer operates to cause the oscillating pressure profile by controlling the inspiration valve to oscillate between a top flow position in which the flow of breathing gas through the inspiration valve assumes a top flow value, and a minimum flow position in which the flow through the inspiration valve assumes a minimum flow value.

Abstract: In a method for continuous and non-invasive determination of the effective lung volume, the cardiac output, and/or the carbon dioxide content of venous blood of a subject during a sequence of respiratory cycles, the inspiratory and expiratory flow, and the carbon dioxide content of at least the expiration gas are measured. In each respiratory cycle, a first parameter related to the subject's fraction of alveolar carbon dioxide, a second parameter related to the carbon dioxide content of the subject's arterial blood, and a third parameter related to the subject's carbon dioxide elimination are determined based on the measured inspiratory flow, expiratory flow and carbon dioxide content. The effective lung volume, the cardiac output, and/or the carbon dioxide content of venous blood of the subject is determined based on the correlation of the first, second and third parameters.

Abstract: In a method, ventilator and ventilator control unit for determining an end-expertorial lung volume (EELV) for a mechanically ventilated patient, a breathing gas is provided to the patient that has a first fixed N2/O2 gas composition, at least until the N2/O2 gas composition in air expired from the patient is constant. At least once, at a first predetermined point in time, the N2/O2 gas composition in the breathing gas is changed to a second fixed composition. The change in the N2/O2 gas composition exhaled by the patient for each breath is measured until a second point in time at which the level of expired O2 in at least two subsequent breadths is substantially stable. The measurement is made downstream of the expiratory tube of the ventilator. The total gas volume is determined for each breath, and the EELV of the patient's lungs is determined based on the change in O2 level between the first and second points in time.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus has a first delivery device for adding a volume of a substance to a gas flow, the delivery device having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A unit monitors a presence of the substance in a gas downstream the delivery device using a first sensor unit at the gas outlet that provides a first measurement value based on an acoustic property of a gas in a first conduit. A second sensor unit at the gas inlet provides a second measurement value based on an acoustic property of a gas present in the second conduit. A control unit determines the presence of the substance based on the first measurement value or based on a comparison of the first measurement value and the second measurement value.

Abstract: In a method, ventilator and ventilator control unit for determining an end-expertorial lung volume (EELV) for a mechanically ventilated patient, a breathing gas is provided to the patient that has a first fixed N2/O2 gas composition, at least until the N2/O2 gas composition in air expired from the patient is constant. At least once, at a first predetermined point in time, the N2/O2 gas composition in the breathing gas is changed to a second fixed composition. The change in the N2/O2 gas composition exhaled by the patient for each breath is measured until a second point in time at which the level of expired O2 in at least two subsequent breadths is substantially stable. The measurement is made downstream of the expiratory tube of the ventilator. The total gas volume is determined for each breath, and the EELV of the patient's lungs is determined based on the change in O2 level between the first and second points in time.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for determining an aspiration flow and an aspiration time during aspiration of a dead space, the aspiration is made more effective by determining the volume of the dead space to be aspired during an expiration, determining an expiration flow with respect to time during at least a latter part of the expiration, and optimizing the aspiration time and the aspiration flow from the determined volume of the dead space and the measured expiration flow with respect to time is such a way that the dead space can be aspirated during an ongoing expiration with a minimum of interference to the flow balance in the expiration flow as observed from a point upstream and/or downstream the dead space.

Abstract: A device and a method for stabilising a metallic object of magnetic material. The metallic object is transported along a transportation path or plane. The plane includes a transportation direction and is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the object therein. A sensor is arranged to sense the valve of a parameter depending on the position of the object with respect to the plane. An electromagnetic actuator is arranged to apply a magnetic force to the object in respone to the sensed position. The magnetic force has a force component directed transversely to the transportation direction and transversely to the plane.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for determining an aspiration flow and an aspiration time during aspiration of a dead space, the aspiration is made more effective by determining the volume of the dead space to be aspired during an expiration, determining an expiration flow with respect to time during at least a latter part of the expiration, and optimizing the aspiration time and the aspiration flow from the determined volume of the dead space and the measured expiration flow with respect to time is such a way that the dead space can be aspirated during an ongoing expiration with a minimum of interference to the flow balance in the expiration flow as observed from a point upstream and/or downstream the dead space.

Abstract: An arrangement for passive gas sampling of a breathing gas in a breathing system allows sampling during both inspiration and expiration. The arrangement has a tube-piece having a first connector for receiving an inspiratory gas flow, a second connector for delivering an expiratory gas flow and a third connector for delivering the inspiratory gas flow and receiving the expiratory gas flow, a first port arranged between the second connector and the third connector and connected to a measurement chamber, a second port arranged between the first connector and the third connector and connected to the measurement chamber and a third port arranged between the first connector and the second connector and connected to the measurement chamber.

Abstract: A device and a method for stabilising a metallic object of magnetic material. The metallic object is transported along a transportation path or plane. The plane includes a transportation direction and is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the object therein. A sensor is arranged to sense the valve of a parameter depending on the position of the object with respect to the plane. An electromagnetic actuator is arranged to apply a magnetic force to the object in respone to the sensed position. The magnetic force has a force component directed transversely to the transportation direction and transversely to the plane.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for determining an aspiration flow and an aspiration time during aspiration of a dead space, the aspiration is made more effective by determining the volume of the dead space to be aspired during an expiration, determining an expiration flow with respect to time during at least a latter part of the expiration, and optimizing the aspiration time and the aspiration flow from the determined volume of the dead space and the measured expiration flow with respect to time is such a way that the dead space can be aspirated during an ongoing expiration with a minimum of interference to the flow balance in the expiration flow as observed from a point upstream and/or downstream the dead space.

Abstract: A device for reducing dead space in a ventilator system has a first tube connectable to the dead space in the ventilator system for producing a flow path for the transport of gas from dead space in the ventilator system, a suction device connected to the first tube for generating an adjustable negative pressure in the first tube, a second tube connectable to dead space in the ventilator system, for producing a flow path for the transport of gas to dead space in the ventilator system, a pump connected to the second tube for generating an adjustable positive pressure in the second tube, and a control unit which regulates the suction device and the pump. The suction device and the pump are formed by a first chamber and a second chamber, respectively, in an enclosure, separated by a gas-tight, moving partition. The control unit regulates the moving partition to regulate the suction device and the pump for achieving simpler and more reliable operation.

Abstract: An arrangement for passive gas sampling of a breathing gas in a breathing system allows sampling during both inspiration and expiration. The arrangement has a tube-piece having a first connector for receiving an inspiratory gas flow, a second connector for delivering an expiratory gas flow and a third connector for delivering the inspiratory gas flow and receiving the expiratory gas flow, a first port arranged between the second connector and the third connector and connected to a measurement chamber, a second port arranged between the first connector and the third connector and connected to the measurement chamber and a third port arranged between the first connector and the second connector and connected to the measurement chamber.

Abstract: An arrangement for passive gas sampling in a breathing system has a conduit having a venturi-nozzle for passively generating pressure variations in the conduit dependent on a flow of breathing gas in the conduit, and a first port and a second port terminating in the conduit and connected to a measurement chamber. The first port and the second port are arranged relative to the venturi-nozzle such that the pressure variations force a flow of breathing gas through the first port into the measurement chamber and out through the second port.

Abstract: An arrangement for passive gas sampling of a breathing gas in a breathing system has an element disposed in a tube for the passive diversion of a portion of the flow of breathing gas to a measurement chamber.

Abstract: A device for reducing dead space in a ventilator system has a first tube connectable to the dead space in the ventilator system for producing a flow path for the transport of gas from dead space in the ventilator system, a suction device connected to the first tube for generating an adjustable negative pressure in the first tube, a second tube connectable to dead space in the ventilator system, for producing a flow path for the transport of gas to dead space in the ventilator system, a pump connected to the second tube for generating an adjustable positive pressure in the second tube, and a control unit which regulates the suction device and the pump. The suction device and the pump are formed by a first chamber and a second chamber, respectively, in an enclosure, separated by a gas-tight, moving partition. The control unit regulates the moving partition to regulate the suction device and the pump for achieving simpler and more reliable operation.