Abstract: An airway simulation system includes a simulated airway having a hollow body defining a passageway therein with a first portion and a second portion. The second portion includes a bifurcated section having a left branch section and a right branch section and connects to the first portion at the distal end of the first portion. The simulated airway includes at least one orifice defined along the hollow body and in communication with at least one pressure transducer. One branch of the left branch section and the right branch section is configured to receive airflow from a distal end, and the other of the left branch section and the right branched section includes a cap at a distal end to prevent airflow from being received by the distal end of the capped branch. A method for simulating a human airway is also disclosed.

Abstract: An airway simulation system includes a simulated airway having a hollow body defining a passageway therein with a first portion and a second portion. The second portion includes a bifurcated section having a left branch section and a right branch section and connects to the first portion at the distal end of the first portion. The simulated airway includes at least one orifice defined along the hollow body and in communication with at least one pressure transducer. One branch of the left branch section and the right branch section is configured to receive airflow from a distal end, and the other of the left branch section and the right branched section includes a cap at a distal end to prevent airflow from being received by the distal end of the capped branch. A method for simulating a human airway is also disclosed.

Abstract: A suction simulation device includes a suction catheter and a suction unit in fluid communication with the suction catheter. The suction unit includes a reservoir for holding fluid and the suction unit is configured to provide vacuum capability to the suction catheter. The suction simulation device also includes a pump in fluid communication with the suction unit, the pump configured to flow the fluid from the reservoir. The suction simulation device is adapted for use with a manikin comprising an airway. Also disclosed is a suction simulation system and a method of simulating a scenario requiring mechanical ventilation.

Abstract: A suction simulation device includes a suction catheter and a suction unit in fluid communication with the suction catheter. The suction unit includes a reservoir for holding fluid and the suction unit is configured to provide vacuum capability to the suction catheter. The suction simulation device also includes a pump in fluid communication with the suction unit, the pump configured to flow the fluid from the reservoir. The suction simulation device is adapted for use with a manikin comprising an airway. Also disclosed is a suction simulation system and a method of simulating a scenario requiring mechanical ventilation.

Abstract: A snore module device that simulates patients' breathing patterns by producing pressure and flow oscillations similar to those encountered in actual patients for use with a breathing simulator generating breathing waveforms and controller/interface includes a moving platen driven by a linear motor or voice coil providing changes in the aperture of a passage of air through an air gap by moving the platen relative to the ceiling of a chamber.

Abstract: A suction simulation device includes a suction catheter and a suction unit in fluid communication with the suction catheter. The suction unit includes a reservoir for holding fluid and the suction unit is configured to provide vacuum capability to the suction catheter. The suction simulation device also includes a pump in fluid communication with the suction unit, the pump configured to flow the fluid from the reservoir. The suction simulation device is adapted for use with a manikin comprising an airway. Also disclosed is a suction simulation system and a method of simulating a scenario requiring mechanical ventilation.

Abstract: A respiratory metabolic simulator includes a cell that produces CO2 and depletes O2, e.g., a direct methanol fuel cell having an external electrical circuit. An electric load is applied to the external electrical circuit of the direct methanol fuel cell to vary the electrical load applied to the external electrical circuit of the direct methanol fuel cell to produce carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide generated by the direct methanol fuel cell is supplied to respiration gases produced by the respiratory metabolic simulator. The direct methanol fuel cell is also used to remove oxygen from the respiration gases prior to mixing the respiration gases and the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A respiratory metabolic simulator is disclosed. The respiratory metabolic simulator includes a catalytic carbon dioxide generator having a first inlet adapted for receiving a fuel and a second inlet adapted for receiving a gas; a breathing simulator; and a controller; wherein an exhaust of the catalytic carbon dioxide generator combines with an exhaust of the breathing simulator; and wherein the controller is configured to vary at least one of the fuel and the gas provided to the catalytic carbon dioxide generator such that the combined exhausts emulate human exhalation.

Abstract: A respiratory metabolic simulator includes a cell that produces CO2 and depletes O2, e.g., a direct methanol fuel cell having an external electrical circuit. An electric load is applied to the external electrical circuit of the direct methanol fuel cell to vary the electrical load applied to the external electrical circuit of the direct methanol fuel cell to produce carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide generated by the direct methanol fuel cell is supplied to respiration gases produced by the respiratory metabolic simulator. The direct methanol fuel cell is also used to remove oxygen from the respiration gases prior to mixing the respiration gases and the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering CO2 in a respiration closed-loop control system to a respiratory simulator includes (a) providing a CO2 supply to a respiratory simulator having a piston/cylinder arrangement; (b) providing flow control hardware between the CO2 supply and the piston/cylinder arrangement; (c) generating a first control signal representative of a predefined amount of CO2; and (d) providing the predefined amount of CO2 into the piston/cylinder arrangement. Thereafter, either (i) an end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (EtCO2) value is determined based on an amount of CO2 emptied from the piston/cylinder arrangement during an exhalation phase of the respiratory simulator or (ii) an EtCO2 value is calculated via an equation. A second control signal is generated that is representative of a tidal volume and a breathing frequency representative of a physiological response to the EtCO2 value to effect corresponding movement of the piston in a next inhalation and exhalation phase.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the operating parameters determining the thermal metabolism of a premature or newborn disposed in an incubator. These operating parameters include the incubator air temperature and the incubator humidity. The method is improved in such a manner that the adjustment of the parameters is coupled to the combination thereof optimizing the thermal metabolism without the necessity of a complex multiple step adjustment for each individual parameter. The method is characterized in that a primary control circuit for controlling the first parameter supplies the actual value corresponding thereto as a control parameter to a logic generator which determines a sequence value by means of a logic function. This sequence value is conducted to a secondary circuit as a desired value for the adjustment of the second parameter.