Abstract: An electrical lamp system is provided that comprises a base unit and a lamp unit for attachment to the base unit. The base unit includes a housing to be fixed to a wall or ceiling and a plurality of contact terminals that are arranged to contact corresponding contact terminals of the lamp unit when attached. A plurality of connection terminals secured to the base housing are adapted for connection to wires fed to the base unit such that wires connected to the connection terminals can power the lamp unit via the base unit contact terminals. The lamp unit includes a lamp housing an electrical lamp secured to the housing, a plurality of contact terminals arranged to contact said contact terminals of the base unit. The system includes locating means arranged to locate the lamp unit in a first position against the base unit in which the lamp unit is permitted to be separated from the base unit by translation of the lamp unit in a direction away from the base unit along a separation axis.

Abstract: A needle tip protector (10, 10?) including a pair of apertured members (28, 30 or 28?, 30?) with spring arms (22, 24) urging the apertured members (28, 30 or 28?, 30?) out of alignment to create a barrier to a needle tip (16). A needle gripping U-shaped clip (81) may also provide a needle tip protector (80).

Abstract: A heater system is provided for a respiratory system having a PID feedback control in which the coefficients are adjusted, such as in a warm-up process, to correspond to a likely flow rate of gas through a chamber of heated water based on the difference between heat input and heat output in relation to a temperature set point without the need to directly monitor flow rate or humidity level. A steady-state adjustment of the coefficients based on the behavior of the measured temperature in relation to the set point is also disclosed.

Abstract: A humidification system is provided for a respiratory system is provided with a controller having two processors that monitor the operation of each other and of heating elements in the respiratory system to provide CPU redundancy and heating element control. Each heating element is provided with two control paths, for example a relay and a triac connected in series with the heating element and a power supply. Each heater has one control path connected to a first one of the processors and at least one heating element has at least one control path connected to a second one of the controllers. A hardware watchdog monitors the operation of the first processor, and can be triggered by a signal from the second processor, in response to which it can disable all heating elements.

Abstract: A heated breathing circuit detection system verifies the proper set up and connection of a breathing circuit to a heater unit of a humidification system. The detection system automatically detects that the breathing circuit is connected to the heater unit, and the nature of the heating circuit(s) thereof. In one embodiment, the resistance of the heating circuit(s) is determined and compared to an expected resistance or range of acceptable resistances to determine if the heater circuit(s) is properly or actually attached and properly operating. The humidification system also has the ability to determine the delivery mode of the breathing circuit, i.e., whether a single inspiratory limb, or both inspiratory and expiratory limbs, is connected to the heater unit.

Abstract: Temperature detection circuitry is selectively coupled to a thermistor and one of two sources representing the impedance at respective ends of the expected range of temperature to which the thermistor is to be exposed. The offset of an amplifier and a scale factor to account for gain set of the amplifier are determined in an automatic calibration process while coupled to the source(s), and thereafter temperature readings are taken from the thermistor. During the calibration process, if the gain or scale factor are outside of expected ranges, a failure is determined and an alarm given and/or a heater is disabled.

Abstract: A heater unit includes power failure management to detect disruptions in the electrical power supply, such as the AC supply, for the unit. The heater unit emits an audible alarm in response to detection of such a disruption, and may shut down the heater(s) and visuals display(s). The heater unit advantageously includes a power storage device, such as a super-capacitor, to temporarily power the electronic circuitry of the heater unit. Operating parameters, such as of a processor of the electronic circuitry, may be stored in a non-volatile memory response to the disruption, and recalled if the disruption terminates before the level of power has gotten too low to sustain reliable operation of the processor.

Abstract: A temperature probe, such as for a respiratory system in which breathable gases are supplied to a patient, includes a housing having an external wall and an internal cavity defining an end and an internal cavity and further includes a temperature-responsive device in an area of the cavity near the end, such as in thermal communication with the external wall. A first potting compound that is deformable and/or has a relatively high thermal conductivity holds the temperature-responsive device in the cavity and a second potting compound having a relatively low thermal conductivity may be in the cavity behind the first potting compound. The housing may be made thin to enhance thermal conductivity, at least in the area containing the temperature-responsive device.

Abstract: A lockable mounting mechanism has a hitch portion and a receiver portion, the hitch portion having a hitch member, a locking member being rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a camming surface being rotatable with the locking member and the receiver portion having a channel, the hitch member of the hitch portion and the channel of the receiver portion sized to slidably receive the hitch member into the channel portion whereby to mount the hitch portion to the receiver portion, the receiver portion further having a reset surface positioned to engage the camming surface as the hitch member is slid into the channel when the locking member is out of the unlocked position, the camming surface and reset surface cooperating to automatically rotate the locking member toward the unlocked position as the hitch member is slid into the channel.

Abstract: A breathing circuit includes inspiratory and expiratory limbs, each having a respective electrically energizable heating circuit. The heating circuits are independently and selectively electrically energized through separate power circuits such as to control the temperature in each limb in a desired fashion so as to reduce rainout in the breathing circuit and particularly in the expiratory limb.

Abstract: A heater unit for a respiratory system includes a hot plate heater including a heat conducting hot plate and a plastic hub mounted together. The hot plate may define a thin heat conducting disc and may further define a depending flange circumferentially surrounding the hub. The hub and flange may include snap-together apertures and fingers. The hub is mounted to a housing of the heater unit.

Abstract: A heater unit for a respiratory system is designed for natural convection cooling air to pass first through a transformer in the heater unit and then through a heat sink in the heater unit to which is mounted a power switch to conduct heat from the power switch to the cooling air passing through the heat sink. A thermal break may be provided between the heat sink and the transformer. The transformer may be a toroidal transformer with the air passing through an aperture thereof such as from a hollow projection of the heater unit extending into the aperture. One side of the transformer may be situated along a surface of the heater unit and the heat sink secured to the heater unit against the opposite side of the transformer to hold the transformer in place. A venting chamber may be associated with an air exhaust of the heater unit to provide a circuitous exit path for air exiting the heater unit. The venting chamber may extend in generally surrounding relationship with the heater of the heater unit.

Abstract: A temperature probe, such as for a respiratory system in which breathable gases are supplied to a patient, includes a housing having a cavity sized to snugly receive therein a generally cylindrical container within which is secured a thermistor, with the container adapted to provide a barrier to moisture. The probe provides a quick temperature response but minimizes migration of moisture to the thermistor notwithstanding the high temperature and heat levels encountered in normal operation of the respiratory system.

Abstract: An adapter that bridges the connecting ends of a medication providing device and a fluid connector includes a housing shroud that is fitted at one end with a core and at its other end with an inner shroud. Once fitted to the housing shroud, the core and the inner shroud each are not removable from the housing shroud. A catch hub is provided within the housing shroud for non-removably maintaining the core to the housing shroud. The core is rotatable relative to the housing shroud. Sufficient friction is provided between the core and the housing shroud to enable the medication providing device to be readily coupled to the core. Once the medication providing device is coupled to the core, and therefore the adapter, additional rotational movement, in either direction, of the medication providing device would only cause the core to rotate freely relative to the housing shroud, thereby preventing the medication providing device such as a syringe from being removed from the adapter.

Abstract: A convective warmer to which blankets of different dimensions may be connected is capable of providing air to the various blankets at flow rates that optimally inflate those blankets to achieve the optimal clinical result for the patients covered by those blankets. The blanket connected to the warmer may range from a full size adult warming blanket to a pediatric or neonate warming blanket. There is provided on each blanket a code, marking or marker, to be read by a sensor(s) provided at the outlet of the warmer, that identifies the type of blanket when the blanket is coupled to the warmer. Consequently, heated air may be automatically output by the warmer to the blanket at the appropriate flow rate of that blanket to optimally inflate the blanket without any need for intervention by a user. In addition to being used to control the flow rate of the heated air, the code from the blanket may also be used to control the temperature of the heated air to be input to the blanket.

Abstract: A needle guard (1) based upon a canting plate (6) becomes lockingly engaged with the needle (2) shaft both upon retraction of the needle tip within the guard (1), and upon any attempt to cause the needle tip to reemerge from the guard (1). The plate (6) is positioned to rotate into locking engagement with the shaft of the needle (2) both when an attempt is made to further withdraw the needle from the needle guard (1) and when an attempt is made to cause the needle tip to reemerge from the needle guard (1).

Abstract: A low flow heated/humidified respiratory gas delivery system, especially useful for low flow rates as preferred in the treatment of neonate and other such patients, wherein the respiratory gas is heated and humidified as desired for delivery to the patient and the temperature is monitored at the point of delivery to the patient.

Abstract: An adapter that bridges the connecting ends of a medication providing device and a fluid connector includes a housing shroud that is fitted at one end with a core and at its other end with an inner shroud. A catch hub is provided within the housing shroud to act against a flange at the core so as to non-removably maintain the core to the housing shroud. The core is rotatable relative to the housing shroud. Once the medication providing device is coupled to the core, additional rotational movement, in either direction, of the medication providing device would only cause the core to rotate freely relative to the housing shroud. The inner shroud has a catch mechanism that enables it to mate readily with a connector, if the connector is rotated in one direction. The catch mechanism is designed with one way teeth such that once the connector is fully mated to the inner shroud, further rotational movement along the coupling direction would cause the inner shroud to rotate freely relative to the housing shroud.