Abstract: Breathable medical circuit components and materials and methods for forming these components incorporate breathable foamed materials that are permeable to water vapor and substantially impermeable to liquid water and the bulk flow of gases. The materials and methods can be incorporated into a variety of components, including tubes, Y-connectors, catheter mounts, and patient interfaces and are suitable for use in a variety of medical circuits, including insufflation, anesthesia, and breathing circuits.

Abstract: An electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material can be used to heat water in a reservoir of a respiratory humidifier to encourage heating and/or humidification of gases passing through the respiratory humidifier. The electrically conductive plastic material can at least in part overmould the base and/or walls of the chamber and/or the reservoir of the respiratory humidifier. The reservoir can also partially or fully be formed from the electrically conductive plastic material. Furthermore, the humidification system can be configured to create substantially equal or differential heating of water in the reservoir.

Abstract: A patient interface comprises a blower, a cushion for contacting a user's face, and a mask body and/or a frame for supporting the cushion on a user's face. The cushion and/or the mask body or frame define an interior space for receiving a flow of gases from the blower. The blower is mounted to the mask body or frame so that the blower is at least partially within the mask body or frame. The blower substantially separates a high pressure side of the mask body or frame from a low pressure side of the mask body or frame and/or the mask body or frame is substantially without a wall between the blower and the interior space.

Abstract: A respiratory mask can have a frame supporting a sealing arrangement. Various features of the frame and sealing arrangement can improve comfort and reduce the occurrence of pressure sores. The frame can include cheek supports that have a large surface area configured to spread loads over a greater area of the patient's face and therefore reduce the forces applied to the face and the occurrence of point loads. The seal can have a main body that includes a spring with a silicone skin, wherein the spring applies a substantially constant force to the face and/or nares of the patient.

Abstract: A headgear portion or assembly for use in combination with a breathing apparatus in some configurations is at least substantially inelastic and is three dimensional in shape. The headgear portion or assembly can comprise a plastic core and a textile casing. The headgear, or part thereof, may also have integrally moulded labels, connectors, adjustment mechanisms and/or grips.

Abstract: A patient interface can have a frame supporting a sealing member. Various features of the sealing member can improve comfort and sealing performance in the context of forming seals with the nares of a user, as well as contact with other facial surfaces. The sealing member can include convex portions, concave portions and thickness variations for providing various sealing, comfort, and deformability effects.

Abstract: An interface includes a mask. The mask includes a frame and a seal supported by the frame. Headgear is connected to the mask. The interface includes at least one of (i) an adjustment mechanism that can be set to a use length for a loop defined by the mask and the headgear; and (2) a break-fit assembly that can selectively lengthen the loop defined by the mask and the headgear and return to the use length.

Abstract: New medical circuit components and methods for forming such components are disclosed. These components include microstructures for humidification and/or condensate management. The disclosed microstructures can be incorporated into a variety of components, including tubes (e.g., inspiratory breathing tubes and expiratory breathing tubes and other tubing between various elements of a breathing circuit, such as ventilators, humidifiers, filters, water traps, sample lines, connectors, gas analyzers, and the like), Y-connectors, catheter mounts, humidifiers, and patient interfaces (e.g., masks for covering the nose and face, nasal masks, cannulas, nasal pillows, etc.), floats, probes, and sensors in a variety of medical circuits.

Abstract: A humidification system can include a heater base, a humidification chamber, and a breathing circuit. A cartridge can be removably coupled to the heater base. The cartridge can include various sensors, probes, sensor wire connectors, heater wire connectors, and/or other features. The cartridge can include features configured to mate with corresponding features on the humidification chamber and the heater base. The cartridge includes a memory, such as an EEPROM, or other suitable storage device. When the cartridge is installed on the heater base, the memory is electrically connected to a processor and/or memory of the heater base. Various models of cartridges can be produced for use with different humidification chambers, breathing circuits, and/or therapies. A connector can be configured to couple an inspiratory conduit to an outlet port of the humidification chamber. The connector can provide a pneumatic connection to the outlet port and an electrical connection to the cartridge.

Abstract: Nasal cannulas for providing respiratory therapy to patients can have a body, two prongs extending from the body, and a gases inlet on one side of the body. There can be a throttle or internal localized reduction in the cross-sectional area of a cavity defined by the internal walls of the cannula body in between the prongs. In at least some arrangements, the throttle can partially or substantially fully equalize flow between the prongs of the cannula.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides to graphical user interfaces for controlling a flow therapy apparatus. The graphical user interface can provide a display of flow therapy treatment information and indicators of a patient's health. The graphical user interface can be configured to display the information associated with the patient on one or more user interface screens.

Abstract: Welded headgear sections can be produced by using a weld tool having pins protruding from a weld region contact surface to deliver high-frequency electromagnetic energy to a weld region defined by overlapping top and bottom headgear straps. The pins fully penetrate the top strap and at least partially penetrate the bottom strap. The pins concentrate the electromagnetic energy to achieve a weld joint of acceptable weld strength and aesthetic appeal.

Abstract: An interface assembly comprises a nasal mask that includes a seal having a rolling portion. The rolling portion of the seal rolls over a portion of a clip that secures the seal to a frame. The frame has a ball and socket connection to a connector. The connector comprises an elbow having integrally formed exhaust holes and a swivel.

Abstract: A float retention arrangement and related methods for a humidification chamber that includes at least one float that operates an inlet valve that controls a flow of water through a water inlet opening of the humidification chamber. A cover of the humidification chamber defines an interior space, at least one gas port and a float retention opening. A component forms at least a portion of a water supply conduit for supplying water from a water source to the water inlet opening. The component is insertable into the float retention opening and is positionable to contact and retain the at least one float in a non-use position. In some configurations, the component can be a water spike.

Abstract: An interface and headgear assembly includes a headgear assembly. The headgear assembly has a first strap configured to connect to the interface. A crown strap can be adjusted along a length of the first strap. In some configurations, the crown strap has a first portion and a second portion that are adjustably connected. The crown strap can be removably connected to the first strap using bridge regions of the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A diffuser for use with a wound retractor and configured to deliver gases includes an interface tube for connecting to a gases supply and a diffuser interface positioned at a proximal end of the interface tube, the diffuser interface configured for delivering gases received from the gases supply through the interface tube, and the diffuser interface comprising a diffusion mechanism configured to deliver gases in a diffusion direction. A wound retractor with an integrated diffuser is also disclosed. The wound retractor includes an upper ring, a lower ring, a sleeve extending between and connecting the upper ring to the lower ring, and an integrated diffuser interface having a gases inlet and a diffusion mechanism.

Abstract: A respiratory assistance system can provide high flow therapy to patients. The respiratory assistance system can include a patient interface that can deliver a gas flow to a patient and a gas source that can drive the gas flow towards the patient interface at an operating flow rate. The system can include a controller for controlling the operating flow rate of the gas. The controller can apply multiple test flow rate values in a range as the operating flow rate. For each of the test flow rate values, the controller can measure a patient parameter. The controller can determine a new flow rate value based on the measured patient parameters. Patient parameters can include respiration rate, work of breathing, or any other parameters related to the respiratory circuit.