Abstract: A wye connector has a patient coupling end. The patient coupling end has a first connector surface and a second connector surface. The first connector surface has a first diameter at an axial location along the patient coupling end. The second connector surface has a second diameter at the same axial location along the patient coupling end. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter. The second connector surface projects axially outward beyond the first connector surface.

Abstract: A breathing circuit for delivering heated, humidified gases to a patient for medical purposes is described, comprising a humidifier chamber holding a quantity of water, a blower unit that delivers a pressurized gases stream to the chamber inlet, and a control system that adjusts output parameters of the breathing circuit, the circuit including a heater plate which heats the water in the chamber so that gases flowing through the chamber become heated and humidified, the circuit also including a gases transportation pathway and patient interface to convey heated humidified gases to a patient, the gases transportation pathway including an RFID tag located at the patient end which senses a parameter of the gases passing through the pathway, the control system including an RFID interrogator interrogating and receiving data relating to the sensed parameter from the RFID tag in real time, and adjusting the output parameters of the breathing circuit accordingly.

Abstract: A breathing assistance system for delivering a stream of heated, humidified gases to a user, comprising a humidifier unit which holds and heats a volume of water, and which in use receives a flow of gases from a gases source via an inlet port, the flow of gases passing through the humidifier and exiting via an exit port, the system further having a temperature sensor which measures the temperature of the gases exiting the humidifier unit, an ambient temperature sensor which measures the temperature of gases before they enter the humidifier unit, and a flow sensor which measures the flow rate of the gases stream, the system also having a controller which receives data from the temperature and flow sensors, and which determines a control output in response, the control output adjusting the power to the humidifier unit to achieve a desired output at the humidifier unit exit port.

Abstract: A surgical humidification system includes a source of gas flow and a humidifier that receives the gas flow and outputs a humidified gas to a delivery conduit. The delivery conduit has an outlet and a suitable interface, such as a diffuser, is connected to the outlet. The interface can be positioned near or within an open surgical cavity of a patient to supply the humidified gas to the cavity. The system also includes a pressure relief arrangement that operates to relieve pressure from the system above a normal operating pressure. The pressure relief arrangement can be located in a non-sterile portion of the system, such as upstream from the humidifier, for example.

Abstract: A headgear for securing a mask to a user's face is described. The headgear requires a first load force to elongate the headgear and, when fitted to a user, applies a balanced fit force that substantially equals a load force applied to the headgear during respiratory therapy. In some embodiments, the headgear includes an elastic portion configured to provide a retraction force, a non-elastic portion configured to be inelastic in comparison to the elastic portion, and a restriction mechanism connected to the non-elastic portion and to the elastic portion. The restriction mechanism is configured to apply a first resistance force to the user's head on elongation of the headgear and a second resistance force to the user's head on retraction of the headgear.

Abstract: A conduit with a collapsible portion, and a nasal interface for providing a flow of gases to a user, is described. The interface comprises a manifold and at least one nasal prong or an outlet extending from the manifold to be received by a user's nare. A side member extends from each side of the manifold, each side member comprising a collapsible portion comprising a lumen. In an open configuration the lumen remains open and in a closed configuration the collapsible portion is pinched or flattened to occlude or substantially occlude the lumen. At least one of the side members is a conduit for a flow of gases from an inlet of the patient interface to the manifold.

Abstract: A flow of gases in a respiratory therapy system can be conditioned to achieve more consistent output from sensors configured to sense a characteristic of the flow. The flow can be mixed by imparting a tangential, rotary, helical, or swirling motion to the flow of gases. The mixing can occur upstream of the sensors. The flow can be segregated into smaller compartments to reduce turbulence in a region of the sensors.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to medical tubes and methods of manufacturing medical tubes. The tube may be a composite structure made of two or more distinct components that are spirally wound to form an elongate tube. For example, one of the components may be a spirally wound elongate hollow body, and the other component may be an elongate structural component also spirally wound between turns of the spirally wound hollow body The tube need not be made from distinct components, however. For instance, an elongate hollow body formed (e.g., extruded) from a single material may be spirally wound to form an elongate tube. The elongate hollow body itself may in transverse cross-section have a thin wall portion and a relatively thicker or more rigid reinforcement portion. The tubes can be incorporated into a variety of medical circuits or may be employed for other medical uses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus can be used in the selection of correctly sized respiratory interfaces. The method includes the use of light beams to project sizing markers onto a patient's face, which enables the size of the patient's facial features to be measured relative to a set of interface sizes. A sizing apparatus can include a light source and beam splitters that will refract and project the light source into a series of beams that can be aligned on a patient's face in order to measure the features of the patient.

Abstract: Medical tubes and methods of manufacturing medical tubes. The tube(s) may be a composite structure made of two or more distinct components that are spirally wound to form an elongate tube. For example, one of the components may be a spirally wound elongate hollow body, and the other component may be an elongate structural component also spirally wound between turns of the spirally wound hollow body. The tube(s) need not be made from distinct components, however. For instance, an elongate hollow body formed (for example, extruded) from a single material may be spirally wound to form an elongate tube. The elongate hollow body itself may in transverse cross-section have a thin wall portion and a relatively thicker or more rigid reinforcement portion. The tube(s) can be incorporated into a variety of medical circuits or may be employed for other medical uses.

Abstract: A respiratory mask for providing positive pressure therapy and a bias-flow venting system configured to reduce discernable draft generated by exhausted air are disclosed herein. The respiratory mask has a ball jointed elbow, one or more detachable forehead pieces and a headgear with a spacer fabric region. The elbow is configured to be removable when oriented to a predetermined position. The forehead pieces are provided in one or more sizes. The spacer fabric region having two or more layers wherein the raw edges are turned to the inside of the layers. The seal having improved seal performance and accommodating a wider variety of facial geometries. The bias-flow system having a tube and exhaust holes radially aligned on a bead of the tube. The bias-flow system also having an annular component exhaust holes and a shroud having a plenum chamber around the exhaust holes.

Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus has a main body. A humidification compartment is defined within the main body and is adapted to receive a humidification chamber. A flow generator is positioned within the main body. The flow generator and the humidification compartment are fluidly connected and a liquid containment compartment is interposed between the flow generator and the humidification compartment. The liquid containment compartment is fluidly connected to both the flow generator and the humidification compartment.

Abstract: A method and system of determining a sleep stage of a user involves receiving a respiratory flow signal of a user, obtaining at least one respiratory feature from at least part of the respiratory flow signal, and determining a sleep stage from the at least one respiratory feature.

Abstract: A user interface convertible between a nasal configuration and an oral configuration. The user interface has a nasal cannula and a mouthpiece. The nasal cannula has a body portion and at least one prong extending from the body portion, the prong being adapted to direct a flow of gas into a nare of a user's nose. The mouthpiece is adapted to engage the mouth of the patient and direct a flow of gas into a user's mouth. In the nasal configuration the prong of the nasal cannula is adapted to direct a flow of gases into a nare of the patient. In the oral configuration, the nasal cannula is engaged with the mouthpiece such that a gases flow is provided to at least the mouth of the user.

Abstract: Headgear for use with a respiratory mask is described. The headgear can include a continuous and substantially curved elongate member extending in use below a user's nose and at least two headgear straps capable of attachment to the ends of the elongate member. A mask attachment on the elongate member is disposed to sit below or on one of said user's nose, mouth, upper lip and an inlet to the mask. The attachment is capable of receiving the mask.

Abstract: A respiratory assistance apparatus (4) is provided, adapted to deliver gases to a user or patient (1). The apparatus (4) comprises a housing (10) provided with a chamber (5) and a heater (25), the chamber (5) comprising at least one gas port (15) connected to, or arranged to be connected to, at least one intermediate passageway (12). The apparatus (4) is operative according to a disinfection mode of predetermined profile in which the heater (25) heats liquid in the chamber (5) to produce vapour at or above a target dewpoint temperature and/or humidity level. The apparatus (4) is arranged such that the vapour is delivered to the intermediate passageway (12) to disinfect the intermediate passageway (12) with moist heat throughout a predetermined duration of the disinfection mode. Associated attachments and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of patient management including receiving therapy data associated with a plurality of durable medical devices and a first set of patients, and displaying an overview of patient compliance and a plurality of customizable tiles. The overview of patient compliance includes at least the number of patients in the first set of patients, current compliance data, compliance history data, and follow-up data. The plurality of aligned tiles includes at least a title and a plurality of selectable subtitles, each of the plurality of selected subtitles associated with one or more rules. Upon selection of a first selectable subtitle, displaying at least an indication of patients in a second set of patients, wherein the second set of patients is a subset of the first set of patients; upon selection of a first patient, displaying at least all of the rules triggered by the first patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a flow of gas, has a housing 3202? with a recess, and an outlet port 3210? for a flow of gas. The recess is defined by at least one wall 3256, 3262 that is substantially continuous, gas impermeable, and unbroken, other than a gasflow passage from the recess to the outlet port of the housing.