Abstract: A breathing apparatus system include a breathing apparatus having a display, an internal memory unit, and a processing unit, and optionally an interface for connecting at least an external memory unit to the apparatus; optionally an external memory unit connectable to the breathing apparatus via the interface; wherein the processing unit is in operative communication with the display, the internal memory unit, and/or the external memory unit when connected to the apparatus via the interface, and the processing unit is configured to provide on at least a portion of the display, a user selectable background stored on at least one of the internal and/or external memory unit, such as a background image, or a background color different than a factory default background color that is not selectable by a user.

Abstract: A flexible patient cassette that can be optimized for different types of breathing circuits, different drive circuits and different patient categories has a first inlet arranged to be connected to a drive circuit, and at least a second inlet arranged to be connected to a patient connector, the first and second inlets being pneumatically connected with each other through a gas conducting passage constituting a patient circuit having a certain volume. The patient cassette has a volume-varying arrangement for varying the patient circuit volume to allow that volume to be varied in dependence of at least one of the type of breathing circuit in which the patient cassette is used, the type of drive circuit to which the patient cassette is connected, and the tidal volume of a patient connected to the patient connector.

Abstract: An anesthetic breathing apparatus has a processing unit, a breathing circuit for providing an inspiratory patient gas mixture of re-breathed gas and/or fresh gas to a patient fluidly connected to the breathing circuit, and a fresh gas supply controllable by the processing unit for supplying a flow of the fresh gas to the breathing circuit in a composition including oxygen and at least one anesthetic agent (AA). A user interface includes a first user input element for receiving operator input for an anesthetic target value including an end expiratory concentration of the AA (EtAA) target value and/or an end expiratory minimum alveolar concentration (EtMAC) target value of an end expiratory MAC value of the patient, and a second user input element for receiving operator input for a desired control profile for the fresh gas supply for obtaining at least the anesthetic target value.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus and system include a breathing apparatus having a display, an internal memory unit, and a processing unit, and optionally an interface for connecting at least an external memory unit to the apparatus; optionally an external memory unit connectable to the breathing apparatus via the interface; wherein the processing unit is in operative communication with the display, the internal memory unit, and/or the external memory unit when connected to the apparatus via the interface, and the processing unit is configured to provide on at least a portion of the display, a user selectable background stored on at least one of the internal and/or external memory unit, such as a background image, or a background color different than a factory default background color that is not selectable by a user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for determination of cardiac output or EPBF of a mechanically ventilated subject (3). The method comprises the steps of introducing (S2) a change in the effective ventilation of the subject (3), measuring (S1) expiratory flow and CO2 during a sequence of analysed breaths during which the effective ventilation of the subject (3) varies, and determining (S3) the cardiac output or EPBF of the subject (3) using the flow and CO2 measurements. The method further comprises the steps of measuring (S1) also a relative variation in cardiac output or EPBF during the sequence of analysed breaths, and using the relative variation in the determination (S3) of cardiac output or EPBF.

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 and breathing apparatus for providing support ventilation to a spontaneously breathing patient a pressure and/or a flow is monitored based on pressure and/or flow measurements, and efforts to inhale or exhale by the patient are detected based on changes in the monitored pressure and/or flow. When a change in the monitored pressure and/or flow indicating an effort to inhale or exhale is detected, the rate of that change is determined and used to calculate a suitable rate of change of pressure applied to the airways of the patient. By changing the applied pressure in accordance with the so determined suitable rate of change, the pressure rise time during inspiration and/or the pressure fall time during expiration can be adjusted to the needs of the patient to ensure efficient and comfortable ventilation.

Abstract: In a breathing apparatus and a method for the operation thereof, a gas monitor monitors at least one gas and includes a pump that controls a sidestream flow from a patient circuit to the gas monitor via a sampling line having a first end connectable to the gas monitor and a second end connectable to the patient circuit. At least one pressure sensor measures a pressure at the sidestream gas monitor and provides a first pressure signal indicative of the measured pressure. A processor determines if a leakage is occurring in the sampling line based on the pressure signal.

Abstract: In a method and system for use with a ventilator for mechanical ventilation of a patient, a sensor arrangement registers at least one signal related to muscular activity of at least one muscle in the laryngopharyngeal region of the patient. This signal is provide to a computer, which controls the operation of the ventilator based thereon, and/or causes display of information related to the signal in order monitor the patient and/or operation of the ventilator.

Abstract: An additive gas delivery apparatus for delivery of additive gas to inspirational gas can be set to deliver the additive gas according to a dosing setting in normal therapy, and can be set to deliver according to a backup dosing setting in response disruption of signals representing data for controlling the delivery of additive gas according to the dosing setting in normal therapy. An additive gas delivery apparatus has an inlet for the additive gas and an integrated inlet for gas for oxygenating the patient that are connected to a backup line to mix the additive gas and gas for oxygenating the patient to a set concentration of additive gas in the gas mixture at an integrated backup outlet of the additive gas delivery apparatus.

Abstract: In a method and breathing apparatus for prediction of fluid responsiveness of a subject connected to a breathing apparatus, at least one parameter is monitored that is indicative of a degree of carbon dioxide elimination of the subject, and a positive end expiratory pressure PEEP regulator of the breathing apparatus is operated to apply a PEEP maneuver in which a PEEP applied to the subject is changed from a first PEEP level to a second PEEP level. A processor predicts the fluid responsiveness of the subject based on a change in the monitored parameter, following the change in PEEP.

Abstract: A modular monitoring and ventilation system includes a standalone monitor unit for monitoring patient-related parameters that are indicative of the physiological status of a patient, which receives at least one signal indicative of such a patient-related parameter from at least one sensor and that displays information related to that signal on a display, and a standalone, portable pneumatic unit for ventilatory treatment of a patient by supplying breathing gas to the patient. The monitor unit and the pneumatic unit are able to placed in a paired state in which they are communicatively connected to each other for information exchange, and in which those units cooperate to provide ventilatory treatment to the patient, with operation of the portable pneumatic unit being controlled based on the signal that is indicative of the monitored patient-related parameter, received by the monitor unit from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: An additive gas delivery apparatus, system and method for delivery of additive gas, such as nitric oxide [NO], to a patient use a control computer configured to determine if a monitored parameter indicates that a patient is connected to the additive gas delivery apparatus, determine if the additive gas delivery apparatus is in a passive state in which it does not deliver additive gas, and activate an alarm if the additive gas delivery apparatus is in said passive state when the monitored parameter indicates that a patient is connected to the additive gas deliver apparatus. The alarm serves to notify the user of undesired non-delivery of additive gas, and so serves to improve safety in additive gas delivery systems.

Abstract: In a CO2-based method for estimating shunt of a subject, a first value related to alveolar CO2 of the subject is obtained from CO2 measurements on expiration gas exhaled by said subject, a second value is obtained related to arterial CO2 of the subject, a third value is obtained related to cardiac output [QT] or effective pulmonary perfusion [EPP] of the subject, a fourth value is obtained related to CO2 elimination [VCO2] of the subject, the shunt of the subject is calculated based on said first, second, third and fourth values. The method allows the shunt of the subject to be determined in a non-invasive or minimally-invasive way without requiring determination of the venous or capillary CO2 contents of the subject, which in turn allows the method to be carried out at the bedside, enabling reliable monitoring of shunt in clinical practice.

Abstract: In a method for positioning linear array of electrodes (LAE) mounted on distal end section of elongated flexible member in patient's respiratory airways (PRA) at level of diaphragm, a length of the member pre-determined to position LEA at the level of the diaphragm is inserted through PRA. Signals representative of an electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) are detected through LAE, presence/absence of ECG signal components is detected in EAdi signals, and position of LAE in PRA is detected in response to presence/absence of ECG signal components in EAdi signals. Lower esophageal sphincter activity may be detected in EAdi signals, and position of LAE in PRA determined in response to the detected lower esophageal sphincter. End-expiratory occlusion of PRA may be performed to verify that the electrical activity of the diaphragm coincides with a negative deflection of PRA pressure again in view of determining adequate positioning of LAE.

Abstract: A measuring system for measuring the concentration of substances or analytes in a body fluid or in a body tissue comprises a microdialysis probe comprising a microdialysis membrane, the probe being adapted to be placed in blood or in tissue, a flow through sensor for analyzing a fluid having passed the microdialysis probe, a pump for pumping the fluid to and through the microdialysis probe and further to and through the sensor, and tubing connecting the pump to the microdialysis probe and the microdialysis probe to the sensor. The pump effects a flow rate in the system in the interval 0.2-15 microliters per minute. The sensor comprises a flow channel having a flow resistance or pressure drop adapted to the characteristics of the microdialysis membrane so as to eliminate, or at least substantially reduce, ultra filtering in the microdialysis membrane.

Abstract: A ventilation system for providing patient-triggered support ventilation to a spontaneously breathing patient during ongoing HFV ventilation has a pneumatic unit for delivery of breathing gas to the patient in response to an effort to breathe by the patient, a control computer for controlling the delivery of breathing gas by said pneumatic unit, and an oscillator for superimposing high frequency oscillation onto the breathing gas. The system further includes a bioelectric sensor that measures a bioelectric signal indicative of the patient's efforts to breathe, and the control computer is configured to control the delivery of breathing gas in response to the patient's effort to breathe, based on this bioelectric signal.

Abstract: In an anesthesia vaporizer for vaporizing an anesthetic agent liquid and a method of vaporizing an anesthetic agent liquid in an vaporizer, an evaporation unit evaporates the anesthetic agent, a delivery unit intermittently adds a volume of said liquid to the evaporation unit in order to evaporate at least a portion of the volume of the liquid from the evaporation unit. A heat energy storage unit includes a phase change material (PCM) and is thermally coupled to at least a portion of the evaporation unit. The PCM has a phase shift temperature that is higher than the evaporation temperature of the anesthetic agent. The PCM in the heat energy storage unit is preferably at least partly liquid at an operative temperature of the vaporizer.