Abstract: A protection circuit, configured to detect and suppress electrical pre-arcing and arcing conditions in a resistive heater wire circuit, comprises a transient voltage suppressor, signal level sensing load coupled to the output of the voltage suppressor, detection and control circuitry, and a high-speed switch or electrical gate. The control circuitry is configured to control the operation of the switch, coupled between said control circuitry and the heater wire, wherein the switch is opened in response to an electrical pre-arcing or arcing condition or a short circuit condition.

Abstract: A valved aerosol Tee adapter assembly comprises a housing member having an upper section with a first interior passageway, a spring chamber between the first passageway and the inner wall of said upper section and a valve seat formed along the upper edge of said upper section, and a lower section having a second passageway contiguous with the first passageway, a compressible spring positioned in the chamber; and a valve reciprocally movable in the housing comprising a valve actuator slidably received in the second passageway having an upper surface for engaging the compressible spring, and a valve member secured to the valve actuator.

Abstract: A gas supply apparatus for supplying anesthetic to a human or animal. A vaporizer has a vaporization chamber which includes a gas inlet and outlet. A liquid emitting device in the vaporization chamber communicates with an external liquid source through a liquid delivery. The liquid to be vaporized is exposed to the bypassing gas by way of the liquid emitting device. The liquid is exposed exclusively by way of the porosities in the liquid emitting device. A heater is provided for heating said liquid.

Abstract: A patient adapter for being connected to gas tubing in a ventilator circuit comprises of an inspiratory and an expiratory pipe, the latter having an internal diameter at least about 20% greater than the diameter of the inspiratory pipe. The invention also includes a respirator circuit in which an expiratory limb has an internal diameter at least about 20% greater than the diameter than the inspiratory tubing limb.

Abstract: A humidifier assembly includes a cartridge secured in the humidification chamber cavity for displacing between about 20% and about 80% of the volume of the cavity.

Abstract: A suction control valve comprising a valve housing defining a cavity and including an inlet port for being connected to a suction tube, an outlet port for being connected to a suction source, and a suction control port for creating a suction across the cavity from the inlet port to the outlet port when the suction control port is closed. The valve preferably includes a bacteria filter secured in the cavity for preventing exposure of the suction control port to bacteria entering the inlet port. A splash guard extends along the cavity for preventing liquid from contacting the bacteria filter or from reaching the suction control port. A suction control port guard is selectively movable to prevent accidental closure of the suction control port.

Abstract: A manual resuscitation valve assembly having a duckbill valve and a valve housing with an open concentric cavity includes a one-way valve exposed to said duckbill valve and extending into said cavity for monitoring peak inspiratory pressure.

Abstract: A cased suctioning catheter assembly with a protective flexible sheath around the catheter tube, has a thumb or finger operable pump located near the patient end of the catheter assembly. This pump receives irrigation fluid from a bag hanging on an IV stand and, when operated, pumps it into an irrigation lumen in the suction catheter on an as-needed basis during suctioning. Thereby one hand of the administrator can both stabilize the cross piece at the patient end of the suction catheter assembly and operate the irrigator, while the other hand controls vacuum flow as needed for the suctioning function.

Abstract: An improved system for delivering oxygen on demand to a user comprises a pressure transducer for sensing pressures during the breathing cycle of a user and for creating an electrical signal proportional to said sensed pressures, an electronic amplifier for amplifying the signal to at least 10,000 times the original signal strength, electronic filters for regulating the amplitude of the signal and for correcting the point of the signal where expiration stops and inspiration begins to correspond to zero respiratory pressure, an on/off switching circuit and cooperating valve drive circuit for switching to an on condition in response to a preselected first pressure and to an off condition in response to a preselected second pressure, and a valve driven by the valve drive circuit means for directing oxygen from an oxygen source to a user.

Abstract: An isolation valve for use in administering mouth-to-mouth emergency artificial respiration includes a housing having a fixed inlet pipe and a rotatable outlet pipe, a bacteria filter permanently secured in the housing member around the periphery of the filter whereby all of the gas passing through the device must pass through the filter, and a one-way valve seated in the housing and cooperating with valve seats for opening and closing exhaust ports.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for monitoring a respiratory circuit comprises two independent pressure sensing means, a first pressure sensing component having a preset minimum pressure for creating an alarm condition in response to pressure falling below the minimum, and a second pressure sensing component having an adjustable low pressure threshold setting means and for creating an alarm condition if the patient's breathing cycle pressure fails to periodically pass through the low threshold pressure. A preferred embodiment includes visual pressure indicating means including a display of the low threshold pressure setting and a display of the patient's breathing cycle pressures.

Abstract: A retaining device comprising, a reservoir for retaining a liquid, a first elongated conduit, and a second elongated conduit. An upper end of the first and second conduits is connected in fluid communication to the reservoir. Upper ends of the first and second conduits are retained to the reservoir in order to prevent them from inadvertently pulling out from the reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a cartridge humidifier assembly having a heating means for humidifying a gas supplied from a source and delivered to a patient. The cartridge humidifier has a cap which defines a chamber with a column. The cap includes a port which receives the gas from a ventilator and a port which permits the discharge of heated humidified gas to the patient. The cap also has a single air-vent port for the venting of air with the water supply from the chamber of cartridge assembly. Water is supplied to the bottom of the cartridge assembly from a one-way conduit in communication with the bottom of the water supply container. A float rises to close off the air-vent when the cartridge assembly is full. The float lowers itself, unblocking the vent to the water bottle supply from the cartridge assembly, as the water level in the cartridge is used up in the humidification process. The float air-vent control is thus automatic, preventing possible overflow or lack of flow of water in the system.

Abstract: Operation of an inhalation therapy heater is regulated under control of the temperature sensor for the flow medium to maintain a selected temperature level to which the flow medium is heated during a warm-up period. Operation of the heater is intermittantly interrupted under control of a heater temperature sensor during the warm-up period to minimize temperature overshoot heating. A low temperature detector, disabled during the warm-up period, generates an alarm signal if the flow medium temperature remains below a lower limit at the end of the warm-up period.

Abstract: A nebulizer system including a self-contained system including a nebulizer. The nebulizer includes a cylindrical housing having a bottom which has axially and centrally located gas conduit extending therefrom and terminating in a nozzle internally of said housing. The housing has mounted therein a funnel shaped wall the apex of which has a conduit of a wider dimension to encompass said nozzle in axial and spaced alignment therewith. The conduit terminates in a spray opening whereby liquid in a reservoir defined by the housing bottom and funnel shaped wall is picked up by the gas emanating from the nozzle. The liquid-gas mixture is discharged above the funnel wall against a protrusion and is distributed therefrom against an annular baffle depending from the top of the housing. The aerosol thereby produced is discharged through an opening into a conduit system for delivery to a patient directly or as a part of a ventilator or intermittent positive breathing apparatus of known types.

Abstract: A flexible tubular assembly having an outer flexible tube through which extends an inner flexible tube which is connected to a tubular element having an elbow-shaped locking piece. The outer flexible tube is joined to the tubular element and the inner flexible tube extends through a cylindrical section of the tubular element to the exterior of the element thereby exposing the end portion of the inner flexible tubing. The spout area of the elbow-shaped locking piece is inserted into the inner flexible tubing and thereby distends the tubing against the sides of an internal tubing and thereby distends the tubing against the sides of an internal tubular stub within the tubular element and locking the tubing in place. Outwardly extending ears on the elbow engage inwardly extending slots on the tubular element thereby holding the elbow in place. The device is specifically useful in anaethestic devices insuring the safety of a patient.

Abstract: A previously disclosed cartridge type humidifier apparatus including a separate heater module with a cylindrical opening for replaceably receiving therein disposable cylindrical humidifier cartridge modules, having a housing containing a replenishable water supply is employed as a water supply source for reproducing an aerosol with an oxygen supply for pediatric inhalation therapy. The cartridge modules each have a tubular metal main body adapted for a sliding fit within a complimentary tubular wall heater. The metal tubular body has a rigid plastic top and bottom end portions. The top end portions is a cap with a center axial gas inlet tube and a separate transverse gas delivery tube, the cap forming a closed air space over a pool of humidified liquid each cartridge includes an absorption column preferably of this cylindrical tube form which is adapted to lie closely adjacent and draw water up along the cartridge cylindrical metal body which insures as a evaporating surface when heated by the heater modules.

Abstract: A portable reservoir container storing liquid, mounts on its inflow port section a heater and a vortex mixing device in series. Liquid from the bottom of the container is fed to the vortex mixing device in response to the inflow of oxygen gas thereto producing an outflow of liquid and oxygen gas in a vortical flow pattern that is delivered to the inflow port section of the container. A flow of conditioned oxygen gas is discharged from the gas space of the container through an outflow portion section.

Abstract: A container, and more specifically a medical suction container, that comprises a canister, a lid and a liner that together form an air tight seal. Opposed wedge-shaped camming blocks mounted on the lid and the canister force the lid and liner into a sealing mating relationship thereby forming the seal. The canister and liner have similar sealing assemblies that consist of upwardly extending portions that form aligned notches. The lid with a sealing protrusion is mated with a notch of the liner, which in turn forces the liner into the notch of the canister. A locking lip on the liner engages a lip on the sealing protrusion thereby locking the lid to the liner.