Abstract: A portable x-ray system includes an x-ray source, an internal power supply for supplying an input voltage, and a voltage converter in electrical connection between the power supply and the source. The converter varies the input voltage from the power supply to provide an output voltage useable in the x-ray source to generate x-rays of a predetermined energy. The power supply includes a battery power store, a capacitor power store, and a switching unit to selectively connect the power stores to the voltage converter individually or together to provide the input voltage to the voltage converter during an exposure.

Abstract: A ventilator system has at least one ventilator unit and a number of docking stations is described. Each docking station is adapted to receive the ventilator unit and comprises a communication interface adapted to be connected to a matching interface on the ventilator unit when the ventilator unit is docked in the docking station. The docking stations are arranged at different treatment sites, and the ventilator unit can be moved between different docking stations when necessary without interrupting the treatment of a patient connected to the ventilator unit. The same ventilator unit can be used throughout a complete treatment of a patient without any need of disconnecting the patient during transports, etc.

Abstract: A medical apparatus has an input unit with a number of input terminals to which at least one measuring and/or therapeutic elements is connectable and a display unit for displaying currently connected measuring and/or therapeutic elements. An imaging system produces an image of the cavity or the environment in which the measuring and/or therapeutic elements are situated, together with images of the measuring and/or therapeutic elements. A graphic indication of the currently connected measuring and/or therapeutic elements us superimposed on the image from the imaging system.

Abstract: In a fresh gas system and a method for vaporizing a liquid anaesthetic in an anaesthetic machine, a gas preparation unit prepares a flow of fresh gas having a gas mixture from at least two sources of gas, the gas mixture is passed through a vaporizer where it picks up a quantity of anaesthetic related to the viscosity of the gas mixture. A control device controls the gas preparation unit. An arrangement is connected upstream from the vaporizer and is connected to the control device, for determining the composition of the gas mixture. The control device compensates the fresh gas system for the gas mixture's composition so that a specific amount of anaesthetic is always picked up by the gas mixture, regardless of the mixture's composition.

Abstract: An anaesthetic delivery system has a ventilation arrangement with an inspiration gas pathway for conducting inspiration gas to a patient and an expiration gas pathway for conducting expiration gas away from the patient, and a filter element serially connected to both the inspiration and the expiration gas pathways. The filter element retains anaesthetic from expiration gas passing therethrough and releases the retained anaesthetic into inspiration gas passing therethrough. A supply of flushing gas is communicable with the filter element to flush the retained anaesthetic from the system without passing to the patient.

Abstract: An inspiratory tube intended to serve as at least part of an inspiratory line in a ventilator, has a tube wall, a distal end, a proximal end, a gas flow channel for carrying a flow of breathing gas and an opening in the wall at a specific distance from one end of the inspiratory tube, this opening being adapted for connection to an expiratory device (40). The inspiratory tube has a constriction in the gas flow channel between distal end of the inspiratory tube and the opening, a first channel that proceeds within the tube wall, generally parallel to the gas flow channel, and which opens into the gas flow channel between the distal end of the inspiratory tube and the constriction, and a second channel that proceeds within the wall, generally parallel to the gas flow channel, which opens into the gas flow channel between the constriction and the opening. The channels can be connected to a pressure gauge for determining the rate of flow and pressure of gas flowing in the gas flow channel.

Abstract: A valve for regulating a flow of gas, has a valve body with an inlet for the gas to be regulated, an outlet for a regulated flow of a gas, a valve seat with a valve opening, a moving closure part having a tensioned membrane mounted inside the valve body and a plunger, which is movable by a plunger actuator, whose end acts on the membrane, causing the closure part to close and open the valve opening and regulate the flow of gas through same. The flow of gas can be simply and inexpensively regulated, with great accuracy and repeatability and which forms a hermetic seal when the valve is in the closed position, a rigid, flat plate is be arranged opposite the valve seat the plate having a surface area which is at least equal to the surface area of the valve seat.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining when a partially or completely collapsed lung has been opened are based on the fact that in the course of opening an alveolus by supplying a gas pressure, the alveolus will generate a crackle sound. By listening to the crackle sounds via microphones, an apparatus can determine when the lung is completely open. The apparatus has a filter for filtering out the relevant frequencies for the crackle sounds and a determination unit for identifying the crackles and for determining when the lung is open based on the filtered out sounds.

Abstract: In respiratory care with liquids, the patient is connected to a liquid apparatus and a ventilator for supplying and removing a treatment liquid and a breathing gas respectively to/from the patient. The exchange of gases between the breathing gas and the treatment liquid is improved with a device which causes the breathing gas and/or the liquid to oscillate. The device may be a breathing gas generator which generates different frequencies to cause the breathing gas and treatment liquid to oscillate at appropriate frequencies. The device may be a vibrator unit which is applied to the chest to cause the treatment liquid to oscillate. The device may be a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field across the lungs and setting electrically conductive components in the treatment liquid in motion.

Abstract: An X-ray exposure apparatus has an x-ray radiator having an X-ray tube provided with collimators for the limitation of a radiated X-ray beam. The x-ray radiator can be displaced translationally and/or rotated angularly for the orientation in space of the radiation beam. A digital image receiver has a number pixels, and there is no mechanical connection between the image receiver and the x-ray radiator. A sampling unit samples the signals of the image receiver in order to determine which pixels are irradiated by the radiation beam in a test exposure and dependent thereon, control signals are emitted to adjustment unit and/or to a radiator collimator displacement and/or rotation control unit, which, dependent on the control signals, adjust the collimators or the position of the x-ray radiator in relation to the image receiver, and/or move the x-ray radiator parallel to the image receiver for the optimal adjustment of the beam thereto.

Abstract: An acoustic fluid flow meter has a timer for determining downstream and upstream transit times values of acoustic pulses transmitted between acoustic signal transceivers, operable alternately as transmitters and receivers, respectively, with and against the direction of fluid flow. Additionally an error signal indicator is supplied with the determined transit time values and emits an error signal indicative of a false flow reading if their sum and/or difference, particularly the sum of derived values, differs from a corresponding control value by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A pressure-limiting valve for use in a gas system for manual ventilation of patients, has a valve seat with an opening, a valve plate and a force-generating element, the force-generating element being arranged to press the valve plate against the valve seat in order to close the opening. In order to reduce the risk of annoying noise from the valve, the valve is devised so the valve plate is asymmetrically shaped, so as to cause a gas flowing through the opening in the valve seat, when the valve is in the open position, to apply an asymmetrical force against the valve plate.

Abstract: A monitor for analyzing a body fluid for diffusable chemical substances has a liquid filled probe, for example a catheter, having a region contactable with the body fluid within the body and permeable to chemical substances of interest. A sensor unit is in liquid communication with the probe and has sensors, each with an output dependent on the presence of a chemical substance of interest. A periodic analysis of the probe liquid is provided from the sensor unit and a pumping system is adapted to circulate the probe liquid around a closed liquid flow path, including the permeable region of the probe, a number of times in each period between the analysis of the liquid.

Abstract: A portable respiration apparatus is dimensioned to convey a flow of gas, with an upper limit on pressure, from an inlet to an outlet connected to a patient. The inlet of the portable respiration apparatus can be connected to a stationary gas unit when a higher pressure is desired. The stationary gas unit can generate a gas pressure that is applied to the inlet of the portable respiration apparatus, so that a higher gas pressure can be generated and delivered to the patient. Alternatively, the stationary gas unit can be dimensioned so that it is itself capable of generating the desired gas pressure to be supplied to the patient, so there is no additional increase in gas pressure in the portable respiration apparatus.

Abstract: A ventilator includes a gas flow generator for generating a gas with an adjustable pressure and/or flow rate, an inspiratory line with a proximal end, connected to the gas flow generator and a distal end, devised for connection to a patient, an expiratory valve connected to the inspiratory line at a specific distance from the distal end of the inspiratory line to evacuate gas exhaled by the patient, a pressure gauge and/or a flow meter arranged to measure pressure and/or the rate of gas flow in the inspiratory line and a control unit for controlling at least the maintenance of a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).

Abstract: A valve for regulating a gas flow has a valve housing with an inlet for the gas to be regulated, an outlet for a regulated gas flow, a valve seat with a valve opening, and a movable sealing part with a controllable shaft, the terminal side of the sealing part making and breaking a seal between the valve seat and the sealing part such that the sealing part closes and opens the valve opening and regulates the gas flow through the valve opening. In order to allow particularly small gas flows to be repeatedly regulated with high precision and a large dynamic, the plane of the terminal side of the sealing part and the plane of the valve seat form a non-zero angle, allowing the terminal side of the sealing part to press against the valve seat, or to detach therefrom, so that the terminal side gradually closes and opens the valve opening.

Abstract: A valve for regulating the flow of a medium has a valve housing with an inlet for the medium that is to be regulated, and an outlet for a regulated medium flow, a valve face with a valve opening, a movable sealing part that is arranged so that it is influenced by the medium flow in the direction of opening of the valve, and which closes and opens the valve opening as well as regulating the flow of medium through the valve opening. The valve further has an arrangement for controlling the position of the sealing part. In order to obtain a valve of this type in which a gas flow can be regulated with a high degree of precision, and can seal hermetically in a closed position using simple and inexpensive structure, a duct for the flow of the medium is arranged between the inlet and the side of the movable sealing part facing away from the valve face.

Abstract: In a blood analysis system and method, a measurement unit with a measurement cell is alternately filled with blood and at least two specific fluids. At least one of the specific fluids serves as a calibration fluid for the measurement unit. A tag substance is added to at least one of the specific fluids to make the fluids distinguishable from each other and from blood, and the measurement unit includes a detector, arranged in the measurement cell, for determining the identity of fluid present in the measurement cell. The entire blood analysis system can be controlled and monitored on the basis of the identity of the fluid in the measurement cell.

Abstract: A flow regulator, preferably in a respirator/ventilator, has a conduit through which a medium conduit flow is to be regulated flows and a choker valve arranged outside the conduit, the choker valve having pressure applicators arranged exactly opposite one another between which the conduit can be brought and act on the flow cross-section of the conduit such that they leave the flow cross-section of the conduit uninfluenced in a first limit position and press the conduit completely closed in a second limit position. In order to obtain a flow regulator of this type with a choker valve that is gentle on the conduit and which can also completely compress a conduit having a comparatively large flow cross-section, the pressure applicators are fashioned such that, when the conduit is compressed, both pressure actuators actively press it together from both, opposite sides.

Abstract: A device for measuring a gas flow, has a measurement chamber and an ultrasonic transceiver unit which can be attached to the measurement (chamber over openings of the measurement chamber and which is provided with transmit and receive heads. The heads are directed against the openings of the measurement chamber, membranes being arranged between the measurement chamber and the transmit and receive heads which are permeable to ultrasound waves but largely impermeable to moisture and bacteria. In order to feed maximum acoustical energy to the ultrasonic transceiver unit while keeping moisture and bacteria away from the unit, the membranes are replaceably arranged close to the transmit and receive heads.