Abstract: A nasal mask for applying pressurized gas to a user's respiratory system. The mask includes an inflatable seal which is at least partially filled with a soft open cell foam. The seal includes a manual pump and a pressure release valve for inflating and deflating the seal. The mask includes an brow bar which is connected through a bridge to the mask body. The bridge can be adjusted to position the brow bar against the user's forehead for supporting an upper portion of the mask. Headgear for attaching the mask to the user is attached to the brow bar and is looped over a prong at a lower portion of the mask for securing the lower portion of the mask to the user. The mask can be easily removed from the patient while leaving the headgear and brow bar attached to the user.

Abstract: An improved adjustable wheel mounting assembly comprises a connecting member and a wheel-mounting member. The connecting member extends generally upwardly and downwardly between wheelchair frame members and is adapted to be secured thereto. The wheel-mounting member extends adjacent the connecting member and is secured thereto and to the side frame members. The wheel-mounting member has at least one formation for supporting an axle of the wheel.

Abstract: A center-of-gravity tilt-in-space wheelchair includes a base, a seat for supporting an occupant, and tracks supporting the seat for selective seat movement relative to the base. Wheels are adapted to support the base relative to a supporting surface. The tracks serve as rolling or sliding surfaces that allow the seat to rotate with respect to the base. Each track has a constant-radius arc with a focal point that is adapted to be coincident with the center of gravity of the wheelchair occupant. A low-friction supports the base relative to the seat. The low-friction support may include low friction elements that mate with the tracks to support for the tracks. The support can be adjustable to permit the overall tilt angle range of the tracks to be adjusted. The wheelchair seat can be adjusted to maintain the focal point of the constant-radius arc of the tracks coincident with the center of gravity of the wheelchair occupant. The front and rear wheels can be adjusted fore and aft relative to the focal point.

Abstract: A wheelchair has a primary articulated member and at least one secondary articulated member, a primary sensor for detecting the position of the primary member, a secondary sensor for detecting the position of the secondary member, and a controller capable of articulating the secondary articulated member as a function of the movement of the primary articulated member.

Abstract: A wheel mount assembly adapted for use in securing a camber tube to a wheelchair frame comprises an axle plate, at least one axially displaceable member adapted to be fixed in relation to the axle plate, and at least one radially displaceable member adjacent the axially displaceable members. The axially displaceable member is adapted to be axially displaced to cause the radially displaceable member to be displaced to tighten against the camber tube to hold the camber tube in place.

Abstract: A caster wheel assembly for a wheeled device, such as a wheelchair, includes a housing suitable for connection to a wheeled device, a caster fork configured to mount a caster wheel for rotation, and a caster bolt connected to the caster fork and inserted into the housing for rotation within the housing. Also included is a damping insert applying a biasing force between the caster bolt and the housing to dampen the rotation of the caster bolt with respect to the housing.

Abstract: An assembly comprises an elongate member and a receiving member. The elongate member has an external cross-sectional shape which is substantially square and has corners replaced by circumferentially spaced circular portions of a circumscribing circle with flat portions therebetween which lie within the circle. The receiving member has a receiving formation having an internal cross-sectional shape which cooperates at least with the flat portions of the external cross-sectional shape of the elongate member to prevent relative movement between the receiving member and elongate member about a longitudinal axis of the elongate member. The assembly is adapted for use in a joining the members of a wheelchair. The invention is further directed towards a structural assembly comprising an elongate member engaging in a receiving formation of a receiving member and a clamp embracing the receiving member to clamp the elongate member in the receiving formation.

Abstract: A method for acclimating a CPAP therapy patient to a prescribed pressure while the patient falls asleep. During an initial startup period, the CPAP apparatus applies a therapeutic IPAP pressure to the patient's airway and a lower initial EPAP pressure to the patient's airway. The EPAP pressure is ramped up to the IPAP pressure over a sufficient time for the patient to fall asleep. In a modified embodiment, both the initial IPAP pressure and the initial EPAP pressure are less than the prescribed therapeutic pressure. The IPAP and EPAP pressures are then independently ramped up to the prescribed therapeutic pressure.

Abstract: A device for monitoring and recording the usage of gas supply apparatus. The device includes erasable memory for storing the usage data and a connection for periodically downloading the data to a personal computer.

Abstract: A nasal mask for applying pressurized gas to a user's respiratory system. The mask includes an inflatable seal which is at least partially filled with a soft open cell foam. The seal includes a manual pump and a pressure release valve for inflating and deflating the seal. The mask includes an brow bar which is connected through a bridge to the mask body. The bridge can be adjusted to position the brow bar against the user's forehead for supporting an upper portion of the mask. Headgear for attaching the mask to the user is attached to the brow bar and is looped over a prong at a lower portion of the mask for securing the lower portion of the mask to the user. The mask can be easily removed from the patient while leaving the headgear and brow bar attached to the user.

Abstract: A nasal mask for applying pressurized gas to a user's respiratory system. The mask includes an inflatable seal which is at least partially filled with a soft open cell foam. The seal includes a manual pump and a pressure release valve for inflating and deflating the seal. The mask includes an brow bar which is connected through a bridge to the mask body. The bridge can be adjusted to position the brow bar against the user's forehead for supporting an upper portion of the mask. Headgear for attaching the mask to the user is attached to the brow bar and is looped over a prong at a lower portion of the mask for securing the lower portion of the mask to the user. The mask has an air inlet elbow which can be either free to rotate or locked in a position extending towards the top of a mask user's forehead.

Abstract: A nasal mask for applying pressurized gas to a user's respiratory system. The mask includes an inflatable seal which is at least partially filled with a soft open cell foam. The seal includes a manual pump and a pressure release valve for inflating and deflating the seal. The mask includes an brow bar which is connected through a bridge to the mask body. The bridge can be adjusted to position the brow bar against the user's forehead for supporting an upper portion of the mask. Headgear for attaching the mask to the user is attached to the brow bar and is looped over a prong at a lower portion of the mask for securing the lower portion of the mask to the user. The mask can be easily removed from the patient while leaving the headgear and brow bar attached to the user.

Abstract: A nasal mask for applying pressurized gas to a user's respiratory system. The mask includes an inflatable seal which is at least partially filled with a soft open cell foam. The seal includes a manual pump and a pressure release valve for inflating and deflating the seal. The mask includes an brow bar which is connected through a bridge to the mask body. The bridge can be adjusted to position the brow bar against the user's forehead for supporting an upper portion of the mask. Headgear for attaching the mask to the user is attached to the brow bar and is looped over a prong at a lower portion of the mask for securing the lower portion of the mask to the user. The mask can be easily removed from the patient while leaving the headgear and brow bar attached to the user.

Abstract: A stroller and a stroller base suitable for use with handicapped children. A seat assembly is removably attached to a stroller base for adjustment between upright and tilted positions. The stroller base has an adjustable height mechanism for positioning the seat assembly at positions from near the floor to table height. Optionally, the seat assembly may be releasably mounted on a second base for tilting adjustment between upright and tilted positions. The first base may be designed primarily for indoor use and the second base may be designed primarily for pushing and for outdoor uses.

Abstract: A method of operating a wheelchair during an un-recline process involves a wheelchair having tilt and recline functions, the wheelchair including a seat frame, a tilt actuator for tilting the seat frame, a back frame, a recline actuator for reclining the back frame. A sensor for determining the angle of recline is provided. A controller for controlling the tilt actuator and recline actuator is also provided. The controller is provided with a plurality of preprogrammed sequences for moving the seat frame and the back frame during an unrecline procedure. The sequences include tilting the seat frame as an initial part of the unrecline sequence, wherein the sequences are a function of the initial angle of recline at the initiation of the recline sequence. An initial angle of recline at the initiation of a recline sequence is determined, and the back frame is unreclined according to one of the preprogrammed sequences in response to the determined initial angle of recline.

Abstract: A seat back assembly for connecting a seat back shell to the seat back tubes of a wheelchair comprises a shell, upper and lower shell connectors, and upper and lower side plate portions. The lower shell connector is mounted to a lower portion of the shell. The upper shell connector is mounted to an upper portion of the shell. The upper side plate portion is adapted to be mounted to an upper portion of the seat back tube. The lower side plate portion is adapted to be mounted to a lower portion of the seat back tube at a position substantially co-linear to the posterior superior illiac spine (PSIS) of a user. The lower shell connector and the lower side plate portion are pivotally engageable with one another along a pivot axis. The upper shell connector and the upper side plate portion are attachable relative to one another at discrete locations so as to permit the angular disposition of the shell to be adjusted.

Abstract: A wheel mounting system is comprised of a bearing that is adapted to be positioned between a wheel and the foot tube of a bed. The bearing is comprised of two halve split bearings that are adapted to be fit together to make the complete bearing. The split bearings are adapted to be forced into the wheel and held onto the foot tube by the wheel. A method for mounting a wheel to the foot tube of a bed is comprised of the step of positioning split bearings on the end of a foot tube of the bed with a rib on an interior surface of the split bearings in alignment with an annular groove in the end of the foot tube. The foot tube is then held in a fixture with a backup surface of the fixture abutting the flange of two split bearings.

Abstract: A method of operating a wheelchair during an un-recline process, where the wheelchair includes a seat frame and a back frame, includes positioning the wheelchair user in the wheelchair with the back frame reclined, and rotating the seat frame of the wheelchair so that the seat frame and the back frame form an angle that is within the range of from about 80 degrees to about 120 degrees. The back frame is unreclined by rotating the back frame and the seat frame while maintaining the angle between the seat frame and the back frame within the range of from about 80 degrees to about 120 degrees.

Abstract: A bed construction wherein a sleep surface has at least one toroidal shaped section, a toroidal shaped main frame supporting the sleep surface, and a pair of opposing toroidal shaped legs supporting the main frame.