Abstract: According to this process, there is supplied to the passengers a first fraction of air enriched in oxygen from independent supply elements, in particular high pressure cylinders (16), during a descent phase of the aircraft between a normal cruising altitude and an intermediate re-routing altitude. There is moreover compressed air taken from a source of compressed air belonging to the aircraft, to produce (in 2) a second fraction of the air enriched in oxygen which is delivered to the passengers, at least during a phase of stabilized flight of the aircraft, adjacent the re-routing altitude, greater than 5,500 meters.

Abstract: A cup-shaped face mask sized to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer is disclosed. The face mask includes an inside surface, an outside surface, and a tab disposed on and extending outwardly from the outside surface, where the tab is adapted for gripping.

Abstract: An inhaler for producing an inhalable aerosol of a powdered medicament comprises a cyclone (1) with a tangential air inlet (3) and an axial air outlet (4). The cyclone (1) aerosolises and retains an aerosol of powdered medicament in an airflow circulating between the inlet (3) and the outlet (4). The cyclone (1) has an exit port (2) which is open to atmosphere. When the aerosol is to be inhaled, the pressure in the cyclone (1) is increased by increasing the airflow to the inlet (3) which causes the aerosol to discharge through the exit port (2). The inhaler has the advantage that the rate of discharge of the aerosol can be controlled independently of the rate of airflow required to aerosolise the medicament.

Abstract: An improved methodology and systems for delivery of breathing gas such as for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea through application of alternating high and low level positive airway pressure within the airway of the patient with the high and low airway pressure being coordinated with the spontaneous respiration of the patient, and improved methods and apparatus for triggering and for leak management in such systems.

Abstract: A disposable face mask includes a mask body covering substantially a nose, mouth, and chin of a wearer, and an extension provided with the mask body. The extension is configured to encircle a back of a wearer's head and to substantially cover a wearer's cheeks, jaw, and ears. A substantial portion of the extension is formed from a resilient material treated with a repellant agent to prevent contaminants from entering or exiting such treated portion of the extension.

Abstract: This invention is a secretion, a suction device, and kit for intubated or tracheostomized patients including a suction valve (1) having a body (2) with a chamber (3) where a selective obstruction device (4) is assembled. The device further includes a spherical valve (45) which selectively opens or closes a passage for a probe (25) through a patient/ventilator connection (56). The kit allows for the correct positioning of the suction device, including a plastic sheathing (65), and a tube for disposal of the suction device.

Abstract: A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system involves applying a gain to flow rate of pressurized gas delivered to a patient during inspiratory and/or expiratory phases of a respiratory cycle to deliver the pressurized gas in proportion to the respective gains during inspiration and/or expiration. A base pressure may be applied in addition to the gain-modified pressures and an elevated pressure profile may be employed to assist or control inspiration. The system may be fully automated responsive to feedback provided by a flow sensor that determines the estimated patient flow rate. A leak computer can be included to instantaneously calculate gas leakage from the system. The system may be utilized in connection with conventional continuous positive airway pressure treatments, such as CPAP or bi-level positive airway pressure equipment to effect various beneficial treatment applications.

Abstract: The invention comprises a medicinal inhaler spacer or actuator comprising a chamber having a proximal end closed by a proximal plate, a tangentially aligned inlet on the proximal end of the chamber, a tapered distal end, and an outlet extending through the proximal plate into and communicating with the chamber. Spacers of the present invention may be used to increase the respirable fraction of a medicinal aerosol inhaler. The invention also comprises medicinal aerosol inhalers and methods of delivering drug to the lung of a mammal employing these spacers.

Abstract: An improved insufflation-exsufflation system with percussive assist for removal of broncho-pulmonary secretions includes a conduit for connection to a patient's airway; a pressure source for providing to the conduit alternating positive and negative pressure fluctuations at a first rate corresponding to patient insufflation-exsufflation; and a control mechanism for varying pressure during positive and negative pressure fluctuations at a second higher rate to periodically decrease the positive pressure during positive fluctuations and decrease the negative pressure during negative fluctuations to provide percussive pulses during at least one of insufflation-exsufflation to clear broncho-pulmonary secretions from the patient's airway.

Abstract: There is provided a carrier comprising a sheet (10) having a first portion and a second portion; a retainer (20) in said first portion for containment of product; a fold in said second portion such that the second portion is foldable towards said retainer to form a cover therefor; and a join between said cover and the retainer. The carrier is suitable for the containment of a range of different products, particularly medicaments.

Abstract: A powder inhaler comprises a medicament container, a rotatable metering disc extending into the interior of the medicament container and an air channel through which air is drawn via a mouthpiece. The metering disc has one or more peripherally located dosing grooves extending axially through the metering disc. The dosing grooves are filled with a metered dose of the medicament while being inside the medicament container and are transferred to the air channel wherein the stream of inhaled air discharges the dose of the medicament directly from the dosing groove.

Abstract: A versatile underwater breathing device which comprises, a pressurized gas reservoir or tank (21), a buoyancy bladder (72), bladder inflation control means (76), a breathing regulator (32) in communication with the gas reservoir; and a flexible adaptable carrier having straps (88, 90) for securely attaching the carrier to the back of a diver, which carrier wholly contains the buoyancy bladder and the gas reservoir. The bladder inflation control means operatively couple the buoyancy bladder to the reservoir so that the bladder may be inflated and deflated to control the buoyancy of a diver, and the breathing regulator is also coupled to the gas reservoir to permit the breathing of the contained gas by the diver. The flexible carrier is adapted to be carried on the back of a wide range of differently sized divers so allowing a single piece of equipment to be used by a variety of people.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for automatically and continuously regulating the level of nasal pressure to an optimal value during OSA treatment. OSA therapy is implemented by a device which automatically re-evaluates an applied pressure and continually searches for a minimum pressure required to adequately distend a patient's pharyngeal airway. For example, this optimal level varies with body position and stage of sleep throughout the night. In addition, this level varies depending upon the patient's body weight and whether or not alcohol or sleeping medicine has been ingested.

Abstract: An intubating LMA construction features a rigid airway tube wherein curvature in a single plane establishes essentially an arcuate path of angular extent in the preferred range of 130°, plus or minus 5°, which I have found to be in substantial anatomical conformance with the adult human's airway path, between a proximal end of the arc at substantial register with the longitudinal midpoint of the hard palate, and a distal end that faces and is at short offset from the glottic aperture, it being understood that my findings apply to suitably quantified allowance for variations in patient-head anatomy, as is for example customary for different sizes of LMA devices, each of which is adapted to serve one of five selected patient-size ranges. The proximal end of the rigid tube is suitably a short straight portion which is tangentially and integrally related to the proximal end of the arc.

Abstract: A swimming snorkel and oxygen supplement apparatus that includes a mask and a headband strap to which is mounted a snorkel device, including a snorkel tube and a mouthpiece for inspiration of atmospheric air therethrough, and an oxygen supply system for communicating supplemental oxygen to the snorkel device.

Abstract: A medication inhaler is provided with a lanyard that is formed into a wearer neck encircling loop. A wearer is thereby able to carry the medication inhaler about his or her neck so that it is readily at hand in the event of an asthmatic or allergic attack. The lanyard may be looped directly about the inhaler and secured thereto by a cinch, slide, slipknot, or some other means. Alternatively, the lanyard may be connected to a socket designed to receive and capture the inhaler. A releasable coupling is provided with a pair of mutually engageable and separable coupling elements. At least one of the coupling elements is connected to the lanyard so that if the inhaler becomes caught or snagged on some object, the coupling members will separate to prevent injury to the user. Preferably the lanyard is formed with a pair of opposing ends at which the mutually engageable coupling members are located. In this way the coupling members will separate if either the lanyard or the inhaler becomes caught on some object.

Abstract: A system and method for ventilating a lung in a living being by varying the peak inspiratory pressure. The peak inspiratory pressure may deviate about a mean that is chosen to correspond with a knee in a pressure-volume curve of the lung.

Abstract: A system for filling a portable cylinder with therapeutic gas, and providing therapeutic gas to a patient. Therapeutic gas delivery to a patient may be through a conserver, or may be in a continuous mode. Some embodiments of the invention may test the contents of the portable cylinder prior to filling. The specification also discloses a silent mode of operation where therapeutic gas is provided from the system by means of internal and/or external cylinders.

Abstract: A bush (31) is fitted into a housing (10) and an ultrasonic pump (12) is supported liquid tightly by the bush (31). The ultrasonic pump (12) is constituted by a pump shaft (21) formed to include a pump bore (22) passing through it axially and having upper and lower ends which are open, and an ultrasonic vibrator (23) mounted on the pump shaft (21) in the vicinity of the midpoint thereof in terms of the axial direction. A liquid vessel.(16) is mounted in the housing (10) in a freely attachable and detachable manner, and the lower end portion of the pump shaft (21) is received inside the liquid vessel (16). A cap (15) is freely detachably attached to the upper end portion of the housing (10) so as to cover the upper end portion of the pump shaft (21). The top side of the cap (15) is provided with a spray port (51), and a step portion (57) is formed for supporting a mesh plate (14) at the periphery thereof at a position below the spray port (51).

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method of treating respiratory diseases, e.g., pediatric asthma, in a continuing regimen with not more than one daily dose of the drug budesonide using a nebulizer.