Abstract: A sleep silencer serves for eliminating snore by holding in a mouth. The sleep silencer comprises a hollow tube which includes a front tube and a rear tube. One end of the front tube has an opening. A periphery of one distal end of the rear tube has a safety ring enclosing the periphery. A ball stop is installed at a center of the opening of the front tube. Two sides of the ball stop are formed with respective turbulent devices which are adhered to an inner wall of the front tube so as to buffer the air in the front tube.

Abstract: A rescue device and kit for ventilating a patient incapable of normal ventilation or intubation techniques includes a single-lumen nasopharyngeal nasal trumpet having a beveled shaped opening at its distal end and a flared proximal end. An eye opening is disposed slightly proximal to the beveled shaped opening and an air delivery extension tube is secured within the single-lumen opening at the flared proximal end of the nasal trumpet. The distal end of the extension tube secured within the nasal trumpet cooperates with the flared proximal end of the nasal trumpet to provide a soft non-tissue irritating nose plug when the nasal trumpet is fully inserted into a nostril opening of the patient. The kit further includes a tube of lubricant, an air bag, and a soft nose plug for blocking the other nostril opening of the patient during the novel rescue process.

Abstract: A method of making thin-walled permeable tubing using air blown extrusion, and of using the tubing in a device which enables a substantial humidification or drying of patient breathing gases in the breathing lines for patient monitoring or anesthesia results in cost savings and increased efficiency.

Abstract: A breath acutated dry powder inhaler having a housing, a source of pressurized air, transfer valve which allows the release of pressurized air so as to act upon at least one dose of medicament whereupon when a user inhales through a mouthpiece it causes the transfer valve to release the pressurized air which causes the dose to be discharged through the mouthpiece to the user.

Abstract: A mask system for delivering air to a user includes a suspension mechanism to allow relative movement between a face-contacting cushion and a mask shell. The suspension mechanism also provides a predetermined force to the cushion that is a function of mask pressure, displacement of the cushion or both.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for the vaporization of materials that releases active constituents for inhalation without the creation of harmful byproducts such as carcinogens associated with combustion and inhalation of substances.

Abstract: A fluid vaporizing device includes two concentric, electrically conductive tubes, the tubes being electrically and physically connected near a distal end of the tubes, and the tubes each having electrical connections to the power source, with the electrical connections to a power source being near a proximal end of the tubes. The proximal end of an inner one of the tubes is in fluid communication with a source of fluid. The device can be used to aerosolize medicament containing solutions to produce an aerosol with particles within a desired size range.

Abstract: A mask to facilitate ventilation of a patient. The mask has a face piece, an oropharyngeal airway, and an ambu bag. The oropharyngeal airway is incrementally movable to move the patient's tongue to clear the patient's oropharynx and to assist in sealing the face mask to the patient's face. A method of use is disclosed.

Abstract: The breathing system includes an annular filtration unit having apertures opening radially through inner and outer walls thereof, a central passageway and filtration material between the walls. The filtration unit is disposed in a canister containing a hood, a mouthpiece, a closure and an annular filter in the annular space between the filtration unit and the wall of the canister. Upon removal of the closure, the hood and mouthpieces are deployed and the hood is drawn about an individual's head through an opening in the hood. With the mouthpiece in the individual's mouth, ambient air from a toxic gas or smoke-filled environment is drawn into the canister through the annular filter, and passes radially inwardly through the filtration unit into the central passageway, where the filtered air reverses direction for flow axially into the mouthpiece such that the individual may breathe filtered air. Exhaled air passes into the hood and out through the hood opening.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling air supplied under pressure to a patient suffering from sleep disorders such as apnoea. Controlled pressurized air is supplied to the patient's upper anatomical airways by the apparatus according to the methods of the present invention. The apparatus measures the air flow and pressure to the airway, and determines whether to increase or decrease the pressure based on a determination of several factors, such as the occurrence of an obstructive or central apnoea, hyperventilation, air leakage and acoustical vibrations. Occurrences of apnoeas may be stored by the apparatus and read by a clinician at a later date.

Abstract: A bi/multi-directional air flow filter cartridge includes a filter pad and a filter pad base. The filter pad includes: outer filter walls made of a filter material suitable for filtering at least particulates, the walls being spaced apart to define an inner area therebetween, and to allow air to pass into the inner area from two or more directions; and a gas/vapor adsorber/absorber member, located within the inner area defined by the outer filter walls, the filter walls maintaining a spacing between inner surfaces of the walls and the gas/vapor adsorber/absorber member, wherein the gas/vapor adsorber/absorber member includes an adsorber/absorber upstream portion of its outer surface structured to, in response to a source of suction, receive air that has already been filtered by the filter walls, such that the air passes through at least a minimum length of the gas/vapor adsorber/absorber member and then out of an opening in the filter pad at a downstream portion of the gas/vapor adsorber/absorber member.

Abstract: An indicating device for indicating the number of metered doses of medicaments that have been dispensed from or remain in a container having a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between an open and closed position. The indicating device includes a base member adapted to be mounted to the container, a cap member moveably connected to the base member, one or more indicator members rotatably mounted to the cap member and an indicating mechanism adapted to rotate the indicator member an incremental amount upon a predetermined number of axial movements of the cap member relative to the base member. A preferred embodiment of the indicating device includes a ratchet wheel, a drive member selectively engaging the indicating member, a pawl selectively engaging the ratchet wheel, and a non-return member adapted to selectively engage the ratchet wheel so as to maintain a unidirectional rotation of the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube which facilitates rapid intubation of the trachea, especially in situations where anatomical variation creates difficult intubating conditions, includes a portion that can be bent during placement to control the position of the distal end of the tube. The distal end of the endotracheal tube may be selectively curled or bent by a mechanism or fluid passage accessible from the proximal end of the endotracheal tube. The endotracheal tube provides for manipulation of the insertion end without occluding the lumen of the tube, to facilitate placement of the tube.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling air supplied under pressure to a patient suffering from sleep disorders such as apnoea. Controlled pressurized air is supplied to the patient's upper anatomical airways by the apparatus according to the methods of the present invention. The apparatus measures and/or calculates the inspiratory air flow, volume and pressure to the airway. The apparatus further determines whether to increase or decrease the airway pressure based on a determination of several factors, such as the occurrence events representing a sleep problem, duration of inspiratory air flow, correspondence of the inspiratory air flow curve to a sinusoidal curve, air leakage and acoustical vibrations. Occurrences of events representing a sleep problem may be stored by the apparatus and read by a clinician at a later date.

Abstract: A endotracheal tube for patient ventilation is modified to permit measurement of pressure at the patient trachea by providing a chamber in the end of the ET tube to be located in the patient, airway. This chamber has a highly pliant external wall with a degree of redundancy and is connected to a pressure measuring device exterior of the patient by a lumen in the wall of the ET tube. In addition, apparatus for controlling airway pressure during exhalation comprises valve means connected via a first inlet to an exhalation tube from a patient airway, connected to a source of negative pressure through an outlet and having a second inlet with a variable flow control means for controlling the flow of gas therethrough. Gas pressure is controlled within the valve by varying the pressure gradient between the upstream and downstream sides of the second inlet so that it equals the pressure gradient between the patient airway and the downstream side of the second inlet.

Abstract: An aromatic travel mask that fits over the nose and mouth area of a wearer's face for filtration of air, particularly recycled air in the travel compartment of a common carrier, the travel mask having a face shield with an aroma patch that emits a pleasant aroma and a retainer such as a head band for retaining the face shield against a user's head, the retainer having slidable ear plugs for blocking noise. The face shield also has foldable eye flaps for blocking light when the flaps are extended, the flaps preferably having thermal gel packs for cooling or warming the eye lid area during use.

Abstract: A securing device for an endotracheal tube preferably includes a shield having an opening through which the endotracheal tube can pass and a clamp mounted on the shield for holding the endotracheal tube. A bite block for preventing occlusion of the endotracheal tube by a patient's teeth may be mounted on an opposite surface of the shield from the clamp.

Abstract: The invention is a ventilator whose servo-controller adjusts the degree of support by adjusting the profile of the pressure waveform as well as the pressure modulation amplitude. As the servo-controller increases the degree of support by increasing the pressure modulation amplitude, it also generates a progressively more square, and therefore efficient, pressure waveform; when the servo-controller decreases the degree of support by decreasing the pressure modulation amplitude, it also generates a progressively more smooth and therefore comfortable pressure waveform.

Abstract: The invention is an inhaler for aerosolization of medicament with a unique dosage counter. The dosage counter has a first and second counting ring and a coupling device that interconnects the counting rings. The counter being advanced by a unique armature mechanism that is interconnected with the actuation mechanism of the inhaler to insure accurate counting of doses.

Abstract: A breathing filter with a nose mask, strap(s), and a filter member. The strap(s) are elastic, and serve to hold the nose mask over the user's nose. The filter member is a plug-in device allowing removal of the filter member and replacement of the filter member cartridge or the filter material.