Abstract: A nostril-shielding nasal mask includes a body including a top portion provided with an arcuate anterior section and arcuate posterior section engaged therewith, a hinge attached to the top portion, a bottom portion attached to the hinge and including a apertures aligned with the nostrils of the user, a scented and/or odor neutralizing air filter removably inserted into the bottom portion, and fasteners attached to the top portion and the bottom portion wherein the fasteners are configured to maintain the top portion and the bottom portion directly abutted against the nose bridge of the user and the nostrils of the user. The fasteners maintain the bottom portion at a first raised, non-operating position and a second lowered, operating position. The arcuate anterior section is engaged with the bottom portion when the bottom portion is disposed at the second lowered, operating position.

Abstract: A clear, soft and malleable plastic constructed face mask is provided that has an elastic strap that is used to secure the mask onto a patient's face. The mask comprises of a malleable aluminium strip on the top for easy molding of the mask around the patient's nose; a front opening covered with a paper filter; and two side openings covered with a paper filter. The mask provides supplemental oxygen through connection to a Y-shaped respiratory/ventilator circuit or standard oxygen tubing. The mask also allows the patient to breathe comfortably without a supplemental oxygen source. It has ribbed tubing for gas sampling. The mask allows a health care employee to visualize breathing on the clear plastic material. The mask provides filtration of aerosolized contaminants.

Abstract: A patient interface system for delivery of a supply of air at positive pressure to the entrance of a patient's airways for treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an air delivery tube connected to a flexible portion of a plenum; a vent structure having sufficient rigidity to support its own weight under gravity and/or not to block or fold under tube movement or tube drag; and a patient interface structure. The patient interface structure includes a seal forming structure arranged on a top portion of the plenum; and a seal positioning and stabilizing structure connected to a flexible portion of the plenum. The seal-forming structure is substantially decoupled from a tube drag force.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for monitoring the disconnection of a patient interface system during the ventilation, in which values which are indicative for the time curve of the respiratory gas flow are established and subjected to data evaluation, and wherein an alarm is triggered on the basis of the data evaluation if at least one value which is indicative for the time curve of the respiratory gas flow deviates from a specific limit value for a specific period of time.

Abstract: A nasal breathing and ventilation device, includes ventilation tubes. One end of each ventilation tube is provided with a nasal dilator. Each nasal dilator includes a nasal dilator channel and a plurality of dilator rings. One end of each nasal dilator channel is provided with a through hole. Each nasal dilator is supported and fixed in the nasal cavity by means of the dilator rings thereof, and is not easy to fall out. The end of each nasal dilator channel away from the through hole is in communication with each ventilation tube. The tube wall at the end of each ventilation tube close to the nasal dilator is provided with ventilation holes. The end of each ventilation tube away from the nasal dilator is connected to a ventilator, and the ventilator conveys air into the nasal cavity at a certain pressure.

Abstract: Described is a method of stimulating airways of a mammal comprising: cyclically occluding a nasal air stream at a frequency rate between 50 Hz to 650 Hz. Also described is an apparatus for stimulating airways of a mammal, comprising: a fluid connection to each of a first and second naris of the mammal; and an occluding device configured to cyclically occlude a nasal air stream within each fluid connection at a frequency rate between 100 Hz to 650 Hz.

Abstract: A respiratory mask can include one or a plurality of force sensors configured to detect a force imparted to a user's skin. Output from the one or more sensors can be represented in a way useful to the patient or healthcare provider for adjusting the mask to achieve a desired fitment. A representation of the detected forces can be displayed on a separate display device or on the mask.

Abstract: A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of a breathing gas to an airway of a patient includes a body that defines a cavity therein that is structured to receive the flow of breathing gas. A first aperture defined in the body is positioned and structured to communicate the flow of breathing gas from the cavity to an airway of the patient. A second aperture defined in the body is sized and configured to provide a pathway between the cavity and an ambient environment in which the body is disposed. The patient interface further includes a restrictor element that is selectively coupled to the body. The restrictor element includes a blocking portion that obstructs at least a portion of the second aperture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a manually operable volume-adjustable ventilation device. In some embodiments, the device includes a reservoir with an inlet mechanism, an outlet mechanism, and a volume adjuster configured to move a volume adjustment limit of the reservoir and change an expressed maximum volume of the reservoir. The reservoir may have a body comprising a plurality of movable walls defining an enclosed volume. The walls of the reservoir may be movable such that movement expresses the volume adjustment limit of the reservoir. In addition, the walls may be operably connected by movable structures such that two adjacent walls are be configured to rotate around substantially orthogonal axes with respect to each other when the reservoir moves from an uncompressed to a compressed state. Methods of ventilating a patient that involve the manually operable volume-adjustable ventilation device are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus varies the oxygen concentration level of air delivered to a person for treatment on training purposes. The apparatus includes a display device for displaying current physiological data as well as data from previous sessions for comparison purpose. The oxygen level is precisely controlled by a central processing unit in response to input data from the person.

Abstract: The breathing assistance apparatus of the present invention includes a manifold that is provided with or retrofittable to gases supply and humidifying devices. The manifold allows gases from an oxygen concentrator to be combined with the flow through a gases supply and humidifying device, most usually air. The combined output of oxygen and other breathing gases (air) is then humidified. The breathing assistance apparatus and manifold of the present invention provides a safe method to add oxygen to the input air stream of a gases supply and humidifying device and reduces the amount of accumulation of oxygen within the gases supply device, reducing fire risk should sparking occur within the device.

Abstract: A nasal delivery device for and method of delivering substance to the middle meatus in a nasal cavity of a subject in the treatment of a condition, in particular an inflammatory or infectious condition, thereof, the delivery device comprising: a nosepiece unit (17) including a nosepiece (20) for fitting to a nostril of a subject and a nozzle (25) through which substance is in use delivered to the respective nasal cavity; and a delivery unit (29) for delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece; wherein the delivery device is configured to provide for deposition of a significant fraction of the delivered dose on, around and in the vicinity of the middle meatus.

Abstract: A patient interface to deliver a flow of air at a positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing includes a frame assembly and a cushion assembly configured to removably and repeatably connect to the frame assembly. The frame assembly and the cushion assembly form at least part of a plenum chamber pressurizable to a therapeutic pressure. The cushion assembly comprises a one-piece construction including a seal-forming structure configured to form a seal with a region of a patient's face surrounding the entrance to the patient's airways and a frame connection structure configured to removably and repeatably connect the cushion assembly to the frame assembly. The seal-forming structure comprises a first elastomeric material and the frame connection structure comprises a second elastomeric material, the first elastomeric material comprising a lower durometer or hardness than the second elastomeric material.

Abstract: Patient interfaces for respiratory therapy in the form of nasal interfaces or nasal masks include features that enhance or provide lateral stability of the interface. At least some of the embodiments provide multiple facial contact points or areas located in the general areas of the user's cheeks and/or upper lip. Some embodiments of the nasal interfaces provide advantageous sealing characteristics. The nasal interfaces may provide a controlled expiratory flow to reduce noise. Some embodiments include nasal pillows instead of or in addition to nasal prongs. The nasal pillows can have exhaust vents or can change in length in response to a pressure level within the nasal pillow.

Abstract: A tubing assembly for use in providing a flow of positive pressure breathing gas to a patient. The tubing assembly includes a manifold portion structured to receive the flow of positive pressure breathing gas, a number of tubular portions which each extend from the manifold portion to a distal end which is structured to be coupled to a patient interface for use in delivering the flow of positive pressure breathing gas to the patient, and a reflectance pulse oximetry sensor positioned in or on one of the number of tubular portions. The sensor is structured to be disposed adjacent the patient when the tubing assembly is disposed on the patient for determining blood oxygen saturation levels of the patient.

Abstract: A PAP device is configured to deliver a pressurized flow of respiratory gas to a patient's airways and includes a flow generator with a blower configured to pressurize the flow of respiratory gas. A flexible face seal is positioned at an outlet end of a blower discharge path. A tub configured to hold a body of water and humidify the pressurized flow of respiratory gas includes a heat conducting base plate and a side wall. A base supports both the flow generator and the tub and includes a floor with a heater plate and a spring biased catch configured to secure the tub to the base. The spring biased catch is configured so that applying a downward force on the tub so that the tub presses against the floor of the base secures the tub to the base and allows the tub to be released from the base.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the gas temperature in medical devices by means of a state observer, e.g., in the field of laparoscopy or respiration, and to devices for carrying-out said method.

Abstract: A humidifier for humidifying a flow of pressurized breathable gas to be delivered to a patient includes a dock and a humidification tub. The dock includes a device compartment that is configured to at least partially removably receive an RPT device that is configured to supply the flow of pressurized breathable gas. The dock also includes a humidification compartment that is fluidly connected to the device compartment. The humidification tub is configured to contain a supply of water and is at least partially removably received within the humidification compartment so that, in an operational configuration, the humidification tub is arranged to receive the flow of pressurized breathable gas and output the flow of pressurized breathable gas with increased humidity. The dock also includes a heater fixed to the humidification tub. The heater is configured to heat the supply of water.

Abstract: A hand held facemask assembly includes a handle that can be gripped by a user. A panel is coupled to the handle such that the panel can be positioned in front of the user's face. The panel has a pair of air holes each extending therethrough to pass air therethrough thereby facilitating the user to breathe through the air holes. A filter is coupled to the panel and the filter is comprised of an air permeable material to facilitate the user to breathe through the filter. Moreover, the filter is comprised of a bacterial blocking material to inhibit bacteria from passing therethrough. In this way the filter inhibits airborne transmission of infectious diseases between the user and an individual that is positioned proximate the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a patient respiratory mask that is configured to pick up patient speech from within the patient respiratory mask utilizing a microphone and to transmit that speech to a speaker or other communications device and a method of patient communication utilizing the same.