Abstract: In one embodiment, a nasal cannula is shaped to fit within a user's nares, where the nasal cannula includes at least one prong allowing high flow delivery of humidified gases and creates positive airway pressure in the patient's airway. The prongs have angled ends such that, in use, gases flowing through the prongs are directed to the user's nasal passages. The nasal cannula body is partially swivelling and preferably has a ball joint connector. In another embodiment the nasal cannula may have at least one flared end prong that preferably seals within a patient's nare.

Abstract: A tracheostoma device for cooperation with a tracheostoma device holder superimposed on a tracheostoma of a person includes a tubular body and a container. The tubular body is at the proximal end of the tracheostoma device. The tubular body includes at least one inlet upon exhalation through the tracheostoma device, and is adapted for cooperation with the tracheostoma device holder. The container being at the distal end of the tracheostoma device, includes at least one outlet upon exhalation through the tracheostoma device and is adapted for housing a heat and moisture exchanging foam. The tubular body and the container have a hardness of 100 Shore A or less.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically controlling the flow of oxygen from a gas source is provided and includes the step of installing a gas concentrator device on an outlet port associated with the gas source. The gas concentrator device is configured to sealingly mate with a conduit connector for delivering a gas from the gas source to a conduit that is associated with the conduit connector. The method also includes the step of automatically providing gas flow from the gas source to the conduit by sealingly coupling the conduit connector to the gas concentrator device and whereupon removal of the conduit connector from the gas concentrator device causes the gas flow to automatically cease.

Abstract: This invention relates to nebulizers, which are machines that change a liquid form to a mist consisting of micron sized droplets. More specifically the invention relates to liquid medicament nebulizers, for example for delivering a mist of medicament to eyes, nasal passages, and lungs. A housing has a form which rolls to house first and second reservoirs, an expansion chamber, and a vibration element. The housing has a center of mass which urges the nebulizer to roll toward a storage position where the liquid drains from the first reservoir through the drain passage to the second reservoir.

Abstract: A system for the emergency oxygen supply of passengers in an aircraft includes at least one primary oxygen mask and at least one secondary oxygen mask arranged in the aircraft in a compartment above a seat, and a retaining receptacle arranged in the compartment. The at least one primary oxygen mask and at least one secondary oxygen mask are each connected to an oxygen source by way of a tube. The at least one primary oxygen mask drops out of the compartment before the at least one secondary oxygen mask when a flap of the compartment opens. The at least one secondary oxygen mask is arranged in the at least one retaining receptacle. The retaining receptacle is connected to the compartment by a first connector and to an activation device of the oxygen source by a second connector. The at least one primary oxygen mask can activate the oxygen source.

Abstract: A PAP system includes a PAP device to generate a supply of pressurized air, a patient interface adapted to form a seal with the patient's face, air delivery tubing to interconnect the patient interface and the PAP device, and a cover that substantially encloses at least a portion of the PAP device and a portion of the air delivery tubing. The cover allows the PAP device to be carried by and/or supported on the patient's head.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide for an inspiratory limb for a breathing circuit that includes a first segment that comprises a first heater wire circuit and a second segment that comprises a second heater wire circuit. The inspiratory limb can include an intermediate connector that includes a connection circuit that electrically couples the first heater wire circuit to the second heater wire circuit. The inspiratory limb can be configured to operate in two modes wherein, in a first mode, electrical power passes through the first electrical connection to provide power to the first heater wire circuit without providing power to the second heater wire circuit, and in a second mode, electrical power pass through the first electrical connection to provide power to both the first heater wire circuit and the second heater wire circuit.

Abstract: A conduit for use in a pressure support system for communicating a flow of pressurized gas to the airway of a patient includes a first strip of a first material disposed helically about a central longitudinal axis such that subsequent helical convolutions of the first strip are disposed adjacent each other, and a second strip of a second material disposed helically about the central longitudinal axis along the first strip. The second strip is coupled between the subsequent helical convolutions of the first strip so as to form a hollow conduit. The first material is structured to prevent the passage of fluids therethrough. The second material is structured to allow passage of a liquid therethrough while inhibiting passage of gases therethrough.

Abstract: Positive airway pressure (“PAP”) systems and methods are provided which supply a patient with a range of pressures for treatment when the patient is determined to be asleep, and an awake pressure for use when the patient is determined to be awake, the awake pressure configured for the comfort of the patient. The awake pressure is configured to be lower than the lower bound of the pressure range and can be a therapeutic or sub-therapeutic pressure. The PAP systems and methods disclosed herein advantageously allow for the pressure range to be tailored for effective treatment of sleep disordered breathing while allowing the awake pressure to be set for the comfort of the patient. This can advantageously increase both the efficacy of the treatment of SDB and patient compliance with the treatment.

Abstract: A therapy device that includes an air conduit that is configured both to secure the patient interface to the patient as well as provide pressurised air to the patient. The positioning and stabilising structure of the patient interface may include magnets that assist in positioning the positioning and stabilising structure and also assist in positioning the air conduit of the positioning and stabilising structure to interact with the mask assembly.

Abstract: A blower includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet, a stationary component provided to the housing, an impeller positioned between the inlet of the housing and the stationary component, a shield portion including an outer edge substantially aligning with or extending beyond an outer edge of the impeller, and a motor adapted to drive the impeller. The housing and the stationary component cooperate to define a volute that directs air towards the outlet, and the housing includes a separating wall constructed and arranged to divide the volute into a high speed airpath region and a low speed airpath region. The outer edge of the shield portion and the separating wall define a gap between the high speed airpath region and the low speed airpath region.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to respiratory interfaces for use in treating various respiratory issues including, but not limited to, sleep disorder breathing (e.g. snoring, sleep apnea), and in other forms of assisted and unassisted respiration. Embodiments disclosed herein further relate to nasal prongs, flanges and valves for use with respiratory interfaces. Embodiments disclosed herein further relate to evaluating patient compliance with a respiratory interface and harvesting energy for the respiratory.

Abstract: Devices and systems for monitoring weaning of a subject from a respiratory ventilator including a processing logic configured to characterize distinct patterns in a series of CO2 waveforms, the distinct patterns indicative of the effectiveness of a weaning process; and to provide an indication relating to the effectiveness of the weaning process.

Abstract: An anesthesia system has a unit for measuring oxygen concentration delivered to a patient, a unit for sending an alarm to an operator if the measured oxygen concentration is below a first threshold value, and a unit for automatically increasing a setting of oxygen in a fresh gas setting, so that the oxygen concentration delivered to a patient is increased, if the measured oxygen concentration is below a second threshold value. The system allows for increased safety or a lowered fresh gas flow with a maintained safety level.

Abstract: A system includes a nasal cannula having a flexible tube configured to transmit oxygen gas to a user, an optical fiber coupled to the nasal cannula and configured to transmit light having a frequency spectrum range at least including that of light resulting from combustion of the nasal cannula while transmitting the oxygen gas to the user, a detector operatively coupled to the optical fiber and configured to detect the light transmitted through the optical fiber, and a valve. The valve is configured to be actuated to interrupt the transmission of the oxygen gas to the user through the nasal cannula in response to a signal from the detector.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a portable vaporization device whereby the vaporization device extracts active compounds from various liquids, fluids, oils, and waxes for inhalation and may heat up any desired amount of a vaporizable substance. The vaporization device has a button that ignites the liquefied gas to produce a flame. The vaporization device has a button to start the feeding mechanism, which pushes the vaporizable substance against a tube that the flame is heating to turn the vaporizable substance more viscous where it then runs down the tube into a series of wires, further heating the vaporizable substance, turning the vaporizable substance into vapor. The dosage of the vaporization device may be set to provide a lower amount of vapor to a greater amount of vapor. The button may be pushed to produce as much vapor as desired.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery system is disclosed that is a single-use (disposable) continuous nebulizer system designed for use with mechanically ventilated patients to aerosolize medications for inhalation with a general purpose nebulizer, or for connection with devices usable in endoscopic procedures. The system separates the liquid reservoir from the nebulization process taking place either at the adapter hub, where it fits into an endotracheal tube (ETT), or a gas humidifier, where the aerosol may treat a gas used in an endoscopic procedure, with a multi-lumen tube configured to nebulize liquid and air at its distal end. The refillable liquid reservoir is mounted away from the immediate treatment zone, avoiding orientation issues associated with other types of nebulizers having a self-contained reservoir. The system can produce aerosols having a wide range of droplet sizes, depending upon central lumen diameter, with values of MMAD that range from 4 to 30 ?m.

Abstract: The present artificial respiration ventilator (10) comprises, inter alia, a flow sensor arrangement (44, 48) for quantitatively detecting a gas flow in a breathing line arrangement (30), comprising a distal flow sensor (48) located farther from the patient end of the ventilation line arrangement (30). and a proximal flow sensor (44) located closer to the patient end of the ventilation line arrangement (30), and has a control device (18) at least for processing measurement signals of the flow sensor arrangement (44, 48), wherein the control device (18) is designed for error detection based on the measurement signals of the distal (48) and/or the proximal sensor (44).

Abstract: A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface, opposite the front surface, and adapted in use to face the patient. The frame defines an inner wall and an outer wall extending from the rear surface, the inner and outer walls being spaced to define a channel therebetween. A cushion is removably attachable to the frame such that the cushion and frame are repeatably engagable with and disengagable from one another. The cushion includes a side wall to be inserted into the channel of the frame, the side wall having a first interlocking surface that engages a second interlocking surface provided in the channel when the cushion and frame are engaged with one another. The first and second interlocking surfaces interlock with one another to removably attach the cushion to the frame.

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.