Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a medicament from a pressurised canister comprising a mouthpiece, a seat for engagement with the top of the canister and a housing provided with means for guiding and/or holding the canister.

Abstract: A sub-housing received within a housing of an apparatus for supplying breathable gas, includes a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet and an impeller in fluid communication between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The impeller is structured and configured to be releasably engaged with a shaft associated with an electric motor that is disposed exterior to the housing, whereby rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the impeller.

Abstract: A nebulizer for efficiently and reliably delivering aerosolized fluid to an inhaling patient is disclosed. The nebulizer includes a fluid channel air inlet and fluid channel air inlet valve responsive to either a manual force external of the nebulizer, or a patient's breathing, to begin the nebulization process. Also provided is a method of providing nebulization including the steps of moving a fluid channel air inlet valve against a fluid channel air inlet so that a negative pressure may build up over the fluid in the fluid channel to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir and begin nebulization during inhalation.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the provision of assisted breathing by the delivery of a controlled pressurized airflow to the pulmonary airway of a user with breathing disorders. The system comprises a source of compressed respiratory gas (112), a user interface unit (115) including at least one Venturi device (120) and a thin flexible tubing (116) connecting between the source of high pressure gas (112) and the Venturi device. The system and method provide a regulated and controlled flow of air to the user (105) in accordance with the user needs. The invention further discloses a novel small light-weight user interface for replacing prior art breathing masks.

Abstract: A ventilation interface device is disclosed that may include a hollow cannula, at least one nasal insert and at least one exhaust port or may include a mask designed to cover a user's nose, mouth or both nose and mouth. The at least one nasal insert may be formed so as to fit in any size nares of any user and may be detachable. Additionally, the at least one exhaust port may be in any of a variety of orientations and, in some embodiments, contain sealable ports.

Abstract: Wearable Drinking Garment is a series of inner skeletal tubes lined together and attached to form an X that straps flat around the chest, back and under arm area, with sipping tube at top end and airflow stub tube at bottom end; covered and protected by inner insulated lining to lock in temperature of water/liquid in extreme weather conditions; outer mesh lining for heavy resistance against rough and extreme activities. These three together form the X-shape Vest that locks onto the body, can go under or over clothing, is hands free and lightweight with water flowing through a series of flat tubes, giving an evenly balanced comfortable glove-tight fit to the body, with easy slip on/off convenience. Compete at higher levels while never stopping to get a drink. Second generation has oxygen tubes, mini tank for better breathing, ie: medical purposes, diving, space travel, short/long term mining and more.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for delivering to a patient a drug composition from a container which contains the drug composition where the container is adapted to be placed in a dispensing mode thereof on application of an actuating condition thereto is disclosed. The device includes a dispensing unit adapted to receive the container, the dispensing unit having an actuating mechanism operable to apply the actuating condition to the container and an outlet through which the drug composition is dispensable from the device, and a removable casing unit for the dispensing unit. The dispensing and casing units have securing features for releasably, fixedly securing the units together, and the dispensing unit is operable to apply the actuating condition to the container when fixedly secured to the casing unit and when independent from the casing unit.

Abstract: A traction device for use on a support surface which includes a body contacting assembly which releasably contacts the a suitable anatomical region of the patient, a gas spring and associated assembly, the gas spring variable between an extended rest position and a retracted force exerting position, and means of relieving traction force exerted by the gas spring and associated assembly.

Abstract: A rebreather apparatus having a gas scrubber canister with a generally oval or elliptical cross section. The canister being configured so that exhaled gases pass through the adsorbent in a radial manner through a generally hollow tube having the same cross sectional shape as the canister. The shape of the canister allows for increasing the volume of the canister relative to round cylinder shaped canisters without making it too cumbersome such that it effects the efficiency of a diver. The canisters have at least one removable end cap and the end caps are configured for housing gas addition and control systems. The rebreather apparatus can be rapidly reconfigured to provide a variety of fully closed or semi closed circuit configurations and it can be reconfigured to be worn in a variety of ways based on tasks to be performed and diver preference.

Abstract: A methodology and apparatus for determining a target ventilation setting for delivering ventilatory support based upon a function of measured PCO2. Patient ventilation is measured over time during a learning period in which ventilatory support is provided. A target ventilation is calculated as a function of the measured ventilation. Adjustments to the target ventilation are then made using a measure of partial pressure of CO2 for the patient. Preferably, the measure is compared to a threshold PCO2 and the target ventilation may be increased or decreased based upon the comparison. The target ventilation may then be increased or decreased based upon a fixed percentage of the absolute value of the difference between the measured PCO2 and the threshold PCO2.

Abstract: A liquid medication cartridge includes an accommodating portion for accommodating a liquid medication; a liquid discharge portion having a discharge port for discharging the liquid medication by using an ink jet technique, a communicating member for establishing communication between the accommodating portion and the liquid discharge portion and a filling member for filling the liquid discharge portion with the liquid medication.

Abstract: A modified laryngeal mask airway device (LMA-device) is provided with means to improve ease of insertion, reliability of function and higher seal pressure (i.e., cuff pressure ratio). The LMA-device includes an indented section of the airway tube to offer locating means and purchase for the inserting finger, and extended mask aperture bars to increase the effective ventilating area of the mask and reduce the possibility of epiglottis displacement occasioned by mask insertion. The LMA-device further includes a modification of the airway tube angle of attachment to the mask, and provision of a posterior or back-cushion covering the entire posterior surface of the mask.

Abstract: This invention is a neonatal airway adapter (10) with a sliding internal passage (54), which virtually eliminates void volumes (112) within the bore (76) of the airways, such that mixing of the exhales pages with void gases is reduced, and the waveform of the breath is maintained without undue distortion. Furthermore, the virtual elimination of void volumes reduces the level of re-breathing. The neonatal airway adapter connects to endotracheal tube adapters is such a way as to nullify the effect of the differing internal diameters (20) and internal lengths which are used in ET adapters currently available. The cross section of the internal bore of the airway through which the breath flows from the ET adapter to the connector of the ventilator is maintained almost constant, especially in the region of the gas sampling point (66), to ensure that reasonable conditions of laminar flow, and accurate sampling are maintained.

Abstract: Method for making a filter cartridge that is suitable for attachment to a respiratory mask. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a mass of filter material; (b) providing a filter cartridge housing that has an inlet and outlet and a sidewall that includes sheet material; and (c) thermoforming the sheet material of the housing sidewall around at least part of the mass of filter material to place the housing sidewall in direct contact with the mass of filter material to encapsulate the filter material so that fluid is prevented from passing through the filter cartridge from the inlet to the outlet without being filtered by the mass of filter material.

Abstract: An inhalation apparatus for medicinal use which will deliver aerosolized medication to the patient that comprises up to about 80% of the medication aerosolized in essentially the same particle size distribution of the aerosol mist that originates from the nebulizer which produces the mist. The apparatus also provides delivered dose consistency over a wide range of patient breathing parameters.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for adaptively detecting a patient trigger threshold. The system and method uses fuzzy-logic control algorithm to detect an appropriate trigger threshold by monitoring the number of patient triggers within a predetermined time frame. The system and method also detects an appropriated trigger threshold by monitoring the complete absence of false triggers over a predetermined time frame, increases in average flow, increases in pressure differential, and pressure drop, in order to lower the trigger threshold. The method and system of the present invention is selectable to the user, and adaptively changes the inspiratory trigger threshold.

Abstract: The respiratory booster machine is configured to generate and transmit particularly designed and timely delivered vibrations to the lungs of a subject to improve ventilation, augment diffusion of gases across alveolar membrane, facilitate pulmonary blood perfusion, prevent focal alveolar collapse, and enhance effective expectoration. The machine has an acoustic signal generator having modulated wave-generating circuitry and an acoustic signal transmitter having an electro-acoustic transducer. Vibrations from the acoustic signal are induced into the subject's air stream, in one embodiment by a specially designed tube system, and then transmitted to a subject's airways via any type of endotracheal tube, respiratory mask, nasal prong, or directly through the chest wall. Acoustic signal receivers connected to a computer receive and analyze the effect of the vibrations on the subject.

Abstract: An adapter for use on an anesthesia machine having of three or more vaporizer units removably mounted thereon by an interlock/exclusion system. The interlock/exclusion system includes plural vertically oriented pins that are coupled together and are operative to move upward to prevent opening of any vaporizer units if one is open. One of the vaporizer units includes a horizontally oriented pin which moves outward when that unit is opened. The adaptor is arranged to mount that vaporizer on the machine and to couple the horizontally oriented pin to an associated vertically oriented pin of the interlock/exclusion system.

Abstract: An inhaler operable to control a temperature of a medicament of the inhaler includes a medicament reservoir being configured to store a medicament therein. A medicament ejector is operably coupled to the medicament reservoir and is configured to eject the medicament from the reservoir to deliver the medicament to a patient. A controllable thermal source is in thermal communication with at least an inside portion of the medicament reservoir and is operable to controllably affect a temperature of the medicament. A thermal control system is in operable communication with the controllable thermal source and is configured to control the thermal source to maintain the medicament within a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: A method of making an internal nasal apparatus (10) configured to retain and deliver a quantity of compound within the nose of a user over a minimum period.