Abstract: A mask apparatus for a respiratory treatment can permit delivery of breathable gas to a user. In one example, the mask may employ a frame and cushion to form a seal for both mouth and nose. The frame may be adapted for coupling with a respiratory treatment apparatus so as to permit communication of a pressurized gas from the respiratory treatment apparatus. The cushion, which may be foam, may have a substantially under the nose configuration or over the nose configuration. The mask may have a common plenum chamber for both nose and mouth. The cushion may further define a centrally open lip superior region. The cushion may be adapted to couple with the frame directly or to the frame in conjunction with a cushion support clip. Various features of the cushion may further promote sealing and comfort for the under the nose design.

Abstract: A floatable coupling between a patient interface device and a frame body is provided. The floatable coupling includes a number of elastic bands extending between the patient interface device and the frame body. The elastic bands couple the patient interface device and the frame body in a manner that allows the patient interface device to float relative to the frame body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a speaking valve for laryngectomized and tracheotomized persons that is easy and economical to produce. According to the invention, the speaking valve comprises a proximal first opening and a distal second opening, a filter, which is at least partially surrounded by the housing, which filter is made of an elastic material, and has a proximal first end and a distal second end, wherein the filter partially protrudes beyond an end face of the housing at the distal second opening, and wherein a cover is connected by means of at least one partial region of the bottom surface thereof to a top side of the filter at the distal second end of the filter.

Abstract: A respiratory interface device is provided. The respiratory interface device includes a cushion structured to be coupled to a faceplate that includes a peripheral end and a coupling assembly. The faceplate peripheral end includes a formable material and a portion of faceplate peripheral end is a customized contoured end. Cushion is coupled to faceplate adjacent faceplate customized contoured end, cushion conforming to faceplate customized contoured end.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a vaporizer that vaporizes at least one active ingredient of a plant material. In response to receiving a first input to the vaporizer, the plant material is heated, in a first heating step. An indication of the temperature of the plant material is detected, and, in response to detecting an indication that the temperature of the plant material is at a first temperature, the first heating step is terminated, by withholding causing further temperature increase of the plant material. The first temperature is less than 95 percent of the vaporization temperature of the active ingredient. Subsequently, a second input is received at the vaporizer. In response thereto, the plant material is heated to the vaporization temperature, in a second heating step. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mask bead for a patient interface that comprises a contact area, a nose bridge area having a width (B1), side areas, a base area, and a bearing area on a patient. The bearing area extends from the side areas, the base area and the nose bridge area to a central opening is being designed as a sealing lip which frames the central opening. The mask bead further has a maximum width (B2), the ratio B1 to B2 being one to three or greater.

Abstract: A mask assembly includes nasal interface, e.g., in the form of a pair of nozzles, at least one joining portion provided to each side of the nasal interface, and a headgear coupled or otherwise provided to or extending from the joining portion, that is looped around the patient's ears. The joining portion is small and compact and may be readily affixed to an existing nasal arrangement, i.e., retrofitted. The joining portion and the headgear can be formed in separate components, or they can be formed as an integral or one-piece arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for air filtration are disclosed. The apparatus includes a body and first and second replaceable filters. The body of the apparatus further contains an air-exchange assembly and a filter receiver attached to the air exchange assembly. The air-exchange assembly contains an exhaust tube with an open end and a closed end, two wings on opposite sides of the exhaust tube, and an intake check valve and an exhaust check valve inside the exhaust tube. The first replaceable filter surrounds the filter receiver; and the second replaceable filter is inside the filter receiver. Several apertures and the check valves are strategically disposed in the exhaust tube to achieve optimal air filtration and avoid contamination of a user's exhaust.

Abstract: The invention relates to a small-volume nebulizer that is pre-filled with at least one unit-dose of medicine and hermetically sealed until use. The nebulizer may be sealed at the top with a removable cap that may be detached at the time of use and replaced with a patient connector. Likewise, the nebulizer may be sealed at the bottom with a bottom cap that is replaced with a gas source at the beginning of a therapeutic aerosol treatment.

Abstract: A piercing device for use in internally pierced blister delivery devices include a base, a piercer body and an internal fluid path. The internal fluid path includes one or more inlet channels into a central cavity which is connected to one or more delivery channels and exit ports. The cavity is defined by angular walls and top to create turbulence in the fluid flow and to produce a controllable spray, mist, drops, plume or stream delivery. The piercer body also provides a pointed lancet disposed in the center of the exit ports for piercing the lidstock of a formed blister.

Abstract: A wye connector has a patient coupling end. The patient coupling end has a first connector surface and a second connector surface. The first connector surface has a first diameter at an axial location along the patient coupling end. The second connector surface has a second diameter at the same axial location along the patient coupling end. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter. The second connector surface projects axially outward beyond the first connector surface.

Abstract: An inhalator includes a housing with first and second compartments, and a substance. The second second compartment has an air entry port, the inhalator has a first end proximal to the first compartment and second end proximal to the second compartment, and the inhalation part is at the second end. The first compartment stores a substance and has in an inoperative state of the inhalator sealing bodies to define a sealed chamber for containing a substance. The bodies are movable together with the substance from the first compartment into the second compartment to define an inoperative state of the inhalator. Air enters through the air entry port and takes up, such as by evaporation, the substance contained in the second compartment. A release device moves the bodies into the second compartment and allows the air to flow to the air entry port in the operative state.

Abstract: A method for reducing a loss of medication from a nebulizer includes the steps of entraining a liquid medication into a first flow of a pressurized gas into a nebulizer chamber and also entraining an additional amount of the liquid medication into a second flow of ambient air drawn into the nebulizer chamber through an opening when a patient inhales through the nebulizer chamber. When the patient exhales, a portion of the exhaled breath is directed into the outlet of the nebulizer chamber, thereby increasing a backpressure within the outlet and substantially stopping the second flow of ambient air into the nebulizer chamber, thereby decreasing the amount of medication lost to the ambient environment while the patient is not inhaling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing device, a storage device and a method for dispensing a medical formulation. Multiple doses of the formulation are stored in a carrier having multiple storage members, each storage member containing a single dose. Each storage member comprises one duct or nozzle for dispensing the respective dose. The dispensing direction of the ducts or nozzles is directed in a lengthwise or indexing direction of the carrier. The storage device of the carrier is a peelable blister strip, wherein the ducts or nozzles can be opened one after the other by peeling the blister strip.

Abstract: A respiratory assistance apparatus includes a flow generator and a humidifier. The humidifier includes a humidification chamber. The humidification chamber comprises a water tub that is configured to receive a volume of water. A lid is hingedly coupled to the water tub for enclosing a volume contained within the water tub.

Abstract: A device for providing an auxiliary aft passage to a trachea comprises a cannula member, a trocar member and a cap member. The cannula member has longitudinal walls defining a channel, proximal and distal openings at opposed ends of the channel, and a side opening near a distal end of the longitudinal walls. The trocar member includes a proximal flanged end and an elongated member extending from the flanged end, the elongated member being insertable within the channel and having a pointed end projecting through the distal opening when the elongated member is inserted in the channel. The cap member has an inner cavity and is adapted to sealingly engage the cannula member, when the device is not in use, such that the longitudinal walls of the cannula member are contained within the inner cavity and the sharp tip of the trocar member is protectively housed within the cap member.

Abstract: A medicament delivery device for a disposable container having at least one chamber for a liquid medicament encapsulated in the container by at least one movable plunger. The medicament delivery device is elongated along a longitudinal axis (A), has proximal and distal ends, and includes a housing with proximal housing section configured for accommodating the disposable container and a distal housing section; a plunger rod configured for contacting the movable plunger; and a drive mechanism arranged in the distal housing section for applying, when the medicament delivery device is activated, a force on the movable plunger in a proximal direction via the plunger rod. The plunger rod includes an outer periphery having at least two axially separated recesses or cut-out portions for retaining liquid medicament that leaks along the plunger rod toward the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method are configured to utilize patient effort to increase cough flow of a subject by limiting airway collapse by causing a series of exsufflation events over an individual exhalation of the subject. A single exhalation of the subject is segmented into a series of exsufflation events by a processor configured to toggle a pressure regulator between a first airway closed mode and a second airway open mode. The processor is configured such that the transitions between the closed and open modes are initiated based on predetermined timing or based on output signals generated by sensors monitoring one or more gas parameters (for example, pressure) in the airway of the patient.

Abstract: An inhaler including a medicament-containing vessel; an actuator body for receiving the vessel and having a medicament delivery outlet, wherein the vessel is releasably attachable to the actuator body; a dose counter integrated into the actuator body; and a first indicium on the vessel and a second indicium on the actuator body, wherein the first indicium and the second indicium identify the vessel and the actuator body to be part of the same metered-dose inhaler. Also provided is a kit including the metered-dose inhaler and at least one pair of stickers and a method for manufacturing the metered-dose inhaler.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to an automatic fluid alarm that provides a fluid-communication path between a secondary fluid source and a whistle port when a primary fluid source experiences a reduction in pressure, the automatic fluid alarm being user resettable by disconnecting the primary fluid source or otherwise reducing the primary source pressure and activating a reset member, thereby interrupting the fluid-communication path. In some examples, a piston member may provide a movable seal for providing the fluid-communication path and its interruption. An exemplary piston member may be slidably reset in a non-interrupting mode by an adequate primary fluid pressure, and slidably set in an interrupting mode by a user activation. The interrupting mode may silence the whistle which may facilitate user communication during what may be a stressful primary fluid source failure event. Some exemplary automatic fluid alarms may conserve secondary fluid when the whistle is silenced.