Abstract: The disclosure relates to medical tubes and methods of manufacturing medical tubes. The tube may be a composite structure made of two or more distinct components that are spirally wound to form an elongate tube. For example, one of the components may be a spirally wound elongate hollow body, and the other component may be an elongate structural component also spirally wound between turns of the spirally wound hollow body The tube need not be made from distinct components, however. For instance, an elongate hollow body formed (e.g., extruded) from a single material may be spirally wound to form an elongate tube. The elongate hollow body itself may in transverse cross-section have a thin wall portion and a relatively thicker or more rigid reinforcement portion. The tubes can be incorporated into a variety of medical circuits or may be employed for other medical uses.

Abstract: Headgear for a respiratory mask assembly includes at least one strap. The at least one strap includes one or more bladders filled with a gel.

Abstract: An anesthetic circuit is provided for treating a patient. The anesthetic circuit includes a membrane having a plurality of hollow fibers. Also provided is a fluid separation apparatus connectable to an anesthetic circuit. In a further embodiment, a method is provided for anesthetic treatment of a patient.

Abstract: A control system provides automated control of gas washout of a patient interface, such as a mask or nasal prongs. A gas washout vent assembly of the system may include a variable exhaust area, such as one defined by gears, radial exhaust revolvers and/or flow diverters for a conduit having a variable gas passage channel. The vent assembly may be attached substantially near or included with the patient interface. An actuator of the assembly, such as a solenoid, motor or voice coil, manipulates the vent assembly. The actuator may be configured for control by a processor to change the exhaust area of the vent assembly based on various methodologies including, for example, sleep detection, disordered breathing event detection and/or leak detection.

Abstract: Techniques for single lung ventilation (SLV) include a hollow main tube with outer diameter sized to fit inside a bronchus of a patient. The length of the main tube is sufficient for a distal end of the main tube to reach a first side bronchus from a proximal end configured to be located in a vicinity of a mouth of the patient. The hollow main tube has a ventilating orifice separated from the distal end at a location that corresponds to a different second side bronchus. A hollow tubular sleeve is moveably disposed inside and longitudinally aligned with the main tube. The sleeve is configured to be positioned in at least two positions: a first position that does not block the ventilating orifice; and, a second position that does block the ventilating orifice.

Abstract: A respiratory interface device is provided. The respiratory interface device includes at least one elongated support member structured to contact a user. The support member has at least one conduit portion and at least one porous portion. The conduit portion is structured to allow the passage of gas therethrough. The conduit portion is structured to be in fluid communication with a pressure generating system and with the porous portion. The porous portion is structured to allow for axial passage of gas therethrough and for radial exhaust of gas therefrom.

Abstract: Vaporizing devices and related methods for controlling an amount of substance being vaporized for consumption by a user are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a vaporizing device includes a casing configured to hold a substance for vaporizing. The vaporizing device also includes a plunger comprising a heating element inserted within the casing. The vaporizing device also includes a mechanism configured to advance the substance within the casing. Further, the vaporizing device includes a mouthpiece comprising an atomized configured to vaporize the material using the heating element.

Abstract: A device provides respiratory treatment such as for sleep disordered breathing and other respiratory conditions in a discreet configuration to provide a minimally invasive system. The system may include a flow pressurizer apparatus configured to generate a pressurized flow of air through a small bore delivery conduit toward a patient interface. The system may further include a treatment compensator coupled with the fine bore delivery conduit. The treatment compensator may be configured at the patient interface to reduce pressure for patient inspiration. A processor may control adjustments to the pressure generated by the flow pressurizer apparatus.

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: Methods and systems are provided for intra-airway breath sensors where intra-airway breath sensors are not located within a ventilation gas delivery circuit, but are exposed to spontaneous respiration airflow from a patient. Furthermore, methods and systems of the present invention may be used to protect an intra-airway breath sensor from contacting tissue or accumulating debris that may impair abilities of the intra-airway breath sensors.

Abstract: A venturi connector includes a housing having a mixing chamber defined therein and at least one window that is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and is open to atmosphere to allow air to be entrained into the mixing chamber. The connector includes a nozzle actuator member includes a body having a plurality of discrete nozzles formed therein. The nozzles are defined by different sized venturi orifices through which gas flows, thereby allowing the concentration of the gas delivered to the patient to be varied. The nozzle actuator member is disposed within one window formed in the housing between the gas port and the mixing chamber such that the position of the nozzle actuator member within the housing can be adjusted so as to position one of the discrete nozzles into the gas flow path, thereby controlling the flow rate of the gas into the mixing chamber and ultimately the concentration of gas delivered to the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors used in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient by compensating for drift that may be specific to the sensors. The long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors can be addressed using calibration schedules, which can factor in the absolute change in set dose of NO being delivered to the patient that can drive one or more baseline calibrations. The calibration schedules can reduce the amount of times the sensor goes offline. Systems and methods may factor in actions occurring at the delivery system and/or aspects of the surrounding environment, prior to performing a baseline calibration, and may postpone the calibration and/or rejected using the sensor's output for the calibration.

Abstract: An inhaler, preferably for insertion into a nostril, in particular a horse's nostril, with a pressure generator, which has a tensioning device for the drive, and with a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the tensioning device, whereby the tensioning mechanism has a lever gear for tensioning the tensioning device.

Abstract: A system for providing ventilation support to a patient may include a ventilator, a control unit, a gas delivery circuit with a proximal end in fluid communication with the ventilator and a distal end in fluid communication with a nasal interface, and a nasal interface. The nasal interface may include at least one jet nozzle at the distal end of the gas delivery circuit; and at least one spontaneous respiration sensor for detecting respiration in communication with the control unit. The system may be open to ambient. The control unit may receive signals from the at least one spontaneous respiration sensor and determine gas delivery requirements. The ventilator may deliver gas at a velocity to entrain ambient air and increase lung volume or lung pressure above spontaneously breathing levels to assist in work of breathing, and deliver ventilation gas in a cyclical delivery pattern synchronized with a spontaneous breathing pattern.

Abstract: A medical headgear fabric that includes, at least: (i) a skin-facing fabric layer; (ii) an outermost fabric layer; and (iii) a plastic or metal layer located between the fabric layers. Preferably these layers, as well as any additional layers that may be present in the fabric are thermoformed to form a substantially unitary fabric with at least a substantially laminate structure. Preferably, the fabric also includes a foam layer located between the fabric layers. Preferably, in embodiments with a layer (iii) of plastic, the plastic layer is in the form of a nylon, plastic strip. Preferably, in embodiments with a layer (iii) of metal, the metal layer is in the form of an aluminum strip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mask-free system and method for inducing anesthesia in a pediatric patient. In a preferred embodiment, calming and then anesthetic gases are administered through a mouthpiece with a distraction device, such as an inflatable bag or balloon or an audible siren whistle. This system avoids the anxieties and trauma of the pediatric patient and their parents that have been associated with mask-based induction methods.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube alarm apparatus includes an inner cannula having an outer mating surface, the outer mating surface having a seated first electrical conductor, and a ventilator tube having an inner mating surface slidably coupled to the outer mating surface of the inner cannula, the inner mating surface having seated second and third electrical conductors extending circumferentially about the inner mating surface and each in complementary opposition to the first electrical conductor so that the third electrical conductor is in electrical communication with the second electrical conductor through the first electrical conductor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for delivering respiratory treatment to a patient. For example, a treatment system may include a mechanism for delivering a positive pressure breath to a patient, and one or more limb flow control assemblies which modulate gas flow to and from the patient. Exemplary treatment techniques are embodied in anesthesia machines, mechanical ventilators, and manual ventilators.

Abstract: Provided is an expansion-chamber muffler as a downsized sound muffler while keeping a function of noise reduction, comprising: a tube (A) which supplies and evacuates a gas having a noise, wherein the tube (A) in the midway has a cavity with a cross-sectional area larger than that of the tube (A); and at least two or more ports for inflow or outflow of the gas on the lateral side of a tube (B) extending from the expansion-chamber muffler, on the opposite side of the noise source generating the noise.

Abstract: A number of user interface device embodiments are disclosed that provide for increased cooling of the skin covered by the mask and/or increased flushing of gasses, including CO2, from the mask.