Abstract: A patient interface for supplying a flow of breathable gas to the airways of a patient may comprise a heat and moisture exchanger (HME). The HME may be positioned in a flow path of the flow of breathable gas. The HME may absorb heat and moisture from gas exhaled by the patient and the incoming flow of breathable gas to be supplied to the patient's airways may be heated and moisturized by the heat and moisture held in the HME.

Abstract: A nasal breathing apparatus with multifunction has two nasal inserts and one tubular chamber. In one embodiment, the first nasal insert forms an airtight barrier inside one nostril for delivering gases. The second nasal insert does not block the other nostril and is for sampling gases. The tubular chamber is in fluid communication with the first nasal insert but not the second nasal insert and has an outlet for discharging and delivering gases and for providing continuous positive airway pressure and ventilation. In another embodiment, both nasal inserts form an airtight barrier in the corresponding nostrils. The first nasal insert is dedicated for delivering gases and the second nasal insert for sampling gases. The tubular chamber is in fluid communication with both nasal inserts and has an outlet for discharging and delivering gases and for providing continuous positive airway pressure and ventilation.

Abstract: An oral cannula for placement within the oral cavity of a patient for delivery of a treatment gas and for collecting end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) includes a treatment gas delivery lumen including at least one aperture near a distal end of the treatment gas delivery lumen; an end-tidal CO2 sampling lumen. The cannula also includes a cap having (i) a gas diverter adapted for diverting at least a portion of the treatment gas and (ii) an end-tidal CO2 inlet including flutes and apertures there between that are in communication with the end-tidal CO2 sampling lumen. The oral cannula is adapted for custom bending or has a bend such that the oral cannula is insertable and retainable in a patient's mouth and functional for supplying a treatment gas and sampling gas exhaled by the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dosing system for an inhalation device which is capable of aliquoting a precise and accurately metered volume from a larger pre-defined fill volume. The dosing system comprises a filling chamber for receiving a liquid to be aerosolized, the filling chamber having a lateral wall, an inlet opening and an outlet opening with a closing means (11) for closing the outlet opening. The dosing system further comprises an overflow chamber surrounding the inlet opening of the filling chamber and a plunger which can be inserted, at least partially, into the filling chamber, and which sealingly contacts the lateral wall such as to displace liquid from said filling chamber upon insertion, and push a metered volume of the liquid out from the filling chamber through the outlet opening and feed it to the nebulizing means of the inhalation device.

Abstract: A therapeutic level medical gas delivery system includes a pressure regulator with a control point for a flow of medical gas through a critical flow orifice; a variable flow restrictor; and a mixing chamber for the combination of fixed flows.

Abstract: A breathing mask for use in administering inhalable medications to a patient in need of an inhaled drug is provided. The mask disclosed herein is particularly useful for use with very young children. The mask is made from a flexible molded plastic silicone or elastomeric material, and has an anthropometrically/anatoinically/ergonomically contoured shape to provide a good seal, a comfortable fit, and minimal dead space within the mask. The airway is aligned with nose. There may be an orifice for use with a soother device to calm a child using the mask. Also provided is a visual flow indicator to provide an indication of the quality of the seal of the mask on the face.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing respiratory therapy overcome various effects of transport delay within tubing of a respiratory therapy device by virtue of estimating and compensating for, e.g., a pressure drop in such tubing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing condensed humidifying agent in a humidification system by pulsing a delivery of humidifying agent into a respiratory circuit. During a non-pulsed interval, gas flowing through the respiratory circuit will evaporate the condensed humidifying agent present in the respiratory circuit. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for delivering humidified gas to a patient, wherein the delivery avoids the problems associated with a stationary water humidifier. In the method, the delivery of humidifying agent is precisely controlled to deliver a flow of humidifying agent to a volume of gas.

Abstract: A patient interface face contact (14) element comprises a surface for contacting the face of a patient, and a connection face for coupling the patient interface face contact element to a support (15) using a magnetic coupling (30). The support is also provided as well as the complete patient interface. Headgear strap clips can also be retained magnetically.

Abstract: A vent arrangement is provided to a mask or associated conduit to discharge exhaled gas from the mask to atmosphere. The vent arrangement is structured to diffuse the exhaust vent flow to produce less air jetting, thereby increasing the comfort of the patient and their bed partner. For example, the vent arrangement may include one or more grill components and/or media constructed and arranged to diffuse vent flow.

Abstract: A system includes a pressure regulator including a housing, an inlet for connection to a pressurized gas comprising oxygen, and at least one energy transfer element. The system further includes a respiration facepiece including at least one seal system to form a sealing engagement with the face of a user to encompass the nose and mouth of the user, thereby creating a volume of sealing engagement between the respiration facepiece and the user, an opening into the volume of sealing engagement of the respiration facepiece in communicative connection with an interface for removable attachment of the pressure regulator to the respiration facepiece, and an inspiration port in fluid connection with the interface and in fluid connection with the volume of sealing engagement.

Abstract: Methods and systems to treat Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) and/or central sleep apnea (CSA) include monitoring retrograde breathing and detecting respiratory events. Based on the occurrences of certain respiratory events, a target volume of rebreathing is adjusted to reduce arousals as well as CSR/CSA.

Abstract: A mask system for delivering air pressurized above atmospheric pressure to the airways of a patient to treat sleep disordered breathing (SDB) by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may include a mask having a cushion configured to form a seal with the patient's nose; two inlet conduits, each of the two inlet conduits configured to extend from a position superior to the patient's head and along a corresponding side of the patient's head, and each of the two inlet conduits being in fluid communication with a corresponding side of the mask to deliver pressurized air to the mask; a first vent arrangement configured to be positioned superior to the patient's head in use and configured to discharge gas to atmosphere during therapy; and a second vent arrangement configured to be positioned inferior to the first vent arrangement in use and configured to discharge gas to atmosphere during therapy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a universal breathing tube adaptor that can accept or otherwise accommodate a metered dose canister (MDC) having a variety of shapes, structures, sizes, and/or configurations. The present breathing tube adaptor includes a sidewall which defines a chamber. A conduit extends from the chamber through a floor of the device for discharging aerosolized medicament from the MDC. The sidewall includes opposing exposed edges which define a channel. The sidewall supports the MDC when it is invertingly inserted into the chamber. The channel permits structure of an MDC to extend radially outward through the channel and outside the chamber thereby enabling the valve stem of the MDC to engage the conduit.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide an aerosolization device for ensuring proper delivery of an aerosolized medication to a user's respiratory system. The aerosolization device may include a conduit, an aerosol generator, a restrictor disposed within the conduit, and an indicator mechanism. The conduit may include a mouthpiece end by which a user may cause inspiratory flow through the conduit. The aerosol generator may include a vibratable mesh. The restrictor may define a plurality of apertures disposed along an outer periphery of the restrictor configured to provide an increase in pressure differential that varies with an inspiratory flow rate within the conduit and to provide a relatively laminar flow downstream of the restrictor compared to upstream of the restrictor. The indicator mechanism may indicate to a user a state of a parameter of the inspiratory flow relative to a predefined desired range.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for a respiratory interface device support assembly and a respiratory interface device mask is provided. The respiratory interface device support assembly has at least one strap structured to be coupled to each lateral side of the respiratory interface device mask. The coupling assembly includes a first rotatable coupling component structured to be coupled to the support assembly and having a first rotation limiting structure, and, a second rotatable coupling component structured to be coupled to the mask and having a second rotation limiting structure. When coupled, the first rotatable coupling component first rotation limiting structure and the second rotatable coupling component first rotation limiting structure limit the rotation of the first rotatable coupling component relative to the second rotatable coupling component.

Abstract: A nasal cannula assembly includes a breathing gas supply lumen assembly splitting into a first inspiratory gas lumen and a second inspiratory gas lumen. An inspiratory gas nasal end portion is in fluid communication with the first inspiratory gas lumen and a second inspiratory gas lumen. The inspiratory gas nasal end portion has a pair of nasal prongs extending outwardly therefrom. An expiratory gas assembly splits into a first expiratory gas lumen and a second expiratory gas lumen. An expiratory gas nasal end portion is in fluid communication with the first expiratory gas lumen and a second expiratory gas lumen. A passage is disposed across the inspiratory nasal end portion from the pair of nasal prongs. The passage provides fluid communication between the inspiratory nasal end portion and the expiratory nasal end portion.

Abstract: A patient interface has a single loop headstrap and a mask for covering at least the nostrils of the user. The single loop headstrap extends from the mask at either end. A short length of supple conduit is coupled to the mask by a swivel or ball joint to allow rotation of the conduit relative to the mask through different angles and orientations.

Abstract: A method of sealing a trachea is provided that includes inserting a tracheal tube having an inflatable cuff made of a compliant material into a trachea. The method includes inflating the inflatable cuff with a fluid to a first pressure that exceeds a second pressure necessary to create a seal between the inflatable cuff and the tracheal wall. The method includes deflating the inflatable cuff by releasing a first pressure to allow the fluid to flow out of the inflatable cuff without applying vacuum pressure to the fluid while evaluating a rate of change of pressure of the fluid in the inflatable cuff. The method includes identifying a variance in the rate of change of pressure corresponding to a third pressure at which the inflatable cuff separates from the tracheal wall, determining the second pressure by analyzing the third pressure, and reinflating the inflatable cuff to the second pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the field of nebulizers for aerosol generation and methods of using same for treating diseases and disorders.