Abstract: A method (800) for estimating patient airway flow in a non-invasive ventilator system includes: (i) determining (830) an estimated gas flow; (ii) determining (840) a proximal pressure error value; (iii) compensating (850) for the determined proximal pressure estimate error value; (iv) compensating (854) for an error in the estimated gas flow; (v) determining (856) an estimated gas flow leak; (vi) monitoring (860) on a breath to breath basis for a leak; (vii) determining (870) a gas flow leak factor; (viii) adjusting (880) the estimated gas flow leak; (ix) detecting (872) a bias on the airway flow estimate; (x) determining (874) that the system is within a quiescent state of a breath; (xi) de -biasing (976) the estimated gas flow to drive the bias to near zero; and (xii) suspending (878) breath to breath bias correction on an immediately subsequent breath.

Abstract: An intraoral flexible mouthpiece including: a hollow dome portion including a peripheral proximal edge. The hollow dome portion extends distally, and the hollow dome portion includes a central orifice located at the distal portion of the hollow dome portion. A peripheral flexible sheet flange attached along the dome portion peripheral proximal edge. A tube attached to the central orifice and extending distally therefrom. The peripheral flexible sheet flange is configured to be placed in the mouth between the teeth and gums on one side and the lips and cheeks on the other side, and the hollow dome portion is configured to protrude distally out of the mouth.

Abstract: In one arrangement, a vibration system includes a vibratable plate, a support member surrounding the vibratable plate, and a vibration-inducing member surrounding the support member. The vibration-inducing member is configured to radially expand and contract against the support member so as to produce axial vibration of the vibratable plate. In another arrangement, the vibratable plate has an outer circumference; a tubular member is concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the plate, and an annular vibration-inducing member is concentrically disposed about the outer circumference of the tubular member. The vibration-inducing member is preferably a piezoelectric ring that is radially expandable and contractable against the wall of the tubular member to cause the plate to vibrate in the axial direction.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an airway maintenance device, such as an endotracheal tube, tracheostomy tube, or supraglottic airway device, and in particular to an airway maintenance device having a sensor for measuring capillary blood flow and/or pressure. The device includes an airway maintenance device with an airway lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, a distal end portion incorporating an optical sensor configured to measure capillary blood flow in tissue surrounding the distal end when in position within a patient's airway. The optical sensor may include a portion of an optical fibre extending to the distal end portion along the lumen.

Abstract: A portable oxygen generating system is provided that comprises a reaction chamber, a feed system for providing and controlling hydrogen peroxide solution to the reaction chamber, and a cooling/condensing system for cooling the hot oxygen and water vapor leaving the reactor and condensing and removing water. The portable chemical oxygen generation system produces humidified, breathable oxygen, that is substantially free of hydrogen peroxide and other contaminants, at a controlled flow and temperature over an extended period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for humidifying a flow of breathable gas includes a water reservoir and a water reservoir dock forming a cavity structured and arranged to receive the water reservoir in an operative position. The water reservoir comprises a reservoir base including a cavity structured to hold a volume of water, the reservoir base including a main body and a thermally conductive portion provided to the main body. The thermally conductive portion comprises a combined layered arrangement including a metal plate and a thin film, the thin film comprising a non-metallic material and including a wall thickness of less than about 1 mm. The thin film is adapted to form at least a bottom interior surface of the water reservoir exposed to the volume of water, and the metal plate is adapted to form a bottom exterior surface of the water reservoir.

Abstract: A device for the provision of oxygen masks has a closeable container for oxygen masks, an extendable arm having links coupled in articulated fashion and having an outer end, and a driving device. The outer end is coupled to at least one oxygen mask. The arm adopts a storage position in which the arm is arranged completely within the container, and an extended position in which the outer end is moved out of the container and in which the arm holds the oxygen mask at a distance from the container. The driving device is coupled to the arm and passes the links out of the container. The links enclose a pivoting range extending as far as a level juxtaposition of the links. When extended, the arm adopts the level juxtaposition under the action of gravity for the lateral spacing of the relevant oxygen mask from the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient, the apparatus comprising: a respiratory pressure therapy device configured to generate a flow of air for treating the respiratory disorder, said flow of air being at a positive pressure with respect to ambient pressure; an air circuit adapted to transport said flow of air generated by said respiratory pressure therapy device to a patient interface, said air circuit having a proximal end connectable to said respiratory pressure therapy device and a distal end connectable to said patient interface; a nebuliser module located at or adjacent to said proximal end of said air circuit, said nebuliser module adapted to nebulise a liquid to form a nebula of said liquid, and to admit said nebula into said flow of air generated by said respiratory pressure therapy device; and a vaporiser located at said distal end of said air circuit, said vaporiser adapted to receive said nebula and further adapted to vaporise said nebula to form a humidified flow of air.

Abstract: A patient interface includes a hollow base with an air inlet configured to receive the pressurized flow of respiratory gas in a first direction. The hollow base further includes a pair of air outlets configured to discharge the pressurized flow of respiratory gas in a second direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction. The patient interface also includes a pair of nasal posts. Each nasal post is removably connected to a respective air outlet of the hollow base and is configured to sealingly engage one of the patient's nostrils. In addition, the patient interface includes an adhesive support configured to support the hollow base and nasal posts on the patient's face. The adhesive support is configured to adhere to the patient's nose. An end of each nasal post comprises a ring configured to interlock with the respective air outlet to secure the nasal post with the air outlet.

Abstract: A cushion for a respiratory mask is provided. The cushion includes a face contacting portion, a non-face contacting portion and an intermediate region. The face contacting portion is formed from an open cell foam material and includes an opening to provide, in use, a source of breathing gas to a user's airways. The non-face contacting portion is formed from an elastomeric material. The intermediate region is formed between the face contacting portion and the non-face contacting portion. Open cells of the open cell foam material in the intermediate region are filled with the elastomeric material.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for nasal cannulas allowing simultaneous flow of humidified breathing gas and aerosolized medicament for use in respiratory therapy. Utilizing separate flow paths and separate cannula outlets for the heated and humidified breathing gas and for the aerosolized medicament, these systems, methods, and devices reduce condensation of the aerosolized medicament by delaying mixing of the flow of aerosolized medicament and the flow of heated and humidified breathing gas until the flows exit the cannula.

Abstract: Methods and devices for improving airflow distribution in treatment of respiratory conditions are disclosed. According to various embodiments, blocking devices may be used to redirect air away from healthy portions of the lung to diseased portions so that inhaled medication may be more effectively delivered to the patient.

Abstract: A high-pressure connector (10), for a fluid-communicating connection of a breathing gas source (200) of a respirator to a pressure reducer (110), includes a connector upper part (20) with a connector upper part duct (22) with an inlet opening (24) for the inflow of breathing gas from the breathing gas source (200). A connector lower part (30) has a connector lower part duct (32) with an outlet opening (34) for the outflow of breathing gas into the pressure reducer (110). The connector upper part (20) is fastened reversibly with a fastening interface (26) to a counter-fastening interface (36) of the connector lower part (30). The connector upper part duct (22) is in fluid-communicating connection with the connector lower part duct (32). A filter device (40) is arranged in the connector upper part duct (22) in at least some sections for filtering solid particles out of the breathing gas.

Abstract: A massaging device includes a first arm having a first arm-first end and a first arm-second end and a second arm connected to the first arm and having a second arm-first end and a second arm-second end. The device also includes a first massaging assembly secured to the first arm-first end and a second massaging assembly secured to the second arm-first end. The device also includes a first handle assembly secured to the first arm-second end and a second handle assembly secured to the second arm-second end. Application of a first force on the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly increases a distance between the first massaging assembly and the second massaging assembly. Application of a second force on the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly decreases the distance between the first massaging assembly and the second massaging assembly.

Abstract: Portable breathing equipment and related methods are disclosed. An example portable breathing equipment (PBE) includes a housing defining a cavity, a cover movably coupled to the housing, and a smoke hood provided in a wrapper and positioned in the cavity. A first portion of the wrapper couples to the housing and a second portion of the wrapper couples to the cover. At least one of the cover or the housing to cause the wrapper to tear to provide an access opening to allow access to the smoke hood when the cover moves from a closed position at which the cover seals the cavity of the housing and an open position at which the cover enables access to the cavity of the housing.

Abstract: A seal-forming structure for a patient interface may include a patient-contacting surface configured to engage the patient's facial skin to form a seal; a posterior opening formed in the patient-contacting surface, the posterior opening configured to provide the flow of air at said therapeutic pressure to the patient's nares; and a support structure extending from the patient contacting surface to an interior surface of the seal-forming structure, the support structure and the interior surface forming a continuous loop, wherein the patient interface is configured to allow the patient to breath from ambient through their mouth in the absence of a flow of pressurised air through the plenum chamber inlet port, or the patient interface is configured to leave the patient's mouth uncovered.

Abstract: A respiratory acoustic device is provided that is easy to operate and transport. The device delivers vibrations artificially to the lungs and airways to fluidize mucus adhering to the airways and promote its discharge. A respiratory acoustic device 1 is provided with a housing 10, and a mouthpiece 20 that is in communication with the housing 10. The housing 10 has a reflecting end 12 for reflecting air that has been blown in from the mouthpiece 20 and an open end 13 through which air that has been blown in from the mouthpiece 20 can escape. If a sudden exhalation such as a cough is blown into the housing 10 through the mouthpiece 20, the device causes the noise due to said exhalation to resonate with the oral and lower airway cavities, and vibrate the user's lungs and airways with the low frequency acoustic shock waves generated therein.

Abstract: A pressure support device for providing pressure support therapy to a patient includes an airflow generator structured to generate pressure to provide pressure compensation to the patient via a patient circuit, one or more sensors structured to gather data related to effectiveness of the pressure compensation, and a processing unit structured to analyze outputs of the sensors while pressure support therapy is provided to the patient to determine if the pressure compensation provided to the patient is improper and to initiate action to confirm whether components of the patient circuit have been changed in response to determining that the pressure compensation provided to the patient is improper.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and method for maintaining oxygen purity in portable oxygen concentrators, even with asymmetric generation of oxygen enriched gas volumes from different sieve beds of the concentration system. The present system and method compensate for asymmetric oxygen enriched gas generation using asymmetric delivery of purge volumes. Purge valves are used to deliver the asymmetric purge gas volumes, enables the system to maintain oxygen purity without additional power consumption, even when a portable oxygen concentrator does not include a product tank. The present system and method are configured such that asymmetry in enriched oxygen generation can be monitored and the asymmetric purge gas compensation can be applied independently from other control mechanisms of a portable oxygen concentrator.

Abstract: A breathing training, monitoring and/or assistance device is provided for home use. The device is for providing support and guidance during the training of breathing exercises. The device takes account of external data which relates to one or more of: the environmental conditions in which the device is being used; activity information in respect of the user; physiological sensor data about the user which is not related to breathing characteristics.