Abstract: A mask for use in severe arid climates which includes a countercurrent exchange medium, confined within a mask shell, which salvages heat and moisture given off during exhalation for subsequent transfer to inhalation air. A shaped mask member forms the mask to fit snugly over the lower face and nose. A normally closed opening in the mask shell permits access to the mask interior and to the countercurrent exchange medium. Tubular inserts provide supplemental quantities of the medium as well, in a modified form, provide an interface for additional respiratory gear.

Abstract: A breathing air garment for isolating a wearer from hostile environments containing toxins or irritants includes a suit and a separate head protective enclosure or hood engaging a suit collar in sealing attachment. The hood and suit collar are cylindrically shaped and dimensioned to enable the wearer to withdraw his hands from the suit sleeves to perform manual tasks within the hood interior. Breathing air is supplied from an external air line with an air delivery hose attached to the hood interior. The hose feeds air into an annular halo-like fiber-filled plenum having spaced discharge orifices attached to the hood top wall. A plurality of air exhaust/check valves located at the suit extremities cooperate with the hood air delivery system to provide a cooling flow of circulating air from the hood throughout the suit interior. A suit entry seal provided on the suit rear torso panel permits access into the suit and is sealed with an adhesive sealing flap.

Abstract: An assembly for collecting condensed water vapor or moisture in a breathing circuit comprises a lid having an inlet and an outlet pipe connected to the breathing circuit, a jar removably secured to the lid, a drain funnel having a port at the bottom for directing water into the jar, and a movable seal in the funnel for being biased gravitationally to occlude the port and form a gas tight seal with the port when the jar is removed from the lid.

Abstract: An inhalation valve is provided for testing the breathing capacity of a person. The valve is constructed of two plastic moldings which snap together and trap a flexible elastomeric valve diaphragm between them. The valve is provided with a mouthpipe. Exhalation through the mouthpipe deflects the diaphragm to permit substantially unrestricted exhalation. Inhalation is through a laterally displaced passageway having a transverse wall therein to produce a pressure drop. Tubular fittings are provided in the pressure drop area behind the wall and exteriorally of the flow path to provide an input to an electronic apparatus to indicate the efficiency of breathing.

Abstract: An inhaler comprises a vapor producing unit, and a cover incorporating a vapor feeding nozzle. The vapor feeding nozzle is pivotally mounted on the cover in such a manner that the vapor feeding nozzle can be tilted at a desired angle. Also, a novel construction of an inner mechanism for the inhaler is disclosed.

Abstract: A face mask to be worn upon the face of a wearer and for providing filtering of particular impurities in the air, including at least one layer of flexible material molded generally to conform to the contours of the face of the wearer and forming a flexible support carrier for filter material and with the one layer of flexible material allowing the passage of air through the one layer, a separate layer of filter material supported by the one layer of flexible material and with the filter material filtering out the particular impurities in the air, a molded, rubber-like bead member extending around the peripheral edge of the layers forming the face mask and with the molded rubber-like bead member providing an edge seal between the face mask and the face of the wearer, and the bead member including membrane portions extending inwardly to the interior of the mask from the bead member at least in the areas of the sides of the nose and upper cheekbones of the wearer for providing additional sealing in those areas.

Abstract: A multiple canister mount for receiving at different times different sized bolt connectors of canisters for protective masks and the like. The device comprises a base and a pair of spaced annular rims secured to and upwardly projecting from the base. The inner wall of each rim is threaded with threads of appropriate form, and is of a diameter, so as to receive a canister bolt connector of particular size and having a particular thread form. The device also comprises a centrally disposed valve opening and valve seat secured to the base. Such a device provides a simple effective means for securing canisters, which may have different sized bolt connectors, at different times to the same protective mask.

Abstract: A nebulizer comprises an upright, cylindrical, tower-like chamber mounted on the lid of a liquid storage bottle and a vortex-generating transducer. The chamber has a closed upper end and an open lower end directed to the bottle. The transducer is mounted on the closed end with its outlet opening into the chamber. Windows are formed in the side of the chamber adjacent the outlet of the transducer. A nebulizer comprises a T-shaped chamber secured to the inside of a closed liquid storage bottle and a vortex-generating transducer. The chamber has inline legs with open ends and a transverse leg with a closed end. One open end faces downwardly into the bottle, the other open end is connected by an elbow to a spout leaving the bottle. The transducer is mounted on the closed end with its outlet facing into the chamber and its axis is pointed down at a small acute angle to the axis of the transverse leg.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube with movable endobronchial blocker for one-lung anesthesia is disclosed comprising an endotracheal tube with a a cuff having a small channel formed within the wall of the endotracheal tube along almost the entire length thereof and a catheter with a cuff for endobronchial blockade called an endobronchial blocker which is housed in the small channel and can be let out when in use.

Abstract: An electronic human body temperture indicator comprising a thermocouple, the hot junction of which is housed within a tube through which the patient's breath is exhaled. The cold junction is positioned in contact with the ambient air, and an adjacent ambient temperature air sensor is provided. An appropriate electronic package processes thermocouple and air temperature sensor output to provide a display of the patient's peak breath temperature. A breath outlet check valve prevents cross contamination by blocking inhalation through the indicator. A disposable breath inlet tube makes sterilization unnecessary between uses from patient to patient. According to one aspect of the invention, the indicator may be adapted for anesthesiology use, the hot junction then being located in an elbow connecting the gas supply tube and the disposable treachea tube.

Abstract: The apparatus is self-contained for carriage in a pocket or handbag and comprises a nebulizing chamber 12 from which tangentially extends an outlet tube 14 leading to a perpendicular head 15 provided with a mouthpiece 16. The chamber is cylindrical and houses a rotatable disc 25. An adjustable inlet 30 is provided in the chamber and material to be nebulized is introduced to the chamber 12. The disc 25 is driven by a battery and electric motor in the casing 29 and both draws air in through the inlet and breaks up the material in the casing to nebulize it. Baffles 40, 41 control the size of particles expelled and a damping connection 44 reduces unpleasantness to the user from vibrations.

Abstract: A cellular synthetic medical cast is made using fabric strips and a dispenser unit containing blowing agent and a water-activatable polyurethane prepolymer under superatmospheric pressure. A trimerizing catalyst is infused in the prepolymer mass immediately before the composition is dispensed in a bead onto the fabric strip; and thereafter, mechanical compressive force is applied to the foam bead to dimension it, embed it in the fabric and regulate the degree of reticulation. The impregnated strips are wrapped to form the cast and contacted with moisture to produce rapid cure of the prepolymer.

Abstract: A mouth mask includes a unitary member having an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion. The unitary member is adapted to seal about the lips of a patient with the perimeter defined by the intersection of the inner and outer wall portions resting on the perioral area overlying the maxilla and mandible. The mouth mask also includes an opening extending through the unitary member for connecting oxygen and ventilating through a mouthpiece or pharyngeal airway inserted through the opening in the mouth mask. The opening is adapted to receive an airway having a proximal end disposed externally of the patient and a distal end disposed internally of the patient in the region of the lower pharynx. Additionally, the mouth mask may selectively be provided with a nostril occluding balloon or cushion to pneumatically seal and block the nostrils of the patient.

Abstract: A demand regulator for use in underwater breathing employs a longitudinally movable tubular valve member having a transversely opening outlet orifice which is moved relative to the breathing port of the regulator as the valve member is moved axially between the fully opened and fully closed positions.

Abstract: A connector for use with threaded and push-on outlet couplings of pressurized gas supplies, the former having an exteriorly threaded cylindrical pipe termination and the latter having a tapering pipe termination, the connector comprising: a resilient tubular member, having a flat annular flange at one end and a narrower middle section; and, a cylindrical cap member having a threaded bore for engaging a threaded outlet coupling, partially closed at one end by an annular shoulder for pressing the flange into a sealing position between the cap member and the threaded coupling, the annular shoulder defining a bore enabling the cap member to be slidably retained in the narrower section and having an inwardly directed circular edge which can press a portion of the narrower section into a sealing position between the cap member and a push-on coupling after the flanged end of the tubular member has been pushed thereover, whereby the connector may be used with both threaded and push-on couplings.

Abstract: A breathing exerciser, comprising: first and second tubes; a lower cap member having bores for receiving one end of each of the tubes, the lower cap member having a passageway communicating between the first tube and a lower inlet/outlet opening; an upper cap member having bores for receiving the other ends of the tubes, and having a passageway communicating between both the tubes and an upper inlet/outlet opening; a floor member closing the lower end of the second tube; a floatable indicating member disposed in the second tube, the indicating member being upwardly movable during fluid flow into the upper inlet/outlet opening, through the first tube and out of the lower inlet/outlet opening, the amount of upward movement depending upon the rate of fluid flow; a valve assembly for adjusting the effective size of at least one of the inlet/outlet openings, for controlling the fluid flow rate required to move the indicating member over an effective range; and, openings in the second tube for calibrating the effec

Abstract: A deep diving breathing system in which a breathable gas mixture is circulated through a diving helmet by a push-pull pump includes an inlet flow control valve, an outlet gas flow regulator valve, and a bleed valve. The bleed valve operates in response to the pressure of gas flowing from the outlet gas flow regulator valve to bleed gas from a gas supply line upstream of the inlet flow control valve. The system facilitates diving operations from a diving bell at a range of depths and recovery of helium in a helium-oxygen breathing gas mixture.

Abstract: A respiratory exerciser having the features of being fabricated from cardboard and plastic stamped parts which are glued together and which fold up into a compact box for ease of storage including stowage of the connecting hose and mouthpiece inside the box. Many different forms, variations and optional features are also provided.

Abstract: A nasal airway in a preferred embodiment includes a tubular housing and an airway tube which in the storage position is received at least partially within the tubular housing and in a second position projects outwardly therefrom. The airway tube may have one or more auxiliary openings disposed between the ends thereof. A first closure may close the end of the tubular housing to which the airway tube may be secured and a second closure may close the other end. Tracheotomy blade means may be associated with the second closure. The multipurpose nasal airway may also be provided with writing equipment such as a reservoir of ink and associated discharge point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for loading an intrauterine contraceptive device into the barrel of an inserter. The device includes an apertured tubular section having a closed end section at one end. The closed end defines an enlarged chamber. The device has a stem, a flexible arm generally transverse to the stem, and an enlarged head at one end of the stem. The device is receivable in the instrument when the stem is partially disposed within the barrel and the barrel is displaced forwardly until the head is received in the chamber. The head engages the shoulder that is defined between the aperture and the chamber in the instrument, thereby to retain the device in the instrument when the barrel is withdrawn. The device is removable from the instrument when the barrel is inserted again into the instrument to dislodge the head from the shoulder so that the barrel can be withdrawn together with the device.