Abstract: An appliance is provided for installation within the mouth of an individual to prevent obstruction of the natural airway of the individual and to enhance natural ventilation during sleep. The appliance is hollow and is custom-molded to the oral cavity for biasing tissues surrounding the user's natural airway to keep the airway open. An external positive air supply is also provided which connects to a tube extending from the appliance and forces air through the hollow appliance to a rear opening of the appliance in the user's retroglossal area. A sensor provides control information to the positive air supply by sensing relative pressure in the user's oral cavity. The natural breathing cycle is thus enhanced but not controlled by the appliance.

Abstract: A ventilator device and system comprising a rotating compressor, preferably a drag compressor, which, at the beginning of each inspiratory ventilation phase, is accelerated to a sufficient speed to deliver the desired inspiratory gas flow, and is subsequently stopped or decelerated to a basal flow level to permit the expiratory ventilation phase to occur. The ventilator device is small and light weight enough to be utilized in portable applications. The ventilator device is power efficient enough to operate for extended periods of time on internal or external batteries. Also provided is an oxygen blending apparatus which utilizes solenoid valves having specific orifice sizes for blending desired amounts of oxygen into the inspiratory gas flow. Also provided is an exhalation valve having an exhalation flow transducer which incorporates a radio frequency data base to provide an attendant controller with specific calibration information for the exhalation flow transducer.

Abstract: A method of controlling a respirator for therapeutic treatment of sleep aa includes the step of continuously measuring a) a phase angle of a time difference between respiratory flow and respiratory pressure of a patient and b) a pressure amplitude of the patient. The individual respiratory resistance is determined based on the measured pressure amplitude by oscilloresistometry. The respiratory gas pressure is controlled based on the phase angle, the pressure amplitude, and the respiratory resistance. Significant changes of the phase angle are filtered from the signal of the phase angle. A control signal is produced based on the significant changes for controlling the respiratory gas pressure.

Abstract: A gastro-laryngeal mask features softly compliant construction of the distal half of the mask, wherein the mask is of generally elliptical configuration, with an inflatable peripheral cuff to seal and support the mask around the laryngeal inlet. A back cushion is inflatable to engage the back wall of the pharynx and thus to forwardly load the peripheral-cuff seal to the laryngeal inlet. An evacuation tube for external removal of a possible gastric discharge completes an evacuation or discharge passage contained within the mask and opening through the distal end of the peripheral cuff. Special provision is made for assuring integrity of the discharge passage within the flexible distal half of the mask, i.e., assuring against collapse of the distal-end half of the softly compliant evacuation tube in the distal region of the mask, such that inflation of the mask does not compromise viability of the evacuation tube by compressing softly compliant material of the evacuation tube during periods of mask inflation.

Abstract: A ventilator device and system comprising a rotating compressor, preferably a drag compressor, which, at the beginning of each inspiratory ventilation phase, is accelerated to a sufficient speed to deliver the desired inspiratory gas flow, and is subsequently stopped or decelerated to a basal flow level to permit the expiratory ventilation phase to occur. The ventilator device is small and light weight enough to be utilized in portable applications. The ventilator device is power efficient enough to operate for extended periods of time on internal or external batteries. Also provided is an oxygen blending apparatus which utilizes solenoid valves having specific orifice sizes for blending desired amounts of oxygen into the inspiratory gas flow. Also provided is an exhalation valve having an exhalation flow transducer which incorporates a radio frequency data base to provide an attendant controller with specific calibration information for the exhalation flow transducer.

Abstract: An infant breathing aid assembly comprising an infant soother having a safety shield with at least one vent cooperates with a decongestant module having a housing for housing vapor emitting medicine and fixing means adapted to be retentively received in the vent for fixing the housing to the infant soother. In use the housing closely abuts the safety shield to substantially seal the vapor emitting medicine within the housing and the safety shield, and the housing emits vapor from the medicine.

Abstract: A bilevel continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) respiratory therapy system which applies a prescribed inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) to a patient's respiratory system during inhalation and applies a lower prescribed expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) to the respiratory system during exhalation. A blower provides pressurized air at least at the IPAP pressure. A fast response vent valve reduces the pressure applied to the patient to the EPAP level during exhalation and increases the pressure to the set IPAP level during inhalation. Leading edges of pressure changes between the IPAP and EPAP levels are rounded by an adjustable amount to enhance patient comfort and/or to allow the physician to modify the therapy. In an alternate embodiment, the pressure is controlled by controlling the speed of the blower.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rescuing helmet having an illuminating device, a heat resistant helmet body, a fastening strap, a controlling unit and a compressed air tank. The heat resistant helmet body is provided with an air conduct for connecting a hose. The lower peripheral of the helmet body is provided with a resilient strap and the lower portion of the resilient strap is provided with a fastening strap. The other end of the fastening strap is connected with an air tank. The top outlet of the air tank is provided with a controlling unit which is configured with a metering throttle, a cover and a light triggering device. The metering throttle is provided with an air supplying duct to supply the fresh air to the helmet body via a hose. In use, the user may readily wear the helmet body and dispose the air tank in front of the chest. The metering throttle is then switched on such that a metered flow of air is supplied to the helmet body.

Abstract: An artificial airway device to facilitate the ventilation of the lungs of an unconscious patient and permitting access to the patient's oesophagus consists of a hollow tube which is left open at both ends having an aperture providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of said tube disposed at a position between its ends. The tube is provided with an inflatable cuff on one side of the aperture for providing a seal in the patient's pharynx and an inflatable cuff at the end of the tube on the opposite side of the aperture to the inflatable cuff for providing a seal in the patient's oesophagus and also releasably closing the end of the tube.

Abstract: A system for automatically refilling the patient breathing circuit of an anesthesia system wherein the system detects the existence of a large leak in the patient breathing system and reduces the flow of the fresh gas to the patient circuit to minimize the amount of gas that is vented to the atmosphere. As the leak is corrected, the system automatically detects that the leak has been alleviated and increases the fresh gas flow to a high flow to refill the patient breathing circuit in a rapid time. Upon refill, the system detects that the circuit and the system has been refilled and automatically reduces the fresh gas flow back to a lower level desired by the clinician to maintain the anesthesia. The fresh gas flow used to refill the patient circuit is the same composition of gases and anesthetic agent as initially set by the clinician.

Abstract: This device is intended for the dispensing of a powdered medication by inhalation. The device includes a powder container (1), an air channel (2), and a metering strip (4) equipped with a dosing recess (3). The metering strip (4) can be moved along a flat surface (5) from a filling position, in which the dosing recess (3) is filled with powder coming from the container (1), to an inhalation position, in which the dosing recess (3) is in the air channel (2).

Abstract: A filter assembly for filtering air that is to be breathed through a tracheostoma comprises (a) a housing, and (b) a filter component which can be fitted into the housing the filter component is movable within the housing as a result of a pressure difference across the component due to breathing, between an inhalation position, and an exhalation position resulting in a change in resistance to breathing through the assembly.

Abstract: A filter which will be attached to the end of a smoking product such as a cigarette. It would have a normal filter connected to the tube of tobacco, with a dual chamber which holds fine tobacco dust particles in one chamber. The other chamber would contain a plurality of loose fibers and would be connected to another normal cigarette filter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for facilitating the respiration of a patient are disclosed which are particularly useful in treating mixed and obstructive sleep apnea and certain cardiovascular conditions, among others, by increasing nasal air pressure delivered to the patient's respiratory passages just prior to inhalation and by subsequently decreasing the pressure to ease exhalation effort. The preferred apparatus includes a patient-coupled gas delivery device for pressurizing the patient's nasal passages at a controllable pressure, and a controller coupled with the delivery device having a pressure transducer for monitoring the nasal pressure and a microcontroller for selectively controlling the nasal pressure. In operation, the controller determines a point in the patient breathing cycle just prior to inhalation and initiates an increase in nasal pressure at that point in order to stimulate normal inhalation, and subsequently lowers the nasal pressure to ease exhalation efforts.

Abstract: The use of a large ambulatory manual breathing unit in combination with a metered dose medication inhaler for delivering medication to a patient, who is either breathing spontaneously or non-spontaneously. The large bag or reservoir of the breathing unit is used to insure minimization of size and homogeneous disbursement of the particles of medication. For non-spontaneous patient breathing, the reservoir's contents are disbursed into the patient by manually or mechanically squeezing the bag, after which the bag returns to its original shape and volume. At one or the other end of the bag, a typical metered dose inhalator is mounted in a manner to disburse the medication into the bag, and directly in line therewith, through an adaptor. The metered dose inhaler collar, into which the inhaler fits, when the inhaler is not in use, is capped.

Abstract: A double-sided, pressure-sensitive, adhesive tape which is dimensioned to form a strip for covering a substantial portion of the mounting surface of a previously-used nasal dilator, permitting one side of the strip to be secured to the nasal dilator, and the other side of the strip to be secured to the exterior surface of a human nose, thereby providing a means for reusing and extending the useful life of the nasal dilator which otherwise would be disposed of due to its loss of adhesive bonding capabilities incurred from the prior use.

Abstract: An apparatus for administering a fluid medicament to a patient in a gas for inhalation and for calculating the dosage administered to the patient comprising a holding member (1) for temporarily holding the medicament and gas prior to inhalation, means for introducing a quantity of the medicament into the holding chamber (1), a sensor (4) for detecting the introduction of the medicament into the holding chamber (1), detector means for detecting the rate of flow of gas inhaled by a patient from the holding chamber (1) and calculation means (25, 27, 29, 30, 31) operably connected to the sensor (4) and to the detector means for calculating the amount of medicament received by a patient.

Abstract: Cold weather, especially when combined with wind and moisture, can cause significant health problems. In practice it will limit productivity and a normal human's activity. The bad effects will be even worse in people who have cardio-respiratory problems. Therefore, this applicant introduces a unit that will prevent such exposure and its related problems. These hats will be made from combinations of an outer and an inner cover. The inner cover is a soft lining and the outer cover is a protective cover that will stand over the first cover. The outer layer will be non-permeable and will not allow air or moisture to move in. This unit will be further fortified by a brim, shield, filter and means that will allow the motion of the air inside the nose-mouth area to be controlled. The unit may also have a tubing to allow oxygen or another treated gas to come in. These units may also have other pieces such as microphones and speakers in order to allow communication to be facilitated in difficult circumstances.

Abstract: A demand valve resuscitator having a reduced manual flow control. The resuscitator connects between a source of pressurized gas and a breathing mask. A patient may draw a flow of gas on demand through the resuscitator by inhaling. A pressure-responsive diaphragm within a pressure chamber, actuated on demand or manually, acts on a tilt valve in a gas intake port. Alternatively, an attendant may supply a reduced flow of gas to a patient by depressing a manual control button, which tilts the intake valve. The manual control of the gas flow is overridden by excess pressure within the pressure chamber of the resuscitator and the button must be released to reassert manual control. A baffle plate in the pressure chamber provides a venturi assist to reduce pressure adjacent the diaphragm to enable the patient to obtain maximum gas flow on demand with slight inhale suction. An anti-suffocation valve allows the patient to breath ambient air in the absence of a predetermined gas inlet pressure.

Abstract: The improved endotracheal anti-disconnect device includes a flexible, resilent elongated patient neck band having a main body, the front surface of which bears a number of hook-receiving loops. The band has narrow opposite ends which form tabs, the front surfaces of which bear a number of hooks. With this arrangement the tabs can be passed through slots in the sides of an endotracheal tube bracket and then can be reflected rearwardly and connected by the hooks to the loops to releasably hold the bracket against the throat of a patient. The device also includes a ring assembly having a ring with a central space and to which ring are connected 4 connectors, which radiate therefrom. Two of the connectors are in the form of wings which are disposed horizontally and are elongated. The wings bear a number of hooks on their inner surfaces so that the ring can be pulled against the bracket and connected by the wings to the front surface of the neck band.