Abstract: The present invention is an inflatable cuff type anesthesia mask with three methods of improved support shell orientation of the inflatable cuff in combination with and to enable the successful operation of the mask at a point substantially more inferior on the bridge of the nose than currently shown in the prior art.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction catheter device usable with a respiratory support system which includes a catheter enveloped in a sleeve having a proximal end connector for connection to a suction source through a suction control device such as a suction control valve, and a distal end connector for attachment to a manifold of the respiratory support system. The proximal end connector includes a normally closed valve therein which prevents air flow through the catheter until a suction control device is attached thereto. The proximal end connector may also be adapted for use on a dual lumen catheter and thereby include a fluid injection passage having a one-way check valve therein. The distal end connector of the suction catheter device includes a magnifying window through which a portion of the catheter within the connector can be viewed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed by which a closed ventilating system accommodates multiple access to the respiratory system of an intubated medical patient. Access to the respiratory system is accomplished via one or more access ports through an attached accessory device in order to ventilate the lungs of the patent with gas or gasses, aspirate secretions from the lungs, oxygenate the lungs, visually inspect selected parts of the respiratory system, sample sputum and gasses, sense parameters such as flow rates, pressure, and temperature, flush the respiratory tract with washing solution, and/or administer medication, gasses, and/or lavage. The embodiments of the present invention may have such accessory devices permanently fixed to the adaptor or may be removable and replaceable. Access control means may be provided whereby one or more access ports are selectively aligned with the adaptor in order to allow passage of an attached accessory device therethrough.

Abstract: A CPR face mask has a face engaging part positionable on the face of a patient to surround at least the mouth of the patient. An air flow control valve is carried by the face engaging part and has an upper inlet into which air can be blown by a CPR giving person and which passes downwardly through a first outlet into a patient's mouth. The flow control valve causes air passing upwardly from the patient's mouth into the first outlet to be released to the external atmosphere through a second outlet without passing to the inlet. The flow control valve has a flexible diaphragm operable to prevent air flow from the inlet to the second outlet when the CPR giving person is blowing into the inlet and to prevent air flow from the first outlet to the inlet when air passes upwardly from the patient's mouth into the first outlet. A filter is located immediately upstream of the diaphragm with respect to air flow blown into the first inlet by the CPR giving person.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for preventing heat loss or gain from a conditioned air transport tube in a patient temperature control system thereby reducing internal and/or external vapor condensation commonly associated with such patient temperature control systems while also stabilizing the relative temperature and humidity within such temperature control systems. A thin flexible partially longitudinally compressed casing is provided to surround a corrugated tube of the same or greater thickness to provide an insulating dead air space therebetween. In another arrangement selected enlarged corrugations are provided in spaced relation along the corrugated tube to engage the inner surface of the casing in a preselected spaced arrangement with respect to said corrugated tube to compartmentalize insulating dead air spaces between the tube and the casing.

Abstract: A breathing regulator for use in underwater breathing comprising a diaphragm and poppet actuated upon user demand. The poppet including at least one baffle located intermediate its ends wherein when air is demanded by a user of the regulator air travels through the valve and continuously impinges upon the baffle and reduces the effort of the user required to operate the valve. The regulator further comprises a sleeve which is concentric about the air passage chamber which facilitates more efficient air delivery to the user. The sleeve is selectively controlled by the user either to enhance the venturi flow of air or to cancel the venturi effect, dependent upon the needs of the user.

Abstract: A nasal tube holder for anchoring a tube in a nasal passage including a nasal dilator affixable over the bridge of a nose, a tube holding portion depending from the nasal dilator for engaging a tube and anchoring the tube within a nasal passage and an adhesive backing carried by the nasal dilator and the tube holding portion for adhering the nasal dilator to a nose and a tube to the tube holding portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a filter for tobacco smoke composed of at least one layer of a wet-formed absorbent fibrous nonwoven composite structure containing: 1) from about 30 to about 65 percent, by weight, of pulp fibers forming a matrix having a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface; and 2) about 35 to about 70 percent, by weight, of activated carbon integrated into the matrix of pulp fibers such that the concentration of activated carbon adjacent the first exterior surface is at least about 60 percent, as determined by optical image analysis, and the concentration of activated carbon adjacent the second exterior surface is less than about 40 percent, as determined by optical image analysis, so that the filter is adapted to selectively reduce the C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 carbonyl component of conventional tobacco smoke at least about 25 percent more than a conventional cellulose acetate filter for an identical tobacco smoke. Also disclosed is a method of making the filter.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for treating a patient suffering from heart failure. According to one exemplary method, a facial mask is sealed around the patient's mouth and nose, with the mask including a one-way expiration valve and an inspiratory threshold valve. The threshold valve is biased to open when a threshold pressure within the mask is in the range from about -3 cm H.sub.2 O to about -25 cm H.sub.2 O. With this arrangement, the patient breathes while the mask is sealed to the face, with the respiratory gasses being prevented from entering the patient's lungs during inhalation until the patient produces a pressure within the mask that is within the range from about -3 cm H.sub.2 O to about -25 cm H.sub.2 O. At this point, the inspiratory valve opens to allow respiratory gasses into the lungs.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed by which a closed ventilating system accommodates multiple access to the respiratory system of an intubated medical patient without comprising the closed character of the system. Access to the respiratory system through one or more access sites of the closed system apparatus is provided at proximal adapter ports to ventilate the lungs of the patient with gas or gases, to aspirate secretions from the lungs, to oxygenate the lungs to eliminate or reduce residual co.sub.2 therefrom, to visually inspect selected parts of the respiratory system, to sample sputum and gases, to sense parameters such as flow rates, pressure, and temperature, to flush with washing solution, and/or to administer medication, gases, and/or lavage.

Abstract: There is provided a device for the administration of an inhalation medicament, including a body defining a through-going air pathway having a longitudinal axis, an air inlet, an air outlet forming a mouthpiece, means for dispensing medicament into the pathway and air flow regulating means, characterised in that the air flow regulating means includes a movable obstructing means adapted to reduce the cross-sectional area of the pathway at a location between the air inlet and the means for dispensing medicament, and biassing means, whereby the obstructing means is biassed into a first resting position in which the cross-sectional area of the pathway is minimum and is adapted to move against the bias of the biassing means to a second position in which the cross-section area of the pathway is maximum in response to a pressure fall at the moiuthpiece caused by inhalation and is adapted to move further to a third position in which the cross-sectional area of the pathway is less than maximum in response to a greater

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler (10) consists of a chamber (12) into which powder is introduced from a metering system, and a mouthpiece (26) through which a patient inhales, connected by a duct (16), so that air flows through the chamber carrying the powder into the patient's lungs. Within the duct is an impactor (25) consisting of a plate (27) spaced in front of a similarly sized aperture, and between the chamber and the impactor plate is an orifice (18) narrower than the duct, so the air stream is diverted along S-shaped paths to avoid the plate. The presence of the impactor can improve the efficiency of delivery of a drug to the lungs, and decrease the unwanted dose to the mouth and throat, as the latter is principally due to agglomerates or larger particles which are intercepted or broken up by the impactor.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus for supplying a supportive inspiration pulse in response to a sensed inhalation effort of a subject connected to the apparatus has a supportive response controlled so that the amplitude of the inspiration pulse displays an inverse relationship to the magnitude of the sensed inhalation effort.

Abstract: A number of different parameters related to carbon dioxide output of a patient are routinely determined in ventilator/anaesthetic systems. For this purpose, a ventilator/anaesthetic system for determining carbon dioxide parameters includes a ventilator unit in which a first flow meter is arranged to measure an expired flow of gas, and a carbon dioxide meter is arranged to measure the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired gas. Arranging the carbon dioxide meter in the ventilator/anaesthetic unit minimizes the equipment which must be located in the immediate vicinity of patient, and a faster, more sensitive carbon dioxide meter thus can be used.

Abstract: A nasal dilator for preventing outer wall tissue of nasal passages of a nose from drawing in during breathing. There is a spring member for bridging a human nose, the spring member extending over the bridge and at least partly beyond the bridge on both sides of the bridge. A pad with an adhesive surface covers the spring member and extends around the spring member so that there is a perimeter of space formed between the spring member and the pad member. The spring is inset centrally in the pad. An adhesive between the spring member and the pad wholly connects the spring member on its entire engaging surface with the pad. The dilator can be formed of transparent or clear material so as to enhance its cosmetic appearance on the nose, and there can be printing on one or more members of the dilator.

Abstract: Filtration and closure barriers are disclosed which prevent passage of gas-carried contamination between the atmosphere and a collapsible sheath, which surrounds a catheter tube, during insertion and/or removal of the catheter tube from the respiratory tract of a medical patient.

Abstract: A ventilator manifold provided with access ports and method thereof for accessing the interior chamber of the manifold and cleansing secretions from the inner wall of the manifold's interior chamber with a cleaning device without having to disconnect the patient from the respiratory support system.

Abstract: A system and method for body cooling is disclosed for use with a cryogenic mixed gas storage and delivery apparatus, the storage apparatus including a compact and lightweight dewar for containing cryogenic temperature mixed gas at supercritical pressure. The system includes a garment having a fluid circulation network thereat and a plurality of heat exchangers receiving cold mixed gas expelled from the dewar for heat exchange to cool fluid in the fluid circulation network. Different ones of the heat exchangers also provide for heat input to the dewar to maintain gas therein in a single phase and provide continued expulsion energy and for warming of the gas for end use. No electrical input for fluid circulation is required.

Abstract: A face mask including a face-contacting layer, an outer cover layer, a polymeric microfiber mat disposed between the face-contacting layer and the outer cover layer, and a non-woven fibrous mat disposed between the face-contacting layer and the outer cover layer. The non-woven fibrous mat includes polymeric fibers and a surface energy reducing agent. The face-contacting layer, the cover layer, the polymeric microfiber mat, and the non-woven fibrous mat cooperate with each other to allow gas to pass through the mask while inhibiting the passage of liquid through the mask.

Abstract: Nasal dilators and methods for improving the breathing of individuals are provided. The dilator includes an elongated substrate having top and bottom surfaces and a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the bottom surface. A resilient member is bonded to the substrate to provide a gentle expanding force to the nasal wall tissue when the dilator is adhesively attached to the nose. This invention further includes an aromatic medication or transdermal medication disposed on the dilator to further improve breathing. Ideal aromatic medications include camphor and menthol. Reinforcing scrims, layers and thermoplastics melt-bonding procedures are also provided for improving properties and minimizing costs.