Abstract: A subglottic suctioning system with a tracheal tube having a ventilation lumen, a cuff inflation lumen, and a suction lumen are disclosed which may help reduce the incidence of ventilator associated (or acquired) pneumonia. The suction lumen communicates with the space in the trachea above the cuff where secretions accumulate. The suction lumen has a valve on the proximal end for connection to a source of vacuum. The valve is adapted to interrupt the supply of vacuum to the suction lumen to allow for the introduction of a rinsing fluid in its place and to automatically re-establish the connection to the source of vacuum upon completion of rinsing. The rinsing fluid aids in maintaining an open suction lumen and may include medicaments and mucolytic agents to enhance or promote healing or to alter the properties of the mucus to make removal easier. The user may easily and repeatedly alternate suction and rinsing fluid through the suction lumen, i.e.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oxygen breathing device, in particular for providing oxygen to passengers or crew of an aircraft, the device comprising an oxygen source for providing pressurized oxygen, a valve connected to the oxygen source via a pressure line, a control unit for controlling said valve, and at least one nozzle for dispensing the oxygen passing through said valve. In particular, the present invention relates to an oxygen breathing device comprising a measuring unit for determining the mass flow rate of oxygen passing through said nozzle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for supplying oxygen to a person, in particular a flight passenger, using an oxygen breathing device.

Abstract: A respirator system includes a regulator for use in connection with a facepiece of the respirator system. The regulator includes an interface. The respirator system further includes a hose assembly including a hose for carrying breathing gas to the regulator and a cable for carrying at least one electrical wire to the regulator. The respirator system also includes a connector system. The connector system includes a base operatively connectible to the interface of the regulator. The base includes a channel to seat at least a portion of the cable. The channel is in operative connection with an interior of the regulator upon connection of the base to the interface. The connector system also includes a rotatable member which is rotatable relative to the base.

Abstract: Wound treatment systems and methods (e.g., having hydrophilic wound inserts), such as for negative-pressure and/or fluid-installation wound therapies. Some embodiments include a check-valve assembly between a wound dressing and a vacuum source.

Abstract: Various embodiments of respiratory patient interfaces that may be used to treat a variety of disorders involving upper airway obstruction, such as, without limitation, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), obstructive sleep hypopnea, and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). A number of the embodiments employ a nasal pillow assembly including a frame that supports a nasal pillow sleeve and a clip that is slid over a flange of the fame to couple the nasal pillow sleeve to the frame.

Abstract: A ventilator device (10) includes a display screen (50, 101) to display a plurality of ventilator functions/modes (or menus) and a plurality of parameters (or sub-menus) associated with at least one of said ventilator functions/modes. A control member, e.g., in the form of a multifunction finger-operable dial (55, 102) is provided to select from the plurality of ventilator functions/modes and/or parameters, the dial being manipulatable in a first manner (e.g., rotation) to scroll between said parameters, and being manipulatable in a second manner (e.g., touching, pressing and/or depressing) to select one of the ventilator functions/modes and/or parameters.

Abstract: A selectable IOP valve for implantation in an eye of a patient controls IOP and/or bleb pressure. The valve includes a drainage tube configured to convey aqueous from an anterior chamber of an eye and includes a selectable flow control valve in fluid communication with the drainage tube and configured to control flow rates of the aqueous. The valve system includes a plurality of flow control pathways arranged to operate in parallel with each other, each of the flow control pathways being in communication with an entry port to the valve system. A flow control mechanism controls aqueous flow through the pathways. Methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A metered dose valve for use in a pressurized metered dose dispenser for dispensing a metered dose of an aerosol formulation comprising particles of a medicament suspended in liquefied propellant, optionally in combination with one or more excipients, the valve comprising a metering chamber and at least one porous, fluid permeable, particulate semi-permeable body, the at least one porous body being positioned within a region of the interior conduit of the valve, for example within the metering chamber, or a pre-metering chamber and/or an internal channel upstream of the metering chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dry-powder inhaler device comprising: a casing; an air inlet located at a first terminus of the casing; a powder delivery port located at a second terminus of the casing, which is positioned distal to the air inlet; and an elongated assembly located within an interior of the casing. A first terminus is located proximally to the air inlet, a second terminus is located proximally to the powder delivery port, and the assembly is fitted within the casing such that said assembly partially rotates therein about a single axis. The assembly has at least one compartment containing dry-powder, which is located proximally to the second terminus. The compartment with a dry-powder comprises a porous structure encasing the dry-powder; whereby airflow through the device causes the assembly to partially rotate within the casing about a single axis and release the dry-powder in the airflow.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a respiratory interface device, such as a mask (10), that includes a first substantially rigid portion (14), a second substantially rigid portion (16) and a connecting member (18) that is structured to flexibly connect the first and second substantially rigid portions. The flexible connection provides an effective fit of the respiratory interface device against the user's face.

Abstract: Dry powder inhalers and methods are provided that facilitate deagglomeration of powdered medicament during inspiration. A dry powder inhaler includes a dry powder medicament container assembly, and an elongated dry powder delivery tube having an inlet at one end that communicates with a dose container, and an outlet or inhalation port that extends from the inhaler housing at an opposite end. The delivery tube includes one or more apertures adjacent the inlet that cause cyclonic or turbulent airflow through the delivery tube. The inner surface of the delivery tube has a polygonal configuration and the cyclonic air stream bounces off the polygonal inner surface numerous times as the air stream flows through the delivery tube. Another dry powder inhaler includes a deagglomeration chamber with a polygonal inner surface. An air stream containing dry powder medicament is directed into the deagglomeration chamber and impacts the polygonal inner surface numerous times.

Abstract: An inhaler (1) includes a sieve part (9) for administrating powdered substances such as medical substances. The inhaler (1) includes a suction air channel (6) leading to a mouthpiece (4), a substance supply container (8) that is moveable inside a receiving chamber (7) and the sieve part (9) disposed in the suction air channel (6) between the receiving chamber (7) and the mouthpiece (4). The sieve part includes a retaining edge (10), a sieve area contained in a cross sectional area within the retaining edge (10), and a protruding area (12) that protrudes to one side and has a flat portion (13).

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising a lacrimal implant insertable at least partially into a lacrimal punctum. The lacrimal implant comprises an implant core, and an implant body. The implant body includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive the implant core. At least one of the implant core and the implant cavity includes a detection device configured to allow automatic detection of the lacrimal implant with a separate detector device.

Abstract: Component of a patient interface (1), particularly a cushion, comprising a first portion (3) having a first shore hardness and a second portion (5) having a second shore hardness different from the first shore hardness, wherein the first and second portion are co-molded to each other.

Abstract: Dry powder inhalers are described with an inhaler body defining an enclosed cavity space and at least one of (a) an endless strip having opposing primary surfaces, the strip comprising a plurality of spaced apart blisters or dose containers holding dry powder medicament. The inhaler also has an inhalation exit flow path in the inhaler body in communication with at least one blister or at least one dose container held by the strip in a dispensing position and a piercer configured to release dry powder medicament from the blister or dose container in the dispensing position.

Abstract: An air delivery conduit includes a tube including a plurality of corrugations. The corrugations vary along a length of the tube to change flexibility and/or stretch characteristics of the tube in one or more specific zones.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a tracheal tube having a shaped divider disposed therein for separation of a tracheal tube into multiple ventilation lumens are provided. In some embodiments, the divider divides a tracheal ventilation lumen from a bronchial ventilation lumen. In some embodiments, the shaped divider provides an irregular inner diameter that allows a relatively bulky device to be inserted into one or both lumens.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger service unit (PSU) for use in an aircraft, comprising a reading light having a light source and a reflector partially enclosing the light source, and an emergency oxygen supply device comprising an oxygen source, a starter unit for releasing oxygen flow from said oxygen source to an oxygen mask, a control unit for controlling oxygen flow rate from said oxygen source to said oxygen mask and an electrical energy storage device like a rechargeable battery pack or a condensator, for providing electrical energy to said control unit and/or said starter unit. According to the invention, the PSU comprises an energy harvesting unit adjacent to or integrated into said reflector of said reading light wherein said energy harvesting unit is electrically connected to said electrical energy storage device.

Abstract: In a press-type medical nebulizer and a pressing means thereof, the nebulizer includes a medicament container having an intake channel and a medical spray generator. The pressing means includes a base, a pressing element and a switching element. The base has a gas-delivering tube, a gas-releasing hole and a trough. The pressing element comprises an operating arm pivotally connected into the trough and a valve for closing the gas-releasing hole. The switching element is slidingly provided on the operating arm to be selectively engaged into the trough for fixing the operating arm. When the switching element is engaged into the trough, the switching element causes the valve to close the gas-releasing hole, so that the pressurized gas can continuously flow through the gas-delivering tube and enter the intake channel. By this arrangement, the user needs not to press the pressing means repeatedly, which is convenient and labor-saving.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a system for the oxygen supply of persons in an aircraft. In order to provide the simplest possible system, which is suitable in particular for a reconfiguration of the seat devices (12), the system has at least one oxygen line, one oxygen feed, and multiple attachment points for oxygen masks (24), the oxygen line extending in the longitudinal direction and the attachment points being connected to the oxygen line. The attachment points are preferably situated linearly and are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction.