Abstract: A counter including a body (460), and first and second rotary counter elements (410, 420) assembled in the body (460). The first counter element (410) co-operating with an actuator member (1430) on each actuation and including an interconnection for interconnecting with the second counter element (420). The interconnection is actuated on every tenth actuation. The first counter element (410) is provided with a first peripheral edge portion (412) including counter indices and a first set of teeth. The second counter element (420) is provided with a second peripheral edge portion (422) including counter indices and with a third set of teeth. The peripheral edge portions (412, 422) are radially coplanar and have a different axis. The counter elements (410, 420) have offset and parallel axes of rotation offset and are urged into contact with each other at a point that is situated at a common counter and/or display zone.

Abstract: A seal is provided for a chassis assembly of a flow generator configured to provide a flow of breathable gas. The chassis assembly includes an upper chassis and a lower chassis. The seal includes a blower receptacle sealing portion configured to seal a blower receptacle of the chassis assembly configured to receive a blower configured to generate the flow of breathable gas; a flow sensor sealing portion configured to seal a flow sensor provided in the chassis assembly and configured to measure the flow of breathable gas; a blower mount configured to receive a portion of the blower and mount the blower to the seal; and a blower mount suspension configured to connect the blower mount to the blower receptacle sealing portion, wherein in an assembled condition the seal and the chassis assembly define a flow path from an inlet of the chassis assembly to the blower receptacle of the chassis assembly to an outlet of the chassis assembly.

Abstract: An airway management device is provided that may adjust the inflation level of a cuff associated with an endotracheal tube. The cuff inflation may be adjusted in response to an increase in carbon dioxide levels above the cuff, which may indicate a poor seal of the cuff against the tracheal walls, as well in response to a measured intracuff pressure. By using information about the seal quality of the cuff together with information about the cuff pressure, the inflation of the cuff can be adjusted to minimize cuff inflation pressure while maintaining a high quality tracheal seal.

Abstract: Various embodiments of tracheostomy tube assemblies including a cannula, a cap, and a flange are provided. The cannula includes a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being adapted to be inserted into a patient's trachea. The annular cap includes an annular body having a first surface adapted to be received into the proximal end of the cannula to retain a portion of the cap in the annular body. The flange member includes a second surface that engages the proximal end of the cannula such that the proximal end of the cannula is retained between the second surface of the flange member and the first surface of the annular cap. The flange member also includes a third surface adapted to engage an inner surface of the annular body of the annular cap to retain the flange member between the annular cap and the proximal end of the cannula.

Abstract: Inhalers with an inhaler housing having a dose container disk having inner and outer perimeters mounted in the housing. The dose container disk has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart dose containers with dry powder therein. The inhalers also include a piercer carriage with a piercer mounted in the inhaler. The piercer carriage is in communication with a resilient member that radially biases the piercer carriage to radially travel to align the piercer with an underlying or overlying dose container.

Abstract: A control unit for controlling a ventilator that provides EMG controlled ventilation to a patient receives EMG signals from an esophageal catheter inserted into the patient and selects, dependent on the EMG signal, at least one signal for controlling the ventilator. A user interface unit operates by the control unit indicates the position of the catheter relative to the patient's diaphragm based on the selected signal. The position information may be presented in relation to signal curves representing the catheter signal or as an elongate vertical shape representing the catheter, the display unit being operated to indicate on the elongate vertical shape the position of the diaphragm.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a catheter which includes an inflatable balloon operable to retain the catheter in position during use, and which is located and configured to both reduce discomfort during use by preventing contact between the end of the catheter and the urinary tract/bladder wall, and reduce the force required to remove the catheter by reducing cuffing of the collapsed balloon.

Abstract: A respiratory treatment apparatus provides respiratory treatment with improved power management control to permit more efficient power consumption and power supply units, such as battery powered operation. In one embodiment, power management prioritizes the flow generator (104) over other accessories such as the heating elements (111, 135) of a humidifier (112) and/or a delivery tube. The flow generator may control operations of the heating elements as a function of a detected respiratory cycle. For example, the timing of operation of the heating elements may be interleaved with the portion of an inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle to permit the flow generator to operate during a peak power operation without a power drain or with a lower power drain from these components. Operations of distinct sets of components of the system (e.g., different heating elements) may also be interleaved to prevent simultaneous peak power operations.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser device comprising a body (10) provided with a dispenser orifice (15), said device further comprising: an elongate flexible strip (20) supporting a plurality of reservoirs (21) each containing a dose of fluid; reservoir-opening means (80) for opening a respective reservoir on each actuation; first displacement means (30) for causing said flexible strip (20) to advance before and/or during and/or after each actuation, so as to bring a full reservoir into register with said reservoir-opening means; and second displacement means (50) for displacing a full reservoir (21) against said opening means (80) each time the device is actuated, said device including positioning means (300) that are adapted to position the full reservoir accurately relative to the reservoir-opening means (80) when it is displaced thereagainst, so as to guarantee that opening is predetermined and reproducible on each actuation.

Abstract: A respirator or anesthesia apparatus for the artificial respiration of a patient is provided with a gas delivery device, at least one gas line for forming a breathing air line system, at least one device for measuring a volume flow of a gas according to the differential pressure method with a flow channel, a first pressure-measuring point and a second pressure-measuring point. The second pressure-measuring point is arranged in the direction of flow of the gas to be measured after the first pressure-measuring point at the flow channel. Furthermore, the flow channel is split into at least two separate partial flow channels in the direction of flow of the gas to be measured between the first pressure-measuring point and the second pressure-measuring point.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a shell and a replaceable mouthpiece. The shell includes an electric power supply and electric circuitry. The mouthpiece includes a liquid storage portion and a capillary wick having a first end and a second end. The first end of the wick extends into the liquid storage portion for contact with liquid therein. The mouthpiece also includes a heating element for heating the second end of the capillary wick, an air outlet, and an aerosol forming chamber between the second end of the capillary wick and the air outlet. When the shell and mouthpiece are engaged or connected, the heating element is in electrical connection with the power supply via the circuitry, and a flowpath for air is defined from at least one air inlet to the air outlet via the aerosol forming chamber. In use, liquid is transferred from the liquid storage portion towards the heating element by capillary action in the wick.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for automatically initiating ventilation, controlling ventilation, transitioning a ventilator to subject controlled ventilation, and weaning a subject from ventilation. The disclosure describes that the method for automatically initiating ventilation includes inputting a physical characteristic of the subject into a ventilator. The physical characteristic may be ideal body weight, height, or age. Based on the inputted physical characteristic, one or more ventilation parameters are calculated. The disclosure describes initiating ventilation based on the calculated parameters. During ventilation at least one physiological parameter of the subject is monitored. At least one ventilation parameter may be adjusted based on the monitoring of the physiological parameters and the inputted physical characteristic.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for providing a transitory ventilation support breath type during ventilation of a patient. The disclosure describes a novel breath type that provides for a beneficial transition between an assist breath type and an effort-based breath type and/or a breath type that is beneficial for weak patients.

Abstract: A sheet driver for use in a drug dispenser where the sheet driver includes a shaft with a shaft cavity co-axial with a rotational axis of the shaft and a hub that defines a hub aperture, where within the shaft cavity there is an indicator pin having a side member and an indicator pin head that may project through the hub aperture, where within the shaft cavity there is a spring for biasing said indicator pin out of the shaft cavity, and where an engagement member may selectively engage said side member of the indicator pin to prevent movement of the engagement member upon the occurrence of an fault condition of the sheet driver.

Abstract: A breathing assistance system for providing breathing assistance to a patient includes a gas delivery system configured to generate a gas flow, a patient interface configured to interface with the patient, a connection system connected between the gas delivery system and the patient interface and configured to communicate the gas flow to the patient interface for delivery to the patient, and a sensor system remote from the gas delivery system and connected to at least one of the patient interface and the connection system. The sensor system may include a sensor for measuring a parameter, one or more actuators, and a power supply based on a turbine configured to be driven by the gas flow and an electrical generator coupled to the turbine and configured to generate electricity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mouth piece for a breathing apparatus, a breathing apparatus and a method for adjusting a valve trigger mechanism arranged on a mouth piece for a breathing apparatus. The mouth piece according to the present invention comprises a housing comprising a mouth piece breathing part opening for inhaling and exhaling a breathable gas. An inlet port for providing breathable gas into said mouth piece housing, the inlet port being in communication with valve means arranged to open or close said inlet port. The housing further comprises a first exit port for exhausting gas from said housing into a closed circuit flow channel and a second exit port for exhausting gas from said mouth piece housing into an ambient environment. Switch means for selectively directing said exhaust gas between said first exit port and said second exit port to change the mouth piece between open circuit breathing and closed circuit breathing.

Abstract: The invention discloses devices and methods for identifying a diver in distress and initiating a rescue response. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention allow for identification of a diver who is not breathing properly and in response giving local stimuli to allow the diver to response. Should he/she not respond, the instant invention will initiate steps to bring the diver back to the water surface and alert others as to his/her need of assistance.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating ventilatory parameters, analyzing those parameters and providing useful notifications and recommendations to clinicians. That is, modern ventilators monitor, evaluate, and graphically represent multiple ventilatory parameters. However, many clinicians may not easily recognize data patterns and correlations indicative of certain patient conditions, changes in patient condition, and/or effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Further, clinicians may not readily determine appropriate ventilatory adjustments that may address certain patient conditions and/or the effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Specifically, clinicians may not readily detect or recognize the presence of double triggering during ventilation.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed that involve a fistula-isolating device for use when reduced pressure is applied to a wound bed having a fistula. In one instance, the fistula-isolating device includes an adjustable passageway member and a perimeter member that contracts under reduced pressure and that automatically accommodates wound beds of different heights. In another instance, the fistula-isolating device involves a body shaped as a frustro-conical body that is readily sized for different depth wound beds. Other systems, methods, and devices are presented.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retrieval and dispensing tubing, particularly useful for oxygen tubing.