Abstract: A nasal mask for use in respiratory therapy is provided with one or more vent ports which are adjustable for directing vented air in a direction which is most comfortable to the patient. By providing adjustable vent ports, the patient can adjust the direction of the vented air to a position that best accommodates the patient. Each vent port can be in the form of a passage in a member which is mounted to rotate in an opening through the mask. The member may be rotated in the opening to change the direction of air flowing through the passage or passages. The member may be designed to rotate about a fixed axis relative to the mask, or it may be spherical and designed to rotate in any direction. Preferably, a knob or tab is provided for grasping to facilitate manually adjusting the vent port orientation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intrabuccal stretcher having essentially a supporting bar and a pushing part formed at each distal end of the supporting bar; the pushing parts having such a thickness and such a roundish shape as are suitable for pushing internal sides of buccae; the supporting bar being bent symmetrically with respect to the vertical axis; the pushing parts being extended outward from the distal ends of the supporting bar; wherein the pushing par-n are inserted into an oral cavity with the supporting bar remaining partly outside the oral cavity to push and simulate internal sides of the buccae.

Abstract: A swim mask apparatus having a mask equipped with a floating air-suction device is provided. The mask includes a plurality of straps extending from two lateral sides thereof to firmly attach the mask to a wearer's head and thereby provide watertight protection for the wearer's eyes and nose. The mask is provided with a one-way exhaust valve and a one-way sniffing valve. The floating air-suction device includes a float and an air hose extending therefrom. A terminal end of the air hose is connected to the one-way sniffing valve to form an inhalation airway between the float and the mask. The buoyancy of the float normally maintains the open end of the air hose coupled thereto above the water surface. When it is pulled sufficiently below the water surface by the air hose, the buoyant float is resistive to the displacement to the extent that compressing members formed therein constrictively engage the end of the air hose to prevent water from entering therethrough.

Abstract: There is provided a dispenser suitable for dispensing medicament, particularly medicament for use in the treatment of respiratory disorders. The dispenser comprises a housing (1) having a support (5); a container (2), locatable within said housing (1), having an outlet member, wherein said container (2) is movable relative to the housing (1) to enable dispensing therefrom and said outlet member is connectable with said support (5) to prevent relative movement there-between; and a dose indicator (13, 43), locatable within said housing (1). The container (2) and dose indicator (13, 43) are reversably removable from the housing (1) as a single unit.

Abstract: A combination flow regulator and conservation device, for oxygen gas or oxygen concentrated gas, attachable to an oxygen tank or wall outlet of a master oxygen system and containing a gas regulator and a control circuit to control both the effective rate and timing of the flow of gas through the device, the control circuit selectively controlling the device to supply the gas to a user in one of at least three selectable modes of operation, the modes including (1) a continuous flow of gas, (2) an intermittent pulse of gas to be supplied on every inhalation stage of the breathing cycle of the user for a variable period of time during the inhalation stage, and (3) an intermittent pulse of gas to be supplied only during selectable inhalation stages of the breathing cycles of the user.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber containing beads. A dose of dry powder is released into the chamber, or into an inlet tangentially joining into the chamber. As the patient inhales on a nosepiece or mouthpiece, air moves circularly through the dispersion chamber to drive the beads. The beads roll, bounce, and collide repeatedly with the drug particles on the chamber surfaces or on the beads. The smaller active drug particles are separated from the larger carrier particles and from each other, and a powder aerosol is created and inhaled by the patient. The beads are preferably lightweight, so that they can be rapidly accelerated and moved, even with nominal inspiration. The flow resistance of the inhaler is also reduced via the beads, allowing greater air flow and powder dispersion, without any increased effort by the patient.

Abstract: A valve, particularly suited for use with a patient ventilation system to regulate respiration gas flow to and from the lungs of a patient has a substantially parallel, co-axial, arrangement of inner and outer fluid flow passages for conducting gas through the valve to and from a common flow conduit connected to the patient's lungs, each passage having gas flowing therein in a different direction. A cuff is provided which is inflatable to control the flow of fluid through the valve. The cuff is disposed so as to be able to form a fluid-tight seal against one or other of the facing surfaces of the inner and the outer flow passages when inflated, and to block flow through the outer passage in a timed relationship with the breathing cycle of the patient.

Abstract: A CPAP treatment apparatus, as one form of positive pressure ventilatory assistance, includes a turbine/blower, operated by a mechanically coupled electrical motor that receives air or breathable gas at an inlet thereof, and supplies the breathable gas at a delivery pressure to a delivery tube/hose having a connection at the other end thereof with a nose mask. A microcontroller has an operational “Mask-Fit” mode. An initial constant pressure level is applied by the blower to the mask. If the functional mode is a manual mode, then the mask-fit test pressure is the current ‘set’ pressure. If the functional mode is the automatic titration mode, the mask-fit test pressure is the 95th percentile pressure of the previous session, otherwise it is the base treatment pressure, e.g. 10-12 cm H2O. This constant pressure is applied for a period of time, typically 1-3 minutes.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask of the type used to facilitate lung ventilation and the insertion of endo-tracheal tubes or related medical instruments through a patient's laryngeal opening as used during general anesthesia, intensive care, or critical patient care. The mask includes an inflatable positioning shield formed to fit within a patient's oropharynx and seal around the circumference of the laryngeal opening, the shield having an inflatable annular toroid peripheral portion, a contoured rear portion, and a recessed front. The mask also includes a flexible respiratory tube having an proximal end lumen, a gently curved tubular body of sufficient size to permit passage of endo-tracheal tubes, and related medical instruments, and a distal end passing through and secured to the proximal edge of the annular toroid peripheral portion.

Abstract: Headgear (20) for securing a respiratory mask (12) to a patient incorporates a quick release arrangement. The headgear has at least one strap (22,24) extending from each side of the mask, the straps being releasably fastened rearwards of the patient's face to secure the mask. The headgear further includes release means in the form of a pull cord (41) attached to an overlying strap (22) at its region of fastening to the underlying strap (24) an guided forward to be gripped at the front of patient. Pulling forward to the pull tab (45) of the cord (41) separates the fastening (28) between the straps (22,24) and pulls the mask away from the patient's face.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating respiratory gases include a housing having a patient side port adapted for connection to a tracheal tube device and a machine side port adapted for connection to a tube for passing respiratory gases; and one or more liquid trap chambers positioned between the patient side and machine side ports and adapted to receive and hold liquid passed from outside the housing through the patient side and machine side ports.

Abstract: A container for the gastight sealing of a respirator. The container has two container shells (1, 2) abutting on front surfaces with a circumferential sealing element. The container second container shell (2) is provided with a handle (3) mounted at two opposite points of rotation (6). The handle (3) has a lever arm (5), which engages in the first container shell (1) in the closed position of the container. In the closed position of the container, the handle (3) preferably engages in an additional bracket (4) that is detachably connected to the first container shell (1).

Abstract: A manually manipulated resuscitation mask, which includes a flexible barrier for providing a sealing contact with a face of a victim in a region adjacent to a victim's mouth. The flexible barrier has an opening therethrough to cooperate with the victim'2 mouth. The opening in the sheet us comprised of an integrally connected, flexible sleeve, extending away from the flexible sheet and the victim's face. The sleeve has an open end remote from where the sleeve is integrally connected to the flexible barrier sheet. The mask also includes a tubular member that has first and second end portions. The tubular member is positionable within the flexible sleeve and has the first end portion integrally secured to the open end of the flexible sleeve. The second end portion of the tubular member is located adjacent to the flexible barrier sheet when the tubular member is positioned within the sleeve.

Abstract: A self contained breathing apparatus includes a pressure vessel which holds a supply of breathing air. The pressure vessel is in fluid communication through a first stage pressure regulator with a second stage breathing regulator. The breathing regulator is operatively connected to a user face mask. When the pressure available in the supply is at a suitable pressure, the pressure regulator provides pressure to breathing regulator at a first pressure. When the pressure in the supply falls to a value indicative of impending depletion of the air supply, a transfer piston in a step up vale shifts. A change in condition of the step up valve causes a step up piston to increase the output pressure from regulator. This increased pressure moves a sensing piston and causes indicating devices in an alarm circuit to be activated. In alternative embodiments, an electronic alarm module may be used.

Abstract: A carrying device for a respirator is combined with protective clothing. The combination includes shoulder belts and waist belts on the carrying device. Quick-connection elements are provided at the ends of the shoulder belts and of the waist belts. Coupling elements are provided on the protective clothing for the quick-connection elements.

Abstract: An arrangement to provide a moisture barrier and bacteria barrier for various medical components that is connected to a measuring tube, arranged in the flow paths of a respirator is simple and inexpensive and exchangeable and does not cause a flow resistance in the flow paths of the respirator. A carrier carries at least two moisture barriers and bacteria barriers such that one barrier, given a carrier introduced in the respirator, is arranged exactly in front of each component.

Abstract: An oxygen-delivery system comprises a portable oxygen meter including a low-pressure oxygen inlet, a low-pressure oxygen outlet, and an exhale-inhale sensing port, an oxygen-supply source including a discharge outlet and configured to discharge low-pressure oxygen through the discharge outlet, a flexible supply tube arranged to conduct low-pressure oxygen from the oxygen-supply source into the portable oxygen meter through the low-pressure oxygen inlet, and a nasal cannula coupled to the low-pressure oxygen outlet and the exhale-inhale sensing port.

Abstract: A humidification unit adapted to be disposed in a patient circuit for humidifying the flow of breathing gas delivered to the patient via the patient circuit by an artificial ventilator system. The humidification unit includes an exothermic member having an outer surface and a plurality of hollow fibers disposed on the outer surface of the exothermic member. Each hollow fiber is defined by a peripheral wall having minute openings large enough to allow a gas to pass therethrough yet small enough to prevent a liquid from passing therethrough. Liquid delivered to the hollow fibers is heated by the exothermic member and the as vapor resulting from the heating passes through the hollow fiber walls and humidifies the flow of breathing gas delivered to the patient.

Abstract: An inhalation therapy device includes a collapsible aerosol storage bag (7) having an opening which connects to the end of a dual port member, one port (8) of which is in fluid communication with a nebulizer. During patient exhalation the aerosol storage bag becomes partially inflated with exhaled gas during the first part of exhalation. The laminar coherent aerosol jet exits the dual port member and remains coherent until reaching the end of the aerosol storage bag, at which time it diverges and expels all exhaled gas from the aerosol storage bag, thus filling the aerosol storage bag with aerosol. All escaping gas exits the aerosol storage bag via the remaining port (9) of the dual port member, where it escapes into the ambient environment through the ambient port. The remaining dual port of the dual port member, in addition to providing means for escaping gas from the aerosol storage bag, is also in fluid communication with the ambient port and the mouthpiece (1).

Abstract: In an aerosol inhaler it is proposed that a thermal sensor 5 be arranged in the region of the atomization nozzle 4, which sensor, following the actuation of an actuating element and the triggering of an inhalation process, undergoes cooling as a result of the expansion of the propellant which then occurs. The actuation and cooling are electronically detected in an electronic module 3. Technical and therapeutic data can be derived from the signal, which data are communicated to the user via the display unit and/or alarm devices and influence the therapy in the desired manner. See FIG. 1.