Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and kits for enhancing breathing in patients suffering from chronic pulmonary obstructive disease are described. The methods and apparatus rely on increasing flow resistance to expiration in a manner which mimics “pursed lip” breathing which has been found to benefit patients suffering from this disease. In a first example, a device is implanted in a trachea or bronchial passage to increase flow resistance, preferably selectively increase resistance to expiration relative to inspiration. In a second embodiment, a mouthpiece is provided, again to increase resistance to expiration, preferably with a lesser increase in flow resistance to inspiration. In a third embodiment, the patient's trachea or bronchial passage is modified by the application of energy in order to partially close the lumen therethrough.

Abstract: An intubation system for intubating a patient includes an esophageal obturator 10, an intubation slide 30, a directing guide wire assembly 48 and an airway tube 60. In a method for obtaining an unobstructed airway into the patient's lungs, the esophageal obturator 10 is used to occlude the patient's esophagus F. The intubation slide 30 is inserted into the patient's mouth C and provides a guide for a directing guide wire 50 of the assembly 48 to locate a distal end 59 of the wire in the patient's trachea E. A distal end of the airway tube 60, which surrounds, or may be slipped over, the emplaced assembly 48, is also thereby located in the patient's trachea E. The obturator 10, the slide 30 and the assembly 48 are removed, thereby leaving the airway tube 60 in place to provide ventilation for the patient.

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: The invention relates to a respirator mask which can be repeatedly fitted to different facial shapes. It consists of a mask base body and a support structure which supports the mask base body and can repeatedly be deformed plastically above a specific limit temperature so that the respirator mask can be fitted to different facial shapes.

Abstract: A high frequency pressure oscillation device and method of providing high frequency pressure oscillations to a patient. The device includes a patient circuit coupling a gas source to an airway of a patient, and a valve disposed in the patient circuit. The valve communicates the gas source with the patient's airway when in a first position and at least partially restricts communication when in a second position. A rotating drive assembly rotates the valve in a first direction such that the valve is alternatively disposed in the first and second positions. This system is capable of delivering positive and negative pressures to the airway of a patient by including a blower as the source of breathing gas. This system is also capable of superimposing a high frequency oscillating pressure signal on another pressure signal by adding a second blower in series with the first blower.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for acoustically guiding a distal end of a tube within a body. An incident sound pulse is generated and propagated down the tube into the body. A plurality of microphones are located in the tube and are positioned to detect pulses traveling through the tube. A discriminator distinguishes between incident sound pulses and those that are reflected from within the body. The detected sound pulses are processed to provide an indication of the location of the distal end of the tube within the body, to assist with the guidance of the insertion into the body, to estimate dimensions of the body adjacent the distal end of the tube, and to determine if the tube is obstructed.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask has a blocker at its patient end to prevent entry of the epiglottis during insertion. The blocker has a tear-drop shape plate retained around its edge in grooves in the mask and attached to a flexible strip extending along the outside of the assembly.

Abstract: Personal Humidifier with a horseshoe shaped headset made of plastic and being hollow in construction, the headset having an integral centrally located accordion type connection that allows each end of the headset to flex outward to snuggly fit on a user's head, the headset terminating at one end in a flexible tubular member, the tubular member terminating in a wicking material, the wicking material being covered by a removable, replaceable screen cover, the tubular member and the wicking material being supported by a hand bendable metal wire, the metal wire allowing the user to position the tubular member and the wicking material in close proximity to the user's nose, the wicking material penetrating into one end of the hollow headset and traveling the entire length of the headset, the hollow headset capable of retaining water or the like, the water capable of traveling along the wicking material to provide moisture in close proximity to the user's nose, the water retaining headset being refill

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a ventilation mask. The ventilation mask includes an upper hood and a toroidal tube. The toroidal tube is made of soft silicone, and a tube shape is first formed when the middle part of the tube shape is formed into an “S” shape, and whenever the lower part of the “S” is turned upwardly and inwardly, the “S” part will form the toroidal tube. Air can be injected into the toroidal tube so as to conform the face of the patient. An assembly member is used to assemble the upper hood and the toroidal tube. The advantages of the ventilation mask include added comfort, excellent air tightness, transparency. The toroidal tube can be disassembled to be disinfected for repeated use or for replacement. The upper hood does not have to be replaced.

Abstract: A disposable, expandable/collapsible medication inhalation apparatus for use with an MDI inhaler includes an elongated housing for receiving a plume of medication particles ejected by the MDI inhaler, a mouthpiece, and an inhalation valve disposed between the mouthpiece and the housing. A pair of foldable side sections are pressed together to expand the apparatus. An exhalation port in the mouthpiece allows exhalation through the mouthpiece. A collapsible boot adapter receives a mouthpiece of the MDI inhaler. The inhalation apparatus is constructed from a single sheet of foldable sheet material.

Abstract: Metering aerosol dispensing device comprising an aerosol container (23); a nozzle (31, 32) that is arranged in a nozzle body (30), whereby the aerosol is dispensed via said nozzle when the aerosol container (23) is pushed against the body (30) of the nozzle once the metering aerosol dispensing device is actuated; a meter (1, 2, 4) that counts the number of times that the metering aerosol dispensing device is actuated; and an actuating device (10) that enables the meter (1, 2, 3, 4) to move forward when the metering aerosol dispensing device is actuated. The invention is characterized in that the actuating device (10) is designed and arranged in the metering aerosol dispensing device in such a way that the body (30) of the nozzle is accomodated in the interior of the actuating device (10) and the nozzle (31) is released in order to produce aerosol in an unrestricted manner.

Abstract: A ventilator for connection to a patient to provide assisted breathing, has a gas flow generator, a pressure meter, a flow meter and a control unit, which determines a gas pressure, on the basis of a pre-set tidal volume for the patient and measurement signals from the pressure meter and flow meter, for each breath and which regulates the gas flow generator so that it generates the determined gas pressure. An improved breathing mode, better tailored to the patient, is achieved by the control unit also determining the gas pressure to be generated by the gas flow generator on the basis of mechanical resistances and a variable corresponding to the aggregate effect of the resistance and elastance of the lungs.

Abstract: A control assembly for guiding the placement of an endotracheal tube during the intubation of a patient comprising a flexible stylet comprising a first magnet distally disposed on the stylet and an alignment fixture comprising a second magnet and adapted for positioning the second magnet over the cricothyroid cartilage of the patient to be intubated and retaining the second magnet in position over the cricothyroid cartilage of the patient.

Abstract: A stoma appliance including a protective cover for attachment to a patient's neck adjacent a stoma; a housing member having a stoma tube for extending into the entrance of the stoma, and a body for positioning externally of the stoma; and a gasket for forming a seal between the protective cover and the housing member.

Abstract: A method of intubating a patient includes inserting a tracheal tube into the patient, inserting a gastric tube into the patient, attaching a gastric tube retainer to the tracheal tube, and engaging the gastric tube in the gastric tube retainer to thereby secure the gastric tube in position relative to the tracheal tube. The gastric tube is engaged in the gastric tube retainer by spreading apart portions of the gastric tube retainer along a slit, and sliding the gastric tube into the gastric tube retainer along the slit to a gastric tube opening having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the gastric tube, so that the gastric tube is securely retained in an uncompressed condition in the gastric tube opening.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and devices for delivering an active agent formulation to the lung of a human patient. The active agent formulation may be in dry powder form, it may be nebulized, or it may be in admixture with a propellant. The active agent formulation is delivered to a patient at an inspiratory flow rate of less than 17 liters per minute. The bioavailability of the active agent was found to increase at these flow rates when compared to inspiratory flow rates of 17 liters per minute or more.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tracheal tube with an inflatable cuff surrounding the tube which has a sealing function against the trachea, and which is through a separate channel connected to the surroundings to monitor and regulate the inside pressure in the inflated cuff. The particular feature of the inflatable cuff is a number of local bulges distributed along the circumference of the cuff. With the invention it is accomplished that the sealing in the areas with bulges becomes effective, because the channels formed by the length-wise folds in the cuff are interrupted by thin-walled bulges, in such a way that liquid and secretions do not penetrate down into the patient's lungs.

Abstract: A mode of providing halotherapy to the lower respiratory tract that includes the step of operating a plastic apparatus and inhaling. The plastic apparatus contains sodium chloride (common table salt) User operates the plastic apparatus to release a dosage of salt-filtered air for inhalation when the apparatus is aimed into the user's mouth by way of corrugated plastic tubing and a plastic breathing regulator located next to a plastic mouthpiece. The user then inhales the dosage of salt-filtered air to target the lower respiratory tract (lungs). This dosage of salt-filtered air supplies a concentration adequate to produce potent halotherapy and with continual use, on a daily basis, eliminates dyspnea due to chronic respiratory ailments.

Abstract: A pressure regulating device for use with a breathing assistance apparatus which conveys gases to a patient requiring breathing assistance. The device includes a valve member disposed within a valve housing which when gases flowing through the regulator reach a predetermined level at least a portion of the gases are permitted to flow through a vent aperture externally, similar to known pressure relief valves. The present invention includes an adjustment mechanism engaged with the valve member and for adjusting the predetermined level, and a locking mechanism for permanently preventing access to the adjustment mechanism once the predetermined level has been factory set.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a pressure support system in which a flow or volume of gas is measured without using a dedicated flow element used in a conventional flow meter. Instead, the present invention provides a tortuous gas flow path in which a pressure differential is created between two points in the tortuous path. This pressure differential created by the gas flow path provides the necessary pressure drop for measuring the gas flow and/or gas volume passing through the pressure support system.