Abstract: In an embodiment, a respiratory shield is disclosed. The respiratory shield is sized to be coupled with a respiratory device having a nasal air intake member so as to be positioned along an oral airflow axis.

Abstract: A method of sealably locating a humidifier water tub in a humidifier base comprising positioning a rear surface of the humidifier water tub to abut a humidifier seal to form an air path from a flow generator outlet into an interior of the water tub, and pressing a humidifier lid of the humidifier to engage a surface of a tub lid of the humidifier water tub to form a sealed air path between an interior of the humidifier water tub and an air delivery conduit connector positioned on the humidifier lid.

Abstract: A respiratory treatment device comprising a flow generator and a humidifier adapted to receive a supply of air at positive pressure from the flow generator and deliver it to an air delivery tube, wherein the humidifier includes a base, a humidifier lid, and a water tank, and the water tank includes a water tank lid, the water tank is removably receivable in the base to define a first air flow path from the flow generator to an interior of the water tank, and the humidifier lid is connectable to the air delivery tube, and is adapted to form a seal with the water tank lid to define a second air flow path from the interior of the water tank to the air delivery tube.

Abstract: A flow generator and humidifier construction is described, including a flow generator construction adapted to reduce noise output compared to known flow generators of comparable size. The flow generator includes a chassis forming first and second muffler volumes and a venturi-shaped connection portion, and a metal/polymer composite material blower enclosure which suppresses noise from the blower. The flow generator may be programmed to include a reminder system including a menu from which the user may request a reminder to take specific action, e.g., replace a component, call a physician, and/or enter patient data card, etc.

Abstract: An oral airway for providing an air passage to a patient's trachea. The oral airway includes a curved section and a straight section with the curved section having spaced-apart curved upper and lower members and the straight section having spaced-apart planar upper and lower members with the same width. The curved upper member has the same width as the planar upper member with the curved lower member having a greater width than the width of the lower planar member. The width of the curved lower member is greater than the width of the planar lower member and the distance between the curved upper and lower members is greater than the distance between the planar upper and lower members. The curved lower member has a generally inverted V-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: An oral airway for providing an air passage to a patient's trachea including two embodiments. In both embodiments, the oral airway includes a curved section and a straight section with the curved section having spaced-apart curved upper and lower members and the straight section having spaced-apart planar upper and lower members with the same width. In the first embodiment, the curved upper member has the same width as the planar upper member with the curved lower member having a greater width than the width of the lower planar member. In the second embodiment, the width of the curved lower member is greater than the width of the planar lower member and the distance between the curved upper and lower members is greater than the distance between the planar upper and lower members.

Abstract: A pressurised metered dose inhaler (1) comprising: a reservoir (2) for containing pressurised product, a valve (9) having an inlet (11) communicating with the reservoir and an outlet (14) through which product is dispensed in use, a piece of magnetisable material (5), an armature (8) extending into proximity with the valve, and an electromagnet (7) surrounding at least a portion of the armature. Wherein the armature is coupled to, or forms part of, the valve such that controlled energisation of the electromagnet causes the armature to be either attracted to or repelled from the piece of magnetisable material one or more times to operate the valve for a controlled time period to effect dispensation of a metered dose of pressurised product from the reservoir through the valve outlet.

Abstract: An oral airway for providing an air passage to a patient's trachea. The oral airway includes a curved section and a straight section with the curved section having spaced-apart curved upper and lower members and the straight section having spaced-apart planar upper and lower members with the same width. The curved upper member has the same width as the planar upper member with the curved lower member having a greater width than the width of the lower planar member. The width of the curved lower member is greater than the width of the planar lower member and the distance between the curved upper and lower members is greater than the distance between the planar upper and lower members. The curved lower member has a generally inverted V-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: There is provided a medical tube lumen plug, including: a plug, including: a body configured to be mechanically coupled to a lumen of a medical tube; and a protrusion configured to extend external to the medical tube, wherein the protrusion is configured to prevent occlusion of an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured to provide a pathway between the lumen and a region external to the medical tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling the delivery of therapeutic gas delivered to a patient undergoing positive airway pressure therapy is described. The method includes providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, obtaining information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the flow, and adjusting the pressure based on the information. The apparatus includes a blower for providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, a sensor to measure a characteristic of the flow, a controller to obtain information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the characteristic, and a pressure regulator for adjusting the pressure based on the information.

Abstract: A nasal comfort device provides humidified air to the nasal passages of a user. The device, which is attachable to a user's face, may include an evaporative surface and a reservoir that is fluidically connected to the evaporative surface. The reservoir may be positioned remotely from the evaporative surface and connected to the evaporative surface with a conduit. A support structure may include one or more support arms which maintain the evaporative surface below the nose. In some embodiments, the device may filter air instead of, or in addition to, humidifying the air. Medications or other agents may be included in the liquid being evaporated or on the evaporative surface.

Abstract: An inhaler has a cap body for defining a flow path and having first and second air inhalation openings for introducing outside air into the flow path from the outside; an air inhalation valve for opening and closing the first air inhalation opening by using the difference in pressure between the flow path and the outside; and a shielding section capable of selectively shielding either of the first and second air inhalation openings. The inhaler is configured to be switchable between two states that are a first state where the second air inhalation opening is shielded by the shielding section and outside air can be introduced through the first air inhalation opening by using the pressure difference and a second state where the first air inhalation opening is shielded by the shielding section and communication between the flow path and the outside through the second air inhalation opening is constantly maintained.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a ventilator system includes (a) a ventilator device having an inhalation port and exhalation port; (b) a patient conduit for delivering to and removing gas from the patient; (c) an exhalation conduit fluidly connected to the exhalation port and the patient conduit; (d) an inhalation conduit fluidly connected to the inhalation port and the patient conduit; and (e) a device for generating aerosolized medication, the device being fluidly connected to the inhalation conduit so that the aerosolized medication is delivered to the patient as the patient inhales. According to the present invention, at least the inhalation conduit has a variable length to position the device for generating aerosolized medication a predetermined distance from the patient conduit.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for providing continuous positive airway pressure for treating sleep apnea. The method comprising the steps of providing a breathing gas flow to a subject, measuring a respiratory characteristic of the subject, determining or estimating a preferable breathing gas flow for the subject based on wavelet analysis utilizing in part the respiratory characteristic of the subject; and preferably adjusting the breathing gas flow if the determined or estimated preferable breathing gas flow is different. This method and apparatus can be used in a number of applications including both clinical and home use in the form of CPAP for the treatment of sleep apnea or less preferably as a ventilator to assist in patient breathing.

Abstract: A personalized protective mask comprises a malleable wire frame, a filtration bag, and a tether. The filtration bag is positioned over the wire frame and the tether is attached at each end to an ear section of the wire frame. The mask is placed over the face of the individual who then bends the wire frame to force it to conform to the individual's own face contour. The tether pulls tight the filtration bag to the individual's face for creating a mask which fully covers the user's nose and mouth. The protective mask is comfortable to wear, whether in-use on the face or in a stand-by position around the user's neck.

Abstract: An insertion aid device includes a handle to hold the insertion aid device and a tongue depressor to depress the tongue of the patient. A curved wedge-shaped tongue depressor maintains the patient's mouth in an open position.

Abstract: A mask apparatus for use in a breathing assistance system may include a ball joint at least partially defined by a housing, a ball member, and a mounting system. The housing may be configured to support a cushion configured to provide a seal against a patient's face. The housing may include a first side defining a first housing opening, and a second side configured to face the cushion and defining a second housing opening. The ball member may be positioned in the first housing opening and may define a ball member opening configured for communicating gas though the first housing opening. The mounting system may be configured to secure the ball member in the first housing opening such that the housing, the ball member, and the mounting system define a ball joint allowing the ball member to rotate about multiple axes relative to the housing and the mounting system.

Abstract: An atomizer for a fluid, in particular, a fluid for medical aerosol therapy. In order to allow simplified operation and improved safety in use, the atomizer has a counter device for counting the number of operations of the atomizer and the number of containers inserted. The atomizer is locked against further operation and/or against removal of the current container or insertion of a new container, if a certain number of operations of the atomizer and/or a certain number of containers inserted has/have been reached or exceeded.

Abstract: A safety device integrated into a respiratory system that includes an oxygen mask having a cup-shaped rigid portion overlying a face mating portion to define a respiratory envelope that is adapted to sealingly engage over the mouth and nose of a user. An integrated control circuit includes an externally mounted connection block and a circuit looping through the respiratory envelope. A hands-free, mouth-activated switch is located within the cup-shaped rigid portion and is electrically coupled to the control circuit.

Abstract: In a method for nasal ventilation and relevant apparatus, particularly for flow-synchronized neonatal assisted ventilation, wherein F(t) is a signal proportional to the ventilation flow, the following steps are performed: (a) inspiration, having a time length Ti, during which air is introduced at an inspiration pressure; (b) expiration, having a time length Te, during which the introduction of air is interrupted; (c) return to step (a); with a flow threshold Ftr, during the expiration step (b) the following steps are provided: (b1) a waiting step having a time length ? before activation of computation of the leakages; and (b2) a step of leakage computation, having a time length ?, so that ?+?=Te, wherein if a normalized signal F? (t), obtained by a processing by way of an algorithm of the surveyed signal F(t), exceeds the threshold Ftr, a spontaneous respiration activity is detected and the inspiration step (a) is reactivated.