Abstract: A tracheostoma valve to be applied to a tracheostomized person's neck comprises an air passage to be connected with the tracheostoma for connecting the trachea with the surroundings. A valve member is provided in the air passage, wherein the valve member is normally open and allows for inhalation and exhalation through the air passage. The valve further comprises a manually activated member for establishing an uninterrupted seal to block patient exhalation, thereby to direct it to the patient's pharynx, esophagus, sinuses, and mouth for speech following surgical removal of the larynx.

Abstract: A medical face mask is provided which includes a mask body having a mask interior and contoured to fit against the face of a patient. A permanently-open nasal aperture is provided in the mask body to facilitate insertion of an equipment, instrument or device into the mask interior and into the nose of the patient. A permanently-open oral aperture is provided in the mask body to facilitate insertion of an equipment, instrument or device into the mask interior and into the mouth of the patient. A one-way oxygen port is provided in the mask body to facilitate introduction of oxygen and/or medical gases into the mask interior of the mask body. A one-way valve port is provided in the mask body to facilitate discharge of carbon dioxide from the mask interior. A capnography or gas sampling port may be provided in the mask body to capture gases for analysis.

Abstract: A massage apparatus device with circular plates, which is compact enough to fit into a laptop bag yet versatile enough to engage the five elements of fitness training. It is an improvement over prior art that focuses on only one or two fitness elements. A top and bottom circular plate each having a tapered circular hole in the center of each plate and holes located around the circumference of each plate; and a flexible covering with rods wherein the rods removably engage the circular holes of each circular plate when folded in a cylindrical shape for massage. It is designed to easily disassemble and re-assemble. The top and bottom circular plates also function as double-sided discs used to perform exercises such as gliding. Further, the top and bottom circular plates when placed on a first and second ball are used to stand on to improve one's stability and coordination.

Abstract: Sound attenuation devices are provided that may be temporarily worn in a person's ear. The devices generally include a first flange that is configured to be disposed in a person's ear; a second flange that is positioned proximate to the first flange and is also configured to be disposed in the person's ear (with the second flange having a proximate end that exhibits an oblong perimeter); and a cylindrical shaft extending from an interior portion of the second flange. The shaft includes an integrally connected pull tab; it extends beyond the proximate end of the second flange; and the shaft includes an integrally formed reinforcing member that spans an exterior side of the shaft and at least a portion of the pull tab. The devices further include a sound filter disposed within an internal cavity of the shaft.

Abstract: A method for controlling a humidifier of a CPAP device including a controller, the method including controlling a heating element in the humidifier with command signals from the controller, sensing a temperature of a fluid in the humidifier with a sensor in the humidifier that transmits signals to the controller, establishing an acceptable operating range for the signal transmitted to the controller; determining whether the transmitted signal is within the acceptable operating range, if the signal is within the acceptable operating range treating the signal as being indicative of the temperature of the fluid in the humidifier and using the signal to control the heating element, and if the signal is outside of the acceptable operating range, the controller determines the humidifier to be unavailable.

Abstract: A gum soother with a vibrating and detachable head. The gum soother can have a wand or spherical body with a vibrating device inside. The vibrating device can be in mechanical communication with one or more detachable heads. The detachable heads can have a variety of chew tips to soothe gums.

Abstract: The gases temperature supplied to a patient when the patient is undergoing treatment such as oxygen therapy or positive pressure treatment for conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is often measured for safety and to enable controlling of the humidity delivered to the patient. The invention disclosed is related to measurement of properties, particularly temperature (thermister), of gases flowing through a heated tube, supplying gases to a patient, which utilises the heating wire within the tube.

Abstract: A tool is provided for use in conjunction with a pressure support system that is structured to provide therapy to a patient to treat a condition of the patient by delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient. The tool may be implemented on a portable electronic device or a PC and is configured to, among other things, provide customized/personalized education and feedback to the patient based, at least in part, on data that is measured by the pressure support system during the provision of therapy to the patient. The tool utilizes certain patient/therapy metrics, where each patient/therapy metric includes raw data that was measured by the pressure support system and that has been processed (e.g., summarized and/or otherwise manipulated) to form the patient/therapy metric.

Abstract: Apparatus, consisting of a probe, having a proximal end and a distal end, which is deflectable in first and second directions. The apparatus includes a probe manipulator, which is coupled to the proximal end of the probe and has first and second tactile control elements. The elements are operable by a user of the probe to deflect the distal end in the first and second directions, respectively, and are tactilely distinguishable one from the other.

Abstract: A universal foot exercise brace and ball device with new and useful characteristics for massaging and rehabilitating the plantar fascia is presented. An adjustable ankle brace surrounding the ankle naturally connects to a curvilinear tongue surface that rests over the top portion of the foot defining a passageway for a shock cord. An upper cord lock subsequently accommodates and sizes the shock cord, which in turn holds a spherical ball designed for massaging the tissues found at the bottom of the foot. Together, all the components of this utilitarian device work as one embodiment and integrated unit leaving the plantar fascia completely unobstructed to be massaged using this new device and method that securely holds a ball in place under the foot while it operates rolling under all sections of the plantar fascia as intended by the user.

Abstract: A respiratory assistance apparatus has a gases inlet configured to receive a supply of gases, a blower unit configured to generate a pressurised gases stream from the supply of gases; a humidification unit configured to heat and humidify the pressurised gases stream; and a gases outlet for the heated and humidified gases stream. A flow path for the gases stream extends through the respiratory device from the gases inlet through the blower unit and humidification unit to the gases outlet. A sensor assembly is provided in the flow path before the humidification unit. The sensor assembly has an ultrasound gas composition sensor system for sensing one or more gas concentrations within the gases stream.

Abstract: A smoke inhalation apparatus may include a cartridge having a release device configured to release a substance, a controller configured to control the operation of the release device, and a communication device configured to allow a user to change and monitor settings of the smoke inhalation apparatus and/or a state of the smoke inhalation apparatus. The communication device may include a display configured to indicate usage of the smoke inhalation apparatus. The communication device may be configured to reprogram the controller to operate according to a modified usage limit different than an initial usage limit.

Abstract: A smoke inhalation device may include a housing, a first cartridge comprising a first release device configured to release a first substance, a second cartridge comprising a second release device configured to release a second substance, and a controller configured to control the operation of the first release device and the second release device. The first release device and the second release device may be configured to be operated independently from one another, such that a combined vapor composition including the first substance and the second substance is configured to be varied.

Abstract: A system for assisting a rescuer with treatment of a patient comprising a mobile computing device that includes a user interface and a processor coupled to memory. The processor configured to cause the user interface to prompt the rescuer to select a proficiency level from a plurality of proficiency levels, the plurality of proficiency levels comprising a basic proficiency level and at least one non-basic proficiency level, wherein the basic proficiency level includes basic resuscitation instructions for the rescuer. The system further configured to receive an input from the rescuer of the selected proficiency level. The system provides, if the rescuer selects the basic proficiency level, the basic resuscitation instructions to the rescuer and provide, if the rescuer selects the at least one non-basic proficiency level, non-basic instructions to the rescuer. Lastly, the system transmits signals to control a defibrillator according to the selected proficiency level.

Abstract: A humidification canister for humidifying a breathing gas, the humidification canister includes a fluid supply configured to supply a fluid and a first gas flow path in fluid communication with the fluid supply. A first gas flow path is configured to humidify the breathing gas with the fluid. A second gas flow path at least partially surrounds the first gas flow path. A method of insulating a breathing gas in a humidification canister using a gas is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a type of electronic sphygmomanometer with dynamically calibrated blood pressure reference value, which is determined based on the objective condition of human blood pressure fluctuation influenced by various factors such as age, date and time of measurement, and establishes age/blood pressure reference value, date/blood pressure reference value and time/blood pressure reference. The value database, or through mathematical operations, obtains the real-time standard blood pressure reference value under the specific conditions of the subject's age, test date, and test time, and calibrates it as a benchmark for judging the abnormality state of the real-time blood pressure measurement value. This improves the ability of the sphygmomanometer in producing an accurate judgement of the subject's blood pressure, and reduces the margin of error for false positive tests or false negative tests.

Abstract: A ventilator device delivers ventilatory support to a patient in a back up timed mode when patient respiration is not detected or a spontaneous mode when patient respiration is detected. The timing threshold governing the back-up mode is chosen to deviate from normal expected respiration time for the patient to promote patient initiated ventilation in the spontaneous mode but permit back-up ventilation in the event of apnea. Automated adjustments to the timing threshold during the timed mode are made from the less vigilant timing threshold to a more vigilant threshold at or near a timing of normal expected breathing of the patient. Such adjustments may be made from a minimum to a maximum vigilance timing settings or incrementally there between as a function of time in the timed mode which is preferably the number of delivered machine breaths.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering a pharmaceutical gas to a patient. The methods and systems provide a known desired quantity of the pharmaceutical gas to the patient independent of the respiratory pattern of the patient over a plurality of breaths every nth breath, where n is greater than or equal to 1. The pharmaceutical gases include CO and NO, both of which are provided as a concentration in a carrier gas. The gas control system determines the delivery of the pharmaceutical gas to the patient to result in the known desired quantity (e.g. in molecules, milligrams or other quantified units) of the pharmaceutical gas being delivered. Upon completion of that known desired quantity of pharmaceutical gas over a plurality of breaths, the system can either terminate, continue, activate and alarm, etc.

Abstract: A vent assembly for use with a respiratory mask of the type used in CPAP treatment includes a porous disk portion that is attached to a biasing member such that the disk portion is maintained in a substantially sealed position against a main vent to minimize airflow through at least one side vent of the vent assembly. Debris build-up on the disk portion can cause the biasing member to deflect to provide an additional path for airflow through the at least one side vent. In another embodiment, the vent assembly can also include an anti-asphyxia feature to provide an airflow path from the environment to the user. An oxygen diverter valve may be disposed between the breathing apparatus flow generator and an oxygen injection port.

Abstract: A nasal mask has a flexible bottom edge portion and side portions. A delivery device includes a holding chamber coupled to the nasal mask. A method of delivering an inhalable substance includes positioning a nose of a user in a cavity of the nasal mask, inhaling through the nose, and orally soothing the user with a soothing device.