Abstract: A patient ventilator system for automatically weaning a patient from a ventilator.

Abstract: A snorkel and snorkel system are disclosed. The snorkel includes an arching breathing tube with a mouthpiece at a first end and a breathing port at a second end. The arching breathing tube preferably arches through a range of angles between 240 and 300 degrees and mouthpiece and the breathing port are separated by a distance in a range of 8 to 16 inches. The snorkel system preferably includes a strap with a bracket for securing the snorkel to a user's head and along a front portion of the user's face.

Abstract: A powder inhaler for administering powder by inhalation comprising: a flow path defined by a plurality of surfaces through which a stream of air is in use drawn on inhalation by a user; and dosing means (18) for providing a dose of powder to the flow path for entrainment in the stream of air; characterized in that the inhaler further comprises dislodging means for dislodging powder accumulated on a surface of the flow path downstream of the dosing means (18).

Abstract: An inhalation device is described for use with a medicament pack in which at least one container for medicament in powder form is defined between two sheets peelably secured to one another. The device comprises means for peeling the sheets apart at an opening station to open the container; and an outlet, communicating with the opened container, through which a user can inhale medicament in powder form from the opened container.

Abstract: An on-off valve mounted in a high pressurized gas container, which has a holding portion for holding a flow amount controlling member in a path formed in an upper stream side of the body of the valve, and in which a flow amount controlling member is movably held. In the flow amount controlling member, an orifice is formed. When the valve moves into an opening position, a high pressurized oxygen gas is flowed into a valve chamber by gas pressure, the flow amount controlling member moves and closes the path. At this time, the gas flow amount is restricted by the orifice, so that the pressurizing speed of the gas pressure at the down stream side of the orifice becomes slow and then heat generation due to the adiabatic compression is reduced.

Abstract: An aerosolization device comprises a housing having a mouthpiece, and a flow path arrangement in fluid communication with the mouthpiece. The flow path arrangement has a flow regulating valve and a threshold valve, where the threshold valve is configured to open at a first vacuum level and to close at a second vacuum level that is less than the first vacuum level. The housing includes a region that is adapted to hold a powder in fluid communication with the flow path arrangement so that air drawn through the mouthpiece opens the threshold valve once the first vacuum level is exceeded and remains open until the vacuum falls below the second vacuum level. The flow rate of the air drawn through the mouthpiece is regulated by the flow regulating valve to remain within a certain range while the threshold valve remains open.

Abstract: A medicament dispenser including a medicament container having a dispensing outlet; an agitator for agitating the contents; and a driver for driving the agitator independent of any container movement. The medicament container may be a metered dose inhaler or delivering a suitable inhalable medicament.

Abstract: A unilimb breathing circuit has a proximal end coupling member, a distal end coupling member, an expiratory tube extending between the proximal and distal end coupling members, and an inspiratory tube extending between the proximal and distal end coupling members. The expiratory tube is a corrugated expiratory tube that is expandable between a fully compressed rest position, and a fully expanded rest position, and has a plurality of intermediate rest positions. At the plurality of intermediate rest positions, the expiratory tube is capable of maintaining its rest length without the exertion of an external force. The inspiratory tube is a corrugated inspiratory tube having a length that is variable between a fully compressed rest position and a fully expanded rest position, and includes a plurality of intermediate rest positions between the fully expanded rest position and the fully compressed rest position.

Abstract: A gas administering method for administering gas to an airway of a patient having a nasal vestibule and for use with a gas administering apparatus comprises a primary gas source that is operable to provide gas and a nasal vestibular portion arranged so as to receive the gas from the primary gas source. Further, the nasal vestibular portion is capable of releasing the primary gas into the nasal vestibule. The method comprises inserting the nasal vestibular portion into the nasal vestibule, forming a seal between the nasal vestibular portion and an inner surface of the nasal vestibule, administering an amount of a gas from the primary gas source at a constant flow rate into the nasal vestibule via the nasal vestibular portion, and administering an anesthetic to the patient. The anesthetic induces depression of a portion of the nervous system of the patient.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube includes a proximal tube shaft and a distal tube shaft coupled to the proximal tube shaft. The proximal tube shape defines a proximal lumen and the distal tube shaft defines a distal lumen extending from the proximal lumen. The distal tube shaft includes two or more curved portions configured to be inserted into the trachea when the tube is inserted into a patient. The proximal tube shaft includes a substantially straight or a slightly curved portion. A method of intubating a patient includes advancing a tube having a distal portion with at least two curved portions into the trachea of the patient, and delivering gas through the tube to the patient's lungs.

Abstract: A soft oral airway comprising an elongate hollow tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the member comprises a soft flexible material and an opening at the distal end of the elongate tubular member for insertion into the mouth and pharynx of a patient with the distal end leading the member as the member is inserted into the mouth and pharynx of a patient and an enlarged tapered opening at the proximal end, wherein the enlarged opening is dimensioned to not slip down the throat of the patient and the opening at the proximal end is adapted to receive a nasal cannula.

Abstract: A respirator hood is designed to fit over and around the head of a wearer and includes a substantially transparent lens received in a front opening of the hood. An inflatable neck cuff is positioned near a lower portion of the hood and substantially circumscribes an opening through which the wearer inserts his head, with the inflatable neck cuff being supplied by an air source and inflated so as to exert a sealing pressure against the neck of the wearer and to prevent the hood from rising up relative to the head of the wearer. The respirator hood also includes one or more overhead channels which define an air delivery path from the air source over the head of the wearer to the interior of the lens and downwardly across the face of the wearer.

Abstract: A breathing circuit system for ventilating an anaesthetized patient. The system comprises a standard primary circle anaesthetic circuit which itself comprises a one-way inspiratory limb for delivering re-breathed gas and a one-way expiratory limb for accepting expired gas. The breathing circuit system also includes a supplementary respiratory circuit which solely supplies non-rebreathed gas and comprises a source of non-rebreathed, substantially carbon dioxide-free gas, a non-rebreathed fresh gas reservoir for storing fresh gas, a source of non-rebreathed reserve gas containing carbon dioxide, and a gas delivery conduit. Disposed in communication with the inspiratory limb is a non-re-breathing valve, while disposed in communication with both the inspiratory limb and the delivery conduit is a three-way respiratory valve for selectively permitting passage of gas from the inspiratory limb or from the delivery conduit.

Abstract: A breathing circuit of the closed circuit type has improved means for removing water vapor to prevent condensation within the circuit. A dryer is placed in the breathing circuit, downstream of the CO2 absorber, for removing water vapor from the breathing gases, including that entrained in the breathing gases during passage through the CO2 absorber. The dryer may utilize a thermoelectric cooling element or a water vapor permeable membrane.

Abstract: A dual-purpose medical device for upper airway treatment and methods for using the device are disclosed. The device for upper airway treatment includes two primary components. The first component is a cassette connectable to an airflow generator. The second component is the airflow generator. The airflow generator is manually operable and relies upon ambient air to create a flow of air. The airflow generator is capable of generating airflow through the cassette for either aerosol delivery of a drug or for suction of unwanted secretions. Further disclosed is a method for aerosol delivery of a drug using the disclosed device. The method includes at least two steps. In the first step, the airflow generator is connected to the cassette. In the second step, air is caused to flow through the cassette so that aerosol delivery of a drug in the cassette is accomplished. Further disclosed is a method for suction of unwanted secretions from an airway. The method includes at least two steps.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pneumatic, mechanical, pulmonary ventilator apparatus. The apparatus operates to dilute and limit the pressure of various gases delivered to a patient. The function of the apparatus may be described as an astatic multi-vibrator, which is activated by pressurized gas (e.g., such as oxygen or medical compressed air). The gas output of the apparatus may be described as a square wave, wherein the high wave phase corresponds to the inspiratory phase (the duration is the inspiratory time) and the low wave phase corresponds to the expiratory phase (the duration is the expiratory time). The sum of the two phases corresponds to the respiratory cycle. The device includes a rubber diaphragm having a ring shape to cyclically block a gas source aperture inlet. An adjustable needle valve, which controls the gas pressure in a small chamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm, together with a helical spring provide for tuning the two cycle phases.

Abstract: A dive mask pressure differential control device is disclosed for protecting a diver from the injurious effects of pressure differentials that can occur inside the dive mask as the pressure of the ambient water increases. The device is pressure sensitive and automatically allows water to pass into the dive mask when the pressure outside the dive mask exceeds the pressure inside the dive mask by a preset limit. In various embodiments, the device may include a manual release, an adjustment mechanism to adjust the activation pressure of the device, a purging mechanism to permit the expulsion of water from the dive mask interior, and a diverter for diverting air bubbles ejected from the device away from the face of the diver.

Abstract: A respirator mask, including a body member of a thin rigid plastic material and having an inner surface conforming to the face of a user. The body member includes as an inner surface and at least one opening to receive a filter cartridge. A first over-molded member is formed of a flexible, rubber-like material and is over-molded on the inner surface of the body member to form an over-molded inner surface to fit and seal upon the face of the user. A second over-molded member is formed of a flexible rubber-like material and is over-molded within the at least one opening for receiving a filter cartridge. The second over-molded member includes at least one flange member extending inwardly around the cartridge opening and is flexible from a first position to seal to a cartridge member and to a second position to allow the cartridge member to pass through the flange and then return to the first position to lock the cartridge member within the cartridge opening.

Abstract: Mouthpiece and speaker assemblies for underwater speech using SCUBA and snorkel equipment, which mouthpiece is characterized by a molded rubber or plastic mouthpiece having a regulator or snorkel connector, a lip cup and a pair of elongated, serpentine or curved teeth grips or bites extending from the lip cup for gripping by the jaw teeth of a SCUBA diver or snorkeler and facilitating movement of the lips to enable underwater speech. The mouthpiece is designed for attachment directly to an underwater speaker, a snorkel, a snorkel and speaker combination, or to the mouthpiece of a conventional second-stage regulator and speaker combination. The underwater speaker includes a pair of flexible membranes connected at a common perimeter and designed to pulse and flex responsive to the pressure pulses of a diver or snorkeler's breath and voice.

Abstract: A system that enables the accurate monitoring of tidal volume of a patient when using a Bain, Mapleson D or similar type of patient breathing circuit in an anesthesia system. The system allows the use of flow sensors positioned at the machine or distal end of the patient breathing circuit and not at the less desirable patient or proximal end of the patient breathing circuit. Thus, the flow sensors can be positioned out of the way of the patient and will provide a measurement of the tidal volume of the patient. A CPU is used to take into account, the additional fresh gas provided to the patient breathing circuit during the expiration cycle to correct the flow monitored in the main breathing tube that supplies the gas to the patient from a ventilator or breathing bag.