Abstract: A cover for an inhalant case includes a tubular fabric portion closed at the top and open at the bottom to be able to receive an inhalant casing with an angled opening extending down on one side, sized to allow the casing spout to protrude therethrough. A cap hood is tethered on one side to an upper edge of the opening and configured to receive and retain a spout cap. A carrier strap is connected to the bottom edge of the tubular portion. The tubular portion may be constructed as a sleeve with a sewn hem, or openable by a hook and loop fasteners to be able to be wrapped and unwrapped on or off the casing.

Abstract: Face masks for use in pressurized drug delivery applications, such as aerosol drug delivery systems, and a method of reducing aerosol deposition in the region of the eyes are presented. The face masks according to the various embodiments disclosed herein contain features that reduce the inertia of the aerosolized drug in perinasal areas. This results in a reduction in the amount of aerosolized drug that is deposited in the region of the eyes by inertial impaction, while at the same time, the features are constructed to maintain the flow of the aerosolized drug into the face mask so that the aerosolized drug is effectively delivered to the respiratory system of the patient.

Abstract: The instant invention is a valve for the top end of skin diving snorkels having a conduit with an open end above the water surface, and an underwater end that terminates in a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece provides a flow path between the conduit and the interior of the diver's mouth. The top valve consists of a soft diaphragm mounted on a compound linkage. The linkage is attached to the conduit adjacent the top opening. A float activates the valve linkage whenever the snorkel starts to descend below the water surface. By the time the open end of snorkel is underwater, the linkage has moved the diaphragm over and against the top opening thereby preventing water from entering the conduit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the treatment of cardiac failure, Cheyne Stokes breathing or central sleep apnea are disclosed. A subject is provided with ventilatory support, for example positive pressure ventilatory support using a blower and mask. Respiratory airflow is determined. From the respiratory airflow are derived a measure of instantaneous ventilation (for example half the absolute value of the respiratory airflow) and a measure of longterm average ventilation (for example the instantaneous ventilation low pass filtered with a 100 second time constant). A target ventilation is taken as 95% of the longterm average ventilation. The instantaneous ventilation is fed as the input signal to a clipped integral controller, with the target ventilation as the reference signal. The output of the controller determines the degree of ventilatory support. Clipping is typically to between half and double the degree of support that would do all the respiratory work.

Abstract: A personal breathing device for filtering, diffusing, and conditioning air inhaled by a person. The device includes an eyewear frame with an attached nose piece and air-permeable membrane which is positioned to surround the nose and permit normally inhaled volumes of air to pass through the membrane as the air is inhaled, and thereby filter and condition the inhaled air. The device can be conveniently placed on and removed from the face, does not obstruct speech, and is suitable for wearing during a variety of normal daily activities to filter and condition inhaled air. The air permeable membrane can be impregnated with various liquids or other agents to enhance filtering and antimicrobial functions, or to provide cooling, moisturizing, or scenting of the inhaled air. The device can be provided with a detachable air permeable membrane which can be easily replaced as needed.

Abstract: An anesthetic delivery system has a delivery unit containing a carbon dioxide retaining element and a reversible action anesthetic absorber/desorber for releasably retaining therein at least a portion of a charge of anesthetic agent. An externally accessible first internal flow section in the delivery unit directs gas through the delivery unit first through the anesthetic absorber/desorber and then through the carbon dioxide retaining element, sequentially. An externally accessible second internal flow section directs gas through the delivery unit via the anesthetic absorber/desorber and bypassing the carbon dioxide retaining element.

Abstract: A ventilation device has a flexible adhesive sheet that can be sealed around the patient's nose and mouth. A fitting extending through the sheet in the region of the mouth enables the patient to be ventilated by means of a vent tube inserted through the fitting.

Abstract: A system for reducing central sleep apnea (CSA) is described in which certain methods of increasing a patient's rebreathing during periods of the sleep cycle are used. By increasing rebreathing during periods of overbreathing, the over-oxygenation which typically results from the overbreathing period can be reduced, thus reducing the compensating underbreathing period and effectively reducing the loop gain associated with the central sleep apnea. Nasal occlusion and a leak resistant oral interface provide control for gas leaks from a patent interface.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for practicing a method of treating viruses in the nasal mucosa. Vapor is generated, heated and delivered to the nasal mucosa in intermittent bursts, timed to coincide with inhalation. Control circuits are provided to maintain the temperature of the vapor at the point of delivery at a level greater than that necessary to kill viruses in the nasal mucosa. Timing circuits can synchronize the vapor delivery with a breathing cycle with heated vapor being supplied during inhalation and blocked during exhalation. Other circuits terminate operation when liquid is insufficient or after a predetermined timed interval.

Abstract: A personal respiratory protection device that comprises a mask body and an exhalation valve that is secured to the mask body. The mask body includes (i) a flat central panel; (ii) a flat first panel joined to the central panel through a fold-line, seam weld, or bond, the fold-line, seam, weld or bond of the first panel being substantially coextensive with an edge of the central panel; (iii) a flat second panel joined to the central panel through a fold-line, seam, weld or bond, the fold-line, seam, weld or bond of the second panel being substantially coextensive with an edge of the central panel. At least one of the center, first and second panels includes filter media. The device is capable of being folded for storage with the first and second panels in at least partial face-to-face contact with a common surface of the central panel and, during use, is capable of forming, over the nose and mouth of the wearer, a cup-shaped air chamber having a face-contacting periphery.

Abstract: A waterproof device for a snorkel is mounted on a distal end of a breather pipe and has a lower shell, a ring, an upper tube with an open end, an elastic collar, and an upper shell. A lower pipe is mounted to a lower end of the lower shell and the ring is received into the lower pipe. The upper tube is pivotally connected to the ring via the elastic collar securely mounted between the ring and the upper tube. A seal board is mounted in an inner wall of the upper shell thereby achieving a water proof effect when the open end is securely connected to the seal board.

Abstract: A portable positive pressure breathing apparatus includes a demand valve with a supply inlet port adapted to be connected to a pressurized source of oxygen and an outlet port adapted to be connected to the inlet of a patient's breathing appliance. The demand valve further includes a reference chamber and a valve assembly responsive to the reference chamber/appliance inlet pressure differential for connecting/disconnecting the inlet port to and from the outlet port. At least one manually adjustable back pressure regulator is connected to the pressure source and the reference chamber for setting the pressure in the reference chamber (and inlet to the breathing appliance) at a selected level above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A connector includes a mask end for connecting with the interior of a respiratory mask, a supply conduit end, and a gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere. The vent outlet of the vent passage is disposed on the side of the connector remote from the mask end. A respiratory mask includes a mask shell, a mask inlet for connecting with the outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit, and a gas washout vent passage. A vent outlet is disposed on the side of the mask remote from the mask interior and is adapted to direct the washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet.

Abstract: A tube holder assembly and method for securing an endotracheal tube to a biteline of a patient's mouth. The tube holder assembly features a tube body. A bite support assembly, coupled to the tube body, receives a tensile force and supplies a compressive force to the mouth of the patient. The bite support assembly includes a pair of substantially parallel bite walls extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the tube body. The bite walls define a bite rest therebetween for receiving a biteline of the patient's mouth and thus securing the biteline between a pair of bite walls as the bite rest applies a compressive force to the biteline.

Abstract: The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient's airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. A bleed port for release of exhaled air is defined through a conical vent projecting normally to the path of the incoming air flow, and continues through a nipple extending to the exterior of the air conduit. In one embodiment, a pair of nasal inserts are integral with a nasal cannula body, with bleed ports axially aligned with each insert. In another embodiment, each insert is independently connected to a separate, thin-walled, flexible supply line.

Abstract: An internal nasal dilator and compound delivery method presents an improved dilator including a U-shaped clip having septum engaging pads, first and second nasal expanders, and first and second delivery elements. The pads engage the septum along planar surfaces. Each of the expanders further include a conforming nostril engaging element and a flexible arm interconnecting the engaging element and clip. The delivery elements are each adapted to receive and retain a quantity of a compound and to discharge the compound over a period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining airway passages open that includes a base and a horizontal bar member slidably connected to a U-shaped member attached to the base. A pair of posts having padded heads or end members for contacting the mandibular angle of a jaw of a person are rotationally attached to a bolt that extends from the base adjacent the end of the U-shaped member and a bolt that extends from the base proximate the end of the horizontal bar member. Rotation of the posts about the bolts allows for the adjustment of the height of the posts. The posts and bolts may also be pivoted to position the padded end members to correctly contact the jaw of the person. Sliding the horizontal bar member in relation to the U-shaped member allows for the distance between posts to be adjusted to accommodate the different sized heads of different people.

Abstract: This lifesaving floatation and breathing device comprises first and second inflatable bags having similar bag volumes, and a mouthpiece communicating with both bags. A pressurized gas cylinder filled with breathable gas is mounted to one of the bags. This pressurized gas cylinder has a gas volume and a gas pressure therein. The device also has an inflator mechanism mounted thereto for transferring the breathable gas from the pressurized gas cylinder into one of the bags. One of the characteristics of the device is that the volume of each bag is a mathematical product of the gas volume inside the cylinder and a ratio of the gas pressure inside the cylinder over atmospheric pressure. Either bags can accept the full content of the cylinder at atmospheric pressure, thereby obviating the need for a pressure regulator or flow control orifice therein.

Abstract: A dispenser 1 has a source of medicament 2 with a can 3 and a metered dose valve 4. The outlet stem 5 of the valve is fitted to a junction block 6 in a body 7 of the dispenser to which a breath actuated dose release mechanism 8 is connected for release of the medicament through a nozzle 9. The can has an acoustic transducer 11 attached to its side wall 12, in intimate acoustic contact. An electronic package 14, comprising a detection circuit and a driver for a LCD display 15 are also mounted on the can wall, the transducer being connected to the circuit. The detection circuit is arranged to decrement a count shown on the LCD by one for every detection of noise of dispensing/metering of a dose from the can. The detection circuit is programmed to compare the spectrum of the noise with a known dose-dispensing spectrum and to decrement the counter according to the comparison.

Abstract: A nasal cannula for delivering air to a patient's nares. Two delivery tubes are provided to supply air to a pair of nasal inserts each of which conform to the shape of the nare. Properly placed bleed ports reduce noise and reduce carbon dioxide retained in the system. The cannula is positioned on the face with the aid of a strap system.