Abstract: A dispenser (FIG. 1, 1) comprises a reservoir (10) of a physiologically active substance and a droplet ejection device (14), for example a bubble jet or pizeoelectric device, which is controlled to issue a predetermined number of discrete droplets of the substance from ejection orifices (15) upon actuation. Device (14) may be actuated by a pressure transducer (19) responsive to inhalation and issue the droplets into an airstream (A) which enters at slot (7) and is then inhaled via mouthpiece (5). In other embodiments (FIG. 5) the dispenser is finger actuated and directed by hand for topical application. The number and/or frequency of droplets issued is programmatically controlled by a control circuit (16) whereby average and total dose of the substance are predetermined.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to high opacity cigarette wrapping papers. The wrapping paper made according to the present invention contains a mixture of a white pigment and a black pigment. The white pigment, which can be, for instance, calcium carbonate, has a median particle size of from about 0.1 microns to about 0.5 microns, and particularly from about 0.2 microns to about 0.4 microns. It has been discovered that this particular particle size range, which is equal to one-half the wavelength of visible light, greatly increases the opacity, brightness and whiteness of the paper. Small amounts of a black pigment, such as carbon, are then added to further increase the opacity without significantly decreasing the whiteness or brightness of the paper relative to conventional cigarette paper.

Abstract: A facial mask for use in medical respiratory treatments such as sleep apnea CPAP therapy. The mask includes a preferably transparent front plate to which is attached a skirt of flexible material adapted to sealingly impinge on the face of a patient. The mask is of sufficient size so that as it seals the nose from all but the desired therapeutic airflow, the sealing pressures will be felt on the forehead, the upper lip, and the malar region of the face spaced from the nose. Thus pressure on the bridge of the nose and in the maxillary region adjacent to the nose are avoided, resulting in a significant decrease in the possibility of intense pain.

Abstract: An improved flexible respiratory mask facial seal, as well a respiratory mask incorporating such seal. The facial seal comprises an annular member including a peripheral sidewall bounded by an inner end and an outer end generally opposite the inner end. The inner end is adapted for attachment to the shell or body portion of a respiratory mask and the outer end defines a contoured sealing surface adapted for confronting sealing engagement with a user's face. The annular member is formed of a gel substance possessing resilience characteristics corresponding to those of human fat tissue. Preferably, the annular member is encapsulated in a thin, pliable, membranous covering to enhance the durability and washability of the facial seal. Because the facial seal simulates the resiliency of human fat tissue, the user experiences the sensation of a natural substance against his skin when the mask is donned.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive valve for a positive pressure airway system which allows bi-directional flow with low resistance. When positive pressure from the air generator of the positive pressure airway system is lost, a spring actuated disc moves away from its compressed position to block the outlet of the air generator. By blocking the outlet of the air generator, the path of entry for contaminants is significantly restricted in so doing, an alternate, low resistance path to atmosphere is exposed to allow contaminants to escape.

Abstract: In a ventilator system and a method for controlling the ventilator system, a hand ventilator is connectable to a patient to impose a manually generated breathing pattern on the patient. A measurement unit is arranged by the hand ventilator to measure at least one of the parameters pressure and flow of the manually generated breathing pattern. The measured parameters are supplied to a memory unit in a regulatory unit, which operates a control unit so as to regulate a valve unit for imposing a mechanically generated breathing pattern, corresponding to the manually generated breathing pattern, on the patient. The measured parameters can be re-scaled in a calculation unit before the control unit controls the valve unit.

Abstract: A medicament nebulizer in which a liquid medicament is drawn through capillary flow along a bell shaped path to an annular medicament orifice. Pressurized atomization air is discharged from an orifice and is directed against a deflector which causes the air to flow with a swirling turbulence over one or more medicament orifices. The atomization air aspirates medicament from the medicament orifice and atomizes the medicament. The turbulent swirling flow of the atomization air decreases the average size of the droplets in the resulting aerosol. The flow path of the aerosol through an aerosol chamber to a mouthpiece may rapidly change directions to facilitate condensation of any large droplets in the aerosol. Alternately, a swirling or spiral flow direction may be imparted to the aerosol as it passes through the aerosol chamber to cause any larger droplets to contact and condense on the walls of the chamber.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube (10) having an incomplete posterior bevel (50) extending toward, but not completely through, the anterior wall (36) and a curved lip (54) projecting from the anterior wall (36).

Abstract: A method of preventing the formation of dangerous underpressure in a respiratory system,, which comprises a respirator (1) connected to the patient, and a sampling device (11) and a gas analyzer (3) connected thereto, in which method inspired and expired air is aspirated at a predetermined pressure for sampling through the sampling line (7). When an excess underpressure is formed in the gas analyzing unit, the aspiration of the pump (2) is prevented in the respiratory tube (15).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is provided for controlled delivery of gas to a patient. The apparatus is particularly useful for delivery of anaesthetic gases in circumstances where the patient is conscious and able to receive gas upon demand and also where ventilation is poor. The apparatus (10) includes an outlet duct (40) for conveying gas from a gas supply (25) to the patient. A waste gas inlet duct (60) is also provided for receiving gas exhaled by the patient. This is connectable to a suction source (at 35) for scavenging the waste gas. The waste gas inlet duct (60) is arranged so that it can receive gas exhaled by the patient with the outlet duct (via a valve or other diverting means (80)) and around the outlet duct (as guided by shroud (70)).

Abstract: During the administration of NO to a patient, NO reacts with oxygen in the respiratory gas to form NO.sub.2. Since NO.sub.2 is a toxic gas, minimizing the formation of this gas is important. A previously unknown property of NO is that an initial amount of NO.sub.2 is formed when NO and O.sub.2 mix. By adding NO to respiratory gas at a number of spaced-apart mixing points, the total initial amount of NO.sub.2 formed can be reduced. In a method and a device for mixing and administering NO, the gas containing NO is supplied to a flow divider for distributing the flow and sending sub-flows to a number of various mixing points.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an inhaler apparatus comprising interior surfaces having contact with a medicament for inhalation, the interior surfaces including an interior surface of a mouthpiece and a substrate with medicament deposited thereon at least one of such interior surfaces comprising indentations or raised areas therein, the raised areas having valleys therebetween. In certain preferred embodiments, the interior surface is a surface on a substrate having medicament deposited thereon, and in other preferred embodiments, the interior surface is an interior surface of the mouthpiece of the inhaler. In addition to providing surface topology for minimizing the area of contact between the medicament and the surfaces of the inhaler, the surfaces are preferably made of a material having a low surface energy, and more preferably, also having, when uncharged, no substantial van der Waals or electrostatic interaction with the medicament.

Abstract: An aerosol throat spray with a spray-counting mechanism including a lead screw driven in rotation by a rachet in which a follower on the lead screw moves from a starting location indicating the aerosol is "full" to an ending position indicating the aerosol is "empty", wherein the rachet is actuated by a pawl of springy construction material which, after each power stroke, returns to a ready position for the next power stroke in response to the spring urgency of its construction material.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask assembly has a mask portion formed by a flexible bag enclosing a mount attached to the patient end of a tube. The bag is sealed to the mount around an opening at the patient end of the tube. The neck of the bag is sealed to the tube rearwardly of an opening from a inflation lumen by which the bag can be inflated to form a cushion on the forward surface of the mount. The mount is curved rearwardly around its outer edge and the bag also inflates away from the rear surface of the mount to provide an expandable cushion on the rear of the mount.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube holding device for holding a tube inserted into a patient's mouth and into the trachea. The tube is held in position by the device which has been adhesively secured to the patient's face by a foam strip with an adhesive backing to comfortably, yet securely attach the holding device. The strip is arcuate-shaped and positioned along the upper lip and attached on each end to the patient's cheeks. A support fixture with a lipped support tab extends therefrom and is attached to the foam strip. An adhesive tape strip extends from each side of the support tab and wraps around the positioned ETT. The lip prevents the tape strip from slipping off the support tab thereby providing a secure attachment of the ETT to the support fixture. An accessory port may be included in the support holder to allow for insertion of items above or below the ETT tube without removal of the device from the patient's face.

Abstract: A pediatric nebulizer enhancer (10) comprising a T-fitting (12). A structure (14) is for mounting a first end (16) of the T-fitting (12) to a dome cover (18) on a dome (20), which holds medication and saline, that is connected to an end of a tubing (21) from an oxygen outlet. A plug (22) is for sealing off a second end (24) of the T-fitting (12). A facility (26) on a third end (28) of the T-fitting (12) is for spraying a medicated mist (29) directly into a face (30) of a child (32). The child (32) can focus onto the spraying facility (26) without any fear, by being attracted to the spraying facility (26).

Abstract: An laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion guide comprising a flexible, elongated and curved member having a rounded top end portion that serves as a handle, a bottom end that forms a rounded, flat and curved scoop, a curved fulcrum member that extends from the bottom proximate surface near the scoop, and a curved holder member that extends from the top distal surface. Each component of the insertion guide is fashioned to engage a respective LMA component, and the device curves to facilitate proper insertion and placement of the LMA in the larynx of the patient. In use, an anesthesiologist fits the LMA insertion guide onto the LMA and inserts them together into the larynx of patient, and uses the holder and scoop to bend the LMA while simultaneously using the fulcrum to push the LMA down into the patient's throat.

Abstract: A respirator with a delivery device, which draws in ambient air via an inlet line and pumps it into an outlet line, with a discharge opening, which branches off from the outlet line and via which a partial flow of the gas being delivered, which can be set with a discharge valve, escapes. Oxygen is added with the smallest possible loss of gas and with good constancy of the concentration by: providing the inlet line with a buffer volume, via which the ambient air drawn in can flow; providing a return line which introduces the partial flow into the buffer volume is present between the discharge opening and the buffer volume; and providing the oxygen source connected to the inlet line and/or to the buffer volume.

Abstract: Micronized spray device for washing nasal and neighboring cavities including a bell-shaped body which forms an atomization chamber on the bottom whereof there is a region for containing a washing liquid in which a spray nozzle draws; the spray nozzle is associated with a compressed-air injector and is axially aligned with the inner outlet formed by the bell-shaped body. An outer skirt furthermore surrounds the bell-shaped body and forms an outer outlet which is located at the inner outlet and forms a chamber for collecting the catarrhal material that has been detached from the nasal cavities; the chamber is connected to the outside to vent the pressure generated during expiration. The outer skirt can be arranged in a first position, in which the outer outlet is spaced from the inner outlet so as to form an interspace that is connected to the collection chamber, and in a second position, in which the outer outlet overlaps the inner outlet.

Abstract: A light-weight face mask can heat and humidify inhaled air with previously-exhaled air by passing the air through a highly-effective and highly-efficient heat exchanger disposed within the mask. The heat exchanger has a multitude of layers of metallic mesh through which the air passes generally linearly. The warm exhaled air heats the mesh which in turn heats the incoming air before it is inhaled. Moisture from the exhaled air condenses on the relatively-cool heat exchanger and humidifies the incoming air. Inhaled air enters the mask generally upwardly, and exhaled air exits it generally downwardly.