Abstract: The invention describes a mouthpiece for an inhalation therapy unit wherein an aerosol for inhalation is prepared for a patient, said mouthpiece comprising a substantially tubular base (1), in the wall of which an orifice (2) is formed, and a flat, elastic valve member (3), which is adapted in dimension and shape to the orifice (2) for the closing thereof and which is secured to the mouthpiece in such a manner that during an inspiration process through the mouthpiece the orifice (2) is closed and during an expiration process directed into the mouthpiece the orifice (2) is opened. According to the invention, at least one enlarged contact surface (6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16) is provided at the orifice (2) for the accumulation and holding of an amount of liquid by adhesion.

Abstract: A liquid ventilator having a dual loop, single pump configuration is disclosed. The liquid ventilator preferably utilizes two three-way valves for routing liquid from a reservoir in a regeneration apparatus and to a patient's pulmonary system, and back to the reservoir again. A controller controls the configuration of the three-way valves and the pump speed of the motor to allow user control over the parameters of inspiration and expiration.

Abstract: An apnea monitor and system for treatment includes a detector in a fixed console that projects a detection beam at a sleep surface. The detection beam is reflected off a patient on the surface and return light is analyzed to develop a signal which varies with external motion of the patient's upper body. The motion signals are then fed to a pattern recognizer which identifies breath signals and analyzes them to detect cessation or excessive pauses in breathing, and trigger an alarm or intervention to restore breathing regularity. The monitor includes a laser for generating radiation. The radiation is reflected from the patient and is directed onto a detector. The detector produces output signals corresponding to the impinging reflected light, which are processed by a control element to determine the change of movement, e.g., the breathing rate, of the patient.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for processing respiratory gas of an intubated patient, wherein the level of humidity of the inhalation gas is increased, if necessary, before the gas is supplied to the patient. To provide accurate and correctly timed humidification, the patient's respiratory volume is measured, the amount of water discharged from the patient is determined on the basis of the measured respiratory volume, and a desired amount of water, dependent on the amount of water discharged from the patient, is supplied to the patient's respiratory tract during the next respiratory phase(s).

Abstract: The ventilation module (8) regulates the inspiratory pressure (P) according to an inspiratory pressure order (AI). A control module (9) compares the breathed volume at each cycle (VTI) with a minimum volume order (VTImini) and varies the pressure order (AI) in the direction tending to maintain the breathed volume (VTI) just over the minimum (VTImini), but keeping the pressure order (AI) within an interval comprised between the two extreme values (AImini, AImaxi). Utilization to combine the advantages of the pressure mode ventilation with those of the volumetric ventilation.

Abstract: A forced air breathing apparatus which includes a face piece (20a) for covering at least the nose or mouth of a wearer, a pump unit (10) arranged to supply air to a space within the face piece (20a), a filter (13) to filter air entering the face piece (20a) and valve means to control the flow of air from the pump unit (20) to the face piece (20a) during inhalation and from the face piece (20a) during exhalation. The pump unit (20) includes a fan (12) driven by an electric motor (11). The valve means includes an air inlet valve (19) and an air outlet valve (22), the air outlet valve (22) being maintained in a closed position during inhalation through the air inlet valve (19) by air pressure from the pump unit (20) and being opened by exhaled air. The exhaled air also acts to close the air inlet valve (19) and prevents the entry of exhaled air to the pump unit (20). The fan (12) is a centrifugal fan driven at a substantially constant speed.

Abstract: The invention describes a holding device (2) for a blood sample removal tubule (3) of a blood removal device (1) with a receiving vessel (11) for a front end of the blood sample removal tubule (3), closed by a closure device (39), with a needle holder (22). In the needle holder (22) a cannula (23) is mounted, directed towards the opened front side (12) of the receiving vesel (11), and projects in the direction thereof. A through-flow opening (53) is connected by means of a connecting canal (32), constructed between the needle bolder (22) and a front wall (17) of the receiving vessel (11), with a removal needle (5) of a needle arrangement (4), arranged eccentrically to a central longitudinal axis (13) of the receiving chamber (15). Between the connecting canal (32) and a receiving chamber (15) of the receiving vessel (11), an openable valve arrangement (52) is arranged as required.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhaler for administering medicaments (38) from blister packs (5), which has a housing with a mouthpiece (1) on one side, an air inlet opening (32) on the opposite side and, between them on the inside, a duct (7) which connects the mouthpiece (1) and the air inlet opening (32), it being possible for at least one blister strip (5) to be inserted into the housing so that the covering foil (35) of the inserted blister strip (5) adjoins the duct (7). The housing has means for pressing out the individual cavities (31) of the blister strip (5), which means contain at least one plunger (10) with a curved plunger surface, which corresponds to the shape of the blister cavities (31), for engagement on the blister cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resuscitating the cardiac/pulmonary activity of a patient includes the use of pneumatically controlled inflatable/deflatable cuffs secured over the patient's legs and abdomen and optionally the chest. The cuffs are preferably inflated and deflated at a cyclical rate of 10-40 cycles/min. with the inflation/deflation mode of the chest cuff, if used, being out-of-phase with the operation of the abdominal cuff. A ventilator and face mask may be used to supply breathable air to the patient's airway in conjunction with the cyclical operation of the cuffs.

Abstract: An oropharyngeal stent and aditus shield comprises a curved flexible tubular body containing a central airway with a first inflatable cuff surrounding a portion of the body, and a laryngeal aditus shield comprising a generally triangular second inflatable cuff located at the distal end of the body. In a nasal airway embodiment, the airway comprises a body with a laryngeal aditus shield.

Abstract: An RF ingress/egress management system is made up of three major components. (1) A headend monitoring receiver, that is frequency tunable from 5 to 50 MHz, is capable of decoding and reading a unique tone that is transmitted and enters a cable flaw and is returned to the headend via the upstream coaxial plant. (2) A mobile transceiver global positioning satellite (GPS) system receives RF egress in the 50 MHz to 1 GHz region and stamps a GPS coordinate and stores that information. Also, a 5 to to MHz transmitter modulated with GPS coordinates transmits sufficient power to enter the cable television system flaw and be received at the headend location via the headend monitor. (3) A computer software system quantifies the cable flaw at egress and ingress frequencies and assigns a coordinate and figure of merit so that a repair technician can expedite repair of the coaxial plant.

Abstract: A decompression gas switching manifold for technical diving with full face mask includes separate manifold blocks (for travel/bottom and decompression gases) which can be connected or isolated by an isolation valve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing contamination of the Post Anesthesia Care Unit of A Hospital by the use of a mask sealed to the patient's face and connected by a ventilator circuit to an airator that pulls a vacuum to exhaust the patient's expirations to the outside atmosphere. The disclosure also includes a "oxyvent" which is a tube adapted to be attached to an oxygen tank and to a patient to provide a higher oxygen ratio to the patient and to provide forced ventilation to a patient who has difficulty ventilating.

Abstract: An improved inhaler and medicated packet which uses a patient's breath to send powdered medication into the oral cavity of the patient. The inhaler is reusable and controls both the rate of airflow inside the chamber and prevents the patient from blowing into the inhaler. Disposable medicated packets are inserted into the inhaler. These medicated packets have preformed holes which pass air through the packet and entrain the medication. One inhaler can be used numerous times for numerous different types of medication. These medicated packets have a removable, protective layer to maintain the sterility and dryness of the measured dose of medication. In operation, the medication is transported from the packet, through the inhaler, and into the patient. The medicated packets are transparent on one side to allow the patient to observe if the medication has been completely delivered.

Abstract: A nasal ventilation system comprising a tube terminating in a pair of nasal inserts. Each insert tapers at its end and has a soft membrane covering the tapered end for wearer comfort. A washer positioned below the membrane provides a positive seal with the nostril and prevents gas leakage by resting on the support bar. A support bar having slots which can accommodate the nasal inserts also permits lateral movement of the inserts for positioning of the inserts within the nostrils. An adjustable harness system is removably secured to the wearer.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube holder for being received about a patient for maintaining the position of a tracheostomy tube and an associated tube holding method. The tracheostomy tube holder (10) includes first and second tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) for engaging the tracheostomy tube (11). Each of the tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) has a first foundation strap (24) defining an outer bonding surface (30) proximate its distal end portion, and carries a tube engaging strap (36) for engaging the tracheostomy tube (11), with the tube engaging strap (36) having a distal end portion for being positioned on the first bonding surface (30). Each of the tube engaging assemblies (14, 16) further includes a locking strap (36) having a proximal end secured to the foundation strap (24) and defining an inner adhesive surface (44) for releasably engaging both the distal end portion of the tube engaging strap (36) and the outer bonding surface (30) of the foundation strap (24) .

Abstract: Life support apparatus composed of: a garment (2): for completely enclosing a wearer and constructed for preventing passage of gas from the environment surrounding the garment (2); a portable receptacle (6) holding a quantity of an oxygen-containing fluid in liquid state, the fluid being in a breathable gaseous; state when at standard temperature and pressure; a fluid flow member (16) secured within the garment (2) and coupled to the receptacle (6) for conducting the fluid in liquid state from the receptacle (6) to the interior of the garment (2); and a fluid flow control device (14) connected for causing fluid to flow from the receptacle (6) to the fluid flow member (16) at a rate determined by the breathable air requirement of the wearer, wherein fluid in liquid state is conducted into the interior of the garment (2) at a rate to be vaporized and heated to a breathable temperature by body heat produced by the wearer.

Abstract: A non-rebreathing oxygen mask for supplying a continuous flow of oxygen to a patient. The non-rebreathing oxygen mask includes a face mask portion for enclosing the mouth and nose of a patient, an oxygen reserve bag for receiving a supply of oxygen from an external source, and an intermediate oxygen entry port for regulating the flow of oxygen into the oxygen reserve bag from an external source, and between the oxygen reserve bag and the face mask portion. A spring member, having a first end portion secured to a distal end of the oxygen entry port and a second end freely extending through the neck of the oxygen reserve bag into the interior thereof, is utilized to maintain an unobstructed airflow passageway through the neck area of the oxygen reserve bag.

Abstract: An oxygen supplying system includes a mask, a bottle for accommodating oxygen, an inlet pipe connecting the bottle to the inlet of the mask for supplying oxygen into the mask, and a throttle device disposed in the inlet pipe, the flowing of the oxygen is controlled to flow either intermittently or continuously by the throttle device, membranes can be disposed between the inlet pipe and an outlet pipe for sucking breathed air when when oxygen flows through the inlet pipe.

Abstract: A medical device for inhaling metered aerosol has a cylindrical housing with a receiving chamber for receiving an aerosol container and first main air channels extending axially within the housing. A mouthpiece is coaxially connected to the housing. An atomizing and vortexing chamber is delimited by the housing and the mouthpiece. Second main air channels extend within the mouthpiece and communicate with the first main air channels. A partition is positioned between the receiving chamber and the atomizing and vortexing chamber. The partition has a stepped bore with a first section and a second section, the first section having a larger diameter than the second section. The first section opens into the receiving chamber and the second section opens into the atomizing and vortexing chamber to form an aerosol outlet. Branch air channels extend at a slant to an axial direction of the medical device within the partition so as to surround the stepped bore.