Abstract: A respiratory mask for delivery of pressurized gas to a patient. The respiratory mask has a rigid shield and an elastic cushion surrounding the shield, the cushion being configured to conform to facial contours of a patient. A port is provided in the cushion, the port being configured to receive an implement inserted into the port and to provide a substantially gas-tight seal about the periphery of an implement received in the port. The port may be located in an area of the cushion that allows for a relatively direct route to the nares of the patient of the patient to allow insertion of the NG tube into the patient's nares. Embodiments may include the port being a slit in the elastic cushion.

Abstract: A pressure gauge for use in combination with an airway lumen having an inflatable cuff, the pressure gauge including a housing and a flexible diaphragm within the housing defining a fluid tight chamber with the chamber in fluid communication with the cuff. In use a surface of the diaphragm moves along an axis in response to a fluid pressure change in the cuff. The pressure gauge also includes a radial indicator attached to the housing extending transverse the surface of the diaphragm and a linear to radial linkage operatively associated between the surface of the diaphragm and the radial indicator to cause radial movement of the indicator. In one embodiment the linear to radial linkage includes a gear tooth rack associated with the surface of the diaphragm and a pinion gear mating with the rack. In such an embodiment the radial indicator may further include a pointer operatively associated with the pinion gear.

Abstract: A clip for receiving a post. The clip includes a body defining a hole having a diameter less than a select cross-section of the post. The body of the clip is made of a material which is sufficiently pliant to provide for the deformation of the hole to receive the post upon attachment of the clip to the post. Another aspect of the present invention is a gas transmission mask including a post and a clip as described above for attaching a strap to the mask. The post may have a shaft and a head with a cross-sectional dimension of the head being greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the shaft. In addition, the hole may be substantially cylindrical. In this embodiment, the lengthwise axis of the cylindrical hole may be substantially equal in length to the length of the shaft. The pliant body of the clip of the present invention may be made of a pliant thermoplastic such as synthetic rubber, silicone, thermoplastic resin, natural rubber or polyvinylchloride.

Abstract: A pressure gauge for use in combination with an airway lumen having an inflatable cuff, the pressure gauge including a housing and a flexible diaphragm within the housing defining a fluid tight chamber with the chamber in fluid communication with the cuff. In use a surface of the diaphragm moves along an axis in response to a fluid pressure change in the cuff. The pressure gauge also includes a radial indicator attached to the housing extending transverse the surface of the diaphragm and a linear to radial linkage operatively associated between the surface of the diaphragm and the radial indicator to cause radial movement of the indicator. In one embodiment the linear to radial linkage includes a gear tooth rack associated with the surface of the diaphragm and a pinion gear mating with the rack. In such an embodiment the radial indicator may further include a pointer operatively associated with the pinion gear.

Abstract: An oral airway consists of an elongate tubular member having a leading distal end and a proximal end, the leading distal end leading the elongate tubular member as it is inserted into the mouth and pharynx of a patient. An opening at the leading distal end of the elongate tubular member is inclined so that a posterior portion of the distal portion extends beyond an anterior portion of the distal end. A flexible tip portion extends distally beyond the opening to aid in insertion of the oral airway into the mouth and pharynx of a patient. The tip is configured to flex toward the opening as it abuts tissue within the mouth and pharynx of a patient.

Abstract: A tubular assembly having a plurality of lumens is configured for insertion into the mouth and throat of a patient with a proximal end of the tubular assembly extending from the patient's mouth and a distal end of the tubular assembly extending into the patient's esophagus. The tubular assembly further includes a transition portion near the tubular assembly. The transition portion is configured to transition from a relatively radially large proximal end to a relatively radially small distal end, with the relatively radially small distal end being in communication with at least one of the lumens. The relatively radially large proximal end is configured to abut the aryepiglottic folds of the patient to arrest insertion of the tubular assembly with the relatively radially small distal end of the transition portion extending into the patient's esophagus.

Abstract: A tubular assembly having a plurality of lumens is configured for insertion into the mouth and throat of a patient with a proximal end of the tubular assembly extending from the patient's mouth and a distal end of the tubular assembly extending into the patient's esophagus. The tubular assembly further includes a transition portion near the tubular assembly. The transition portion is configured to transition from a relatively radially large proximal end to a relatively radially small distal end, with the relatively radially small distal end being in communication with at least one of the lumens. The relatively radially large proximal end is configured to abut the aryepiglottic folds of the patient to arrest insertion of the tubular assembly with the relatively radially small distal end of the transition portion extending into the patient's esophagus.

Abstract: An oral airway consists of an elongate tubular member having a leading distal end and a proximal end, the leading distal end leading the elongate tubular member as it is inserted into the mouth and pharynx of a patient. An opening at the leading distal end of the elongate tubular member is inclined so that a posterior portion of the distal portion extends beyond an anterior portion of the distal end. A flexible tip portion extends distally beyond the opening to aid in insertion of the oral airway into the mouth and pharynx of a patient. The tip is configured to flex toward the opening as it abuts tissue within the mouth and pharynx of a patient.

Abstract: An integral stand and fluid conduit for maintaining a housing of a fluid delivery device in a select orientation relative to a support surface. The fluid delivery device has a carrier fluid connector fixedly attached to its housing. The carrier fluid connector extends along an axis away from the housing for axial engagement in fluid communication with a carrier fluid supply. The stand includes a base having a support surface engaging portion. A conduit having an inlet and an outlet is attached to the base. The inlet is connectable in fluid communication with a carrier fluid supply and the outlet extends from the base such that with the support surface engaging portion of the base engaging a support surface, the conduit outlet is axially engagable with the carrier fluid connector of the fluid delivery device to thereby bias the fluid delivery device to the select orientation relative to the support surface.

Abstract: An automatic tissue sampling device includes a housing having an upper opening and a cover closable over the opening. A biopsy needle assembly is operatively disposed within the device, and includes an outer cannula and an inner stylet. A drive mechanism includes a cannula carriage and a stylet carriage slidably disposed within the housing and a system of springs for driving the first and second carriages to pierce a tissue site and obtain a tissue sample. The cannula and stylet of the needle assembly are each supported on the respective carriages by corresponding hubs. The hubs are configured to be received within the carriages to impart driving motion from the carriages to the needle assembly. In one aspect of the invention, the hubs each include a flag attached to the hub and projecting laterally away from the longitudinal axis of the hub. Each flag is sized to be manually grasped to install or remove the hubs from the carriages.