Abstract: Headgear for a patient interface includes at least one headgear strap and an indicator provided to the at least one headgear strap structured to indicate attainment of a desired adjustment setting of the headgear in response to headgear tension applied to the at least one headgear strap.

Abstract: A controller or processor for a respiratory pressure treatment device determines an estimate of patient respiratory flow based on a measure of pressure associated with flow generated by a flow generator and a measure of frequency of the flow generator, such as a rotational velocity of a servo-controlled blower motor. The estimate can be made without data from a flow sensor. The measure of frequency may be converted to an expected pressure based on characteristics of the flow generator and subtracted from the measured pressure to determine the flow estimate. The flow estimate can be implemented in the provision of respiratory pressure treatment with the flow generator. For example, the flow estimate may be utilized to trigger expiratory pressure relief during a patient's expiration as detected with the estimated flow signal.

Abstract: A controller or processor for a respiratory pressure treatment device determines an estimate of patient respiratory flow based on a measure of pressure associated with flow generated by a flow generator and a measure of frequency of the flow generator, such as a rotational velocity of a servo-controlled blower motor. The estimate can be made without data from a flow sensor. The measure of frequency may be converted to an expected pressure based on characteristics of the flow generator and subtracted from the measured pressure to determine the flow estimate. The flow estimate can be implemented in the provision of respiratory pressure treatment with the flow generator. For example, the flow estimate may be utilized to trigger expiratory pressure relief during a patient's expiration as detected with the estimated flow signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a device for treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB), wherein the device provides continuous positive airway pressure during sleep, includes applying a treatment pressure to a patient, monitoring the patient for speech output, generating a signal in response to detected speech of the patient, and, in response to the signal, reducing the treatment pressure applied to the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that enable a user (e.g., a developer) to develop an interactive media object. The interactive media object may be suitable for embedding in a digital book, a web page, or other application. A user may be provided with a graphical user interface that enables a user to add one or more components to the interactive media object. For example, a user may be enabled to provide a background image. The user may be further enabled to insert a foreground image and/or one or more overlay(s) (i.e., an image that can be toggled on or off by the user) over the background image. The user may further be able to insert “hotspots” and/or filmstrips over the background image, foreground image, and/or the overlay(s). A bundler may be provided that assembles the one or more components into the interactive media object.

Abstract: A respiratory device, such as a ventilator, for use in treating respiratory disorders and for preventing respiratory disorders. The respiratory device is configured to be powered from a range of different power sources including an internal battery, an external battery, AC power source or a DC power source. The device may be electrically connectable to a plurality of external batteries in a series and the power from each external battery is used sequentially along the series. A controller of the respiratory device is configured to detect the connection of the different power sources and control use of the different power sources using a power priority scheme. The controller may determine an estimate of the total available battery capacity from all the electrically connected batteries and display the total battery capacity on a user interface display of the device.

Abstract: A CPAP or other ventilation system includes a mask, a flow generator, a positive or high pressure line to provide positive or high pressure air from the flow generator to the mask and a vacuum or return line provided to actively extract exhaled gas from the breathing chamber and/or the air delivery conduit of the mask. The vacuum or return line includes a vent outlet preferably positioned remote from the mask.

Abstract: A CPAP or other ventilation system includes a mask, a flow generator, a positive or high pressure line to provide positive or high pressure air from the flow generator to the mask and a vacuum or return line provided to actively extract exhaled gas from the breathing chamber and/or the air delivery conduit of the mask. The vacuum or return line includes a vent outlet preferably positioned remote from the mask.

Abstract: A breathing assistance device includes a gas regulating valve (1300). The gas regulating valve is operated by a linear actuator (1330). The linear actuator may include a movable member that moves an obstruction member between an open position and a closed position. The linear actuator is isolated from a gas flow path through the valve.

Abstract: An over-pressure control device prevents over-pressure conditions during the delivery of pressure treatment therapy to a patient with a respiratory treatment apparatus. The device may prevent delivered pressure from exceeding a first maximum pressure threshold. The device may also prevent the delivered pressure from exceeding a second maximum pressure threshold when the delivered pressure exceeds another pressure threshold for a period of time. In some embodiments, the second maximum pressure threshold may be lower than the first maximum pressure threshold. In an example embodiment, a set of comparators are configured to compare pressure with a maximum pressure threshold and to control a reduction in the pressure if the pressure exceeds the maximum pressure threshold. The set may also be configured to compare the pressure with a pressure threshold and to control reduction in the maximum pressure threshold if the pressure exceeds the pressure threshold for a period of time.

Abstract: A CPAP or other ventilation system includes a mask, a flow generator, a positive or high pressure line to provide positive or high pressure air from the flow generator to the mask and a vacuum or return line provided to actively extract exhaled gas from the breathing chamber and/or the air delivery conduit of the mask. The vacuum or return line includes a vent outlet preferably positioned remote from the mask.

Abstract: A method of acclimatizing a user to provide continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, including operating a device for treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB) during successive treatment sessions, wherein the device provides continuous positive airway pressure during sleep, includes determining a clinically-derived full therapeutic pressure, applying a sub-therapeutic treatment pressure for the duration of a first session, obtaining responses to a series of pre-programmed patient and/or bed partner feedback questions before the start of a second session, and, based on the responses, either incrementally increasing the treatment pressure for the second session if the responses indicate that the patient is adjusting to therapy, or maintaining the treatment pressure for the second session if the responses do not indicate that the patient is adjusting to therapy.

Abstract: A method of operating a device for treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB), wherein the device provides continuous positive airway pressure during sleep, includes applying a treatment pressure to a patient, monitoring the patient for speech output, generating a signal in response to detected speech of the patient, and, in response to the signal, reducing the treatment pressure applied to the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing transparent enhanced telecommunications services to subscribers by implementing an enhanced services platform on a local network exchange within the public telephone network. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the present invention is capable of providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber by using a voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services. In addition, the apparatus and method of the present invention may use a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

Abstract: A controller or processor for a respiratory pressure treatment device determines an estimate of patient respiratory flow based on a measure of pressure associated with flow generated by a flow generator and a measure of frequency of the flow generator, such as a rotational velocity of a servo-controlled blower motor. The estimate can be made without data from a flow sensor. The measure of frequency may be converted to an expected pressure based on characteristics of the flow generator and subtracted from the measured pressure to determine the flow estimate. The flow estimate can be implemented in the provision of respiratory pressure treatment with the flow generator. For example, the flow estimate may be utilized to trigger expiratory pressure relief during a patient's expiration as detected with the estimated flow signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing transparent enhanced telecommunications services to subscribers by implementing an enhanced services platform on a local network exchange within the public telephone network. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the present invention is capable of providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber by using a voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services. In addition, the apparatus and method of the present invention may use a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for recognizing tissue types. Electrical signals are applied to tissue 120 via electrodes 110, 112. Circuitry 106 and the signal processor 116 are used to measure impedance magnitude and phase at a plurality of frequencies. At least the phase information at the plurality of frequencies is compared with phase information of known tissue types. Based on the comparison, the tissue 120 may be assigned to one of the known tissue types.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for recognizing tissue types. Electrical signals are applied to tissue 120 via electrodes 110, 112. Circuitry 106 and the signal processor 116 are used to measure impedance magnitude and phase at a plurality of frequencies. At least the phase information at the plurality of frequencies is compared with phase information of known tissue types. Based on the comparison, the tissue 120 may be assigned to one of the known tissue types.

Abstract: In the present invention, a method for compacting two modules on a planar field is disclosed. Each of the modules has an edge which is closest to the other module and are positioned, if extended, to intersect with one another. Each of the edges is characterized by two end points. The method comprises determining if the edges intersect by divergence or by convergence. A constraint between one of the end points of one edge and one of the end points of the other edge is then calculated. The modules are then moved in a direction until the corrdinates of one of the end points of one edge and one of the end points of the other edge are separated by no less than the calculated constraint.

Abstract: A continuous strip of terminal posts comprises a plastic carrier strip through which the posts are inserted at regular spaced apart intervals. The carrier strip is of a thermoplastic material and has a generally H-shaped cross-section. The posts extend between the sidewalls of the carrier strip and through the web portion thereof. The individual posts are removed from the carrier strip at the time of insertion into a printed circuit board by an insertion punch which has a chisel-like end such that it splits the carrier strip during insertion.