Abstract: A bearing assembly, method of assembling a bearing assembly and a pump are disclosed. The bearing assembly is for mounting a rotatable shaft of a pump, and comprises an inner ring and an outer ring and a plurality of rollable elements mounted between said inner and outer rings. The bearing assembly has a lubricant directing element extending radially outwards from an outer circumference of the inner ring. The lubricant directing element may comprise a sloped radial surface, at least a portion of the sloped radial surface facing an annular gap between the inner and outer rings, a radially inner portion of the sloped surface being closer to the rollable elements than a radially outer portion of the sloped surface.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for nitric oxide generation are provided for use with various ventilation and/or medical devices and having a humidity control system associated therewith. In some embodiments, a system for generating nitric oxide comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide from a reactant gas, a scrubber configured to remove nitric dioxide NO2 from the product gas, and a humidity control device configured to alter a water content of at least one of the reactant gas and the product gas to control humidity within the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a nitric oxide (NO) gas. A plasma generating device is configured to produce a plasma to ionize a flow of a reactant gas into a product gas that comprises NO, NO2, oxygen, and nitrogen gases. A controller is configured to regulate an amount of NO in the product gas using parameters as input to the controller. A gas separation device comprising a housing including product gas inlets and sweep fluid inlets to receive a flow of the product gas and a flow of the sweep fluid such that the flows of product gas and sweep fluid are opposed flows. A membrane is positioned inside the housing and permits flow of a subset of gases of the product gas therethrough so the product gas exiting the housing includes NO.

Abstract: A bearing assembly, method of assembling a bearing assembly and a pump are disclosed. The bearing assembly is for mounting a rotatable shaft of a pump, and comprises an inner ring and an outer ring and a plurality of rollable elements mounted between said inner and outer rings. The bearing assembly has a lubricant directing element extending radially outwards from an outer circumference of the inner ring. The lubricant directing element may comprise a sloped radial surface, at least a portion of the sloped radial surface facing an annular gap between the inner and outer rings, a radially inner portion of the sloped surface being closer to the rollable elements than a radially outer portion of the sloped surface.

Abstract: A pump monitoring system includes a controller and a microphone for detecting sound waves. The controller is configured to receive an audio signal from the microphone representing sound waves generated by the vacuum pump. The controller processes the received audio signal to generate a frequency domain representation of the audio signal. The frequency domain representation of the audio signal is analysed to identify at least one fault condition frequency component indicative of a fault condition. A fault condition signal is output to identify the fault condition in dependence on the identification of the at least one fault condition frequency component. In a further embodiment, the pump monitoring system comprises a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations. The present invention also relate to a vacuum pump; a method of monitoring a vacuum pump; and a nontransitory computer-readable medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering one or more drugs. In some embodiments, a drug delivery system includes a housing having a distal end with an inlet through which an inspiratory flow of air passes into the housing, a proximal end having a patient interface attached thereto, the patient interface being configured to interface with a user, and an inspiratory flow pathway extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the housing. A nitric oxide (NO) source is positioned within the housing and is configured to deliver NO-containing gas to the patient interface. A secondary drug source is positioned within the housing and is configured to deliver a secondary drug to the patient interface. A controller is configured to control an amount of NO-containing gas and an amount of the secondary drug delivered using a control scheme.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes: input reception circuitry configured to receive a signal indicative of a characteristic of rotating assembly rotation; and bearing wear monitoring circuitry configured to analyze the signal characteristic of rotating assembly rotation. The bearing wear monitoring circuitry is also configured to identify one or more signal features indicative of bearing wear. Bearing wear produces variation in rolling friction of the bearing and therefore is one cause of variation in shaft torque. Aspects recognise that variations in shaft torque can be indirectly monitored, measured and/or determined by appropriate measurement or monitoring of operational characteristics of a pump motor and that it may be possible to distinguish variations in shaft torque which can be attributed to bearing wear from those variations in shaft torque caused by one or more other factors.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for nitric oxide generation are provided for use with various ventilation and/or medical devices and having a humidity control system associated therewith. In some embodiments, a system for generating nitric oxide comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide from a reactant gas, a scrubber configured to remove nitric dioxide NO2 from the product gas, and a humidity control device configured to alter a water content of at least one of the reactant gas and the product gas to control humidity within the system.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for nitric oxide generation are provided for use with various ventilation and/or medical devices and having a humidity control system associated therewith. In some embodiments, a system for generating nitric oxide comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide from a reactant gas, a scrubber configured to remove nitric dioxide NO2 from the product gas, and a humidity control device configured to alter a water content of at least one of the reactant gas and the product gas to control humidity within the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for nitric oxide (NO) generation systems are provided. In some embodiments, an NO generation system comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas. The electrodes have elongated surfaces such that a plasma produced is carried by the flow of the reactant gas and glides along the elongated surfaces from a first end towards a second end of the electrode pair. A controller is configured to regulate the amount of NO in the product gas by the at least one pair of electrodes using one or more parameters as an input to the controller. The one or more parameters include information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which the product gas flows.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering one or more drugs. In some embodiments, a drug delivery system includes a housing having a distal end with an inlet through which an inspiratory flow of air passes into the housing, a proximal end having a patient interface attached thereto, the patient interface being configured to interface with a user, and an inspiratory flow pathway extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the housing. A nitric oxide (NO) source is positioned within the housing and is configured to deliver NO-containing gas to the patient interface. A secondary drug source is positioned within the housing and is configured to deliver a secondary drug to the patient interface. A controller is configured to control an amount of NO-containing gas and an amount of the secondary drug delivered using a control scheme.

Abstract: System and methods are provided for generating nitric oxide (NO). In some embodiments, systems comprise a microwave generator configured to produce microwave energy of varying pulse duration, pulse frequency, and power level and a microwave cavity configured to utilize microwave energy to generate a plasma ball within a flow of reactant gas containing nitrogen and oxygen flowing through the microwave cavity to produce a product gas containing NO. At least one stub can be positioned in the microwave cavity and is configured to focus the microwave energy at a location at which the plasma ball is formed. A controller in electrical communication with the microwave generator can be configured to control the microwave generator to initiate and maintain the plasma ball so the plasma ball is suspended in the flow of reactant gas and does not contact a surface of the at least one stub and the microwave cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for nitric oxide (NO) generation systems are provided. In some embodiments, an NO generation system comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas. The electrodes have elongated surfaces such that a plasma produced is carried by the flow of the reactant gas and glides along the elongated surfaces from a first end towards a second end of the electrode pair. A controller is configured to regulate the amount of NO in the product gas by the at least one pair of electrodes using one or more parameters as an input to the controller. The one or more parameters include information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which the product gas flows.

Abstract: Systems and methods for nitric oxide (NO) generation systems are provided. In some embodiments, an NO generation system comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas. The electrodes have elongated surfaces such that a plasma produced is carried by the flow of the reactant gas and glides along the elongated surfaces from a first end towards a second end of the electrode pair. A controller is configured to regulate the amount of NO in the product gas by the at least one pair of electrodes using one or more parameters as an input to the controller. The one or more parameters include information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which the product gas flows.

Abstract: A turbo pump vent assembly and method are disclosed. The turbo pump vent assembly comprises: a primary manual actuator operable to deliver an initial volume of air to a turbo pump; and a secondary manual actuator operable to deliver a secondary volume of air to the turbo pump, wherein the secondary volume of air is greater than the initial volume of air. In this way, an uncomplex and reliable vent is provided which can deliver initial volumes of air to slow the turbo pump initially. Thereafter, the secondary volume of air may be delivered to slow the turbo pump more rapidly than is possible just using further initial volumes of air. Having an apparatus which can deliver differing volumes of air enables the turbo pump to be slowed safely and more quickly than is possible by delivering just the same sized volumes of air.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for nitric oxide generation are provided for use with various ventilation and/or medical devices and having a humidity control system associated therewith. In some embodiments, a system for generating nitric oxide comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing nitric oxide from a reactant gas, a scrubber configured to remove nitric dioxide NO2 from the product gas, and a humidity control device configured to alter a water content of at least one of the reactant gas and the product gas to control humidity within the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for nitric oxide (NO) generation systems are provided. In some embodiments, an NO generation system comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas. The electrodes have elongated surfaces such that a plasma produced is carried by the flow of the reactant gas and glides along the elongated surfaces from a first end towards a second end of the electrode pair. A controller is configured to regulate the amount of NO in the product gas by the at least one pair of electrodes using one or more parameters as an input to the controller. The one or more parameters include information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which the product gas flows.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing preload force gauge for indicating the bearing preload force on a turbomolecular pump rotor bearing. The gauge comprises a housing, an indicator for indicating the bearing preload force, and actuator coupled to an impeller engagement surface by a member configured to provide a resilient bias between the actuator and the impeller engagement surface. The invention also relates to a bearing preload tool and methods for measuring the bearing preload force on a turbomolecular pump.

Abstract: Systems and methods for nitric oxide (NO) generation systems are provided. In some embodiments, an NO generation system comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas. The electrodes have elongated surfaces such that a plasma produced is carried by the flow of the reactant gas and glides along the elongated surfaces from a first end towards a second end of the electrode pair. A controller is configured to regulate the amount of NO in the product gas by the at least one pair of electrodes using one or more parameters as an input to the controller. The one or more parameters include information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which the product gas flows.

Abstract: A turbo pump vent assembly and method are disclosed. The turbo pump vent assembly comprises: a primary manual actuator operable to deliver an initial volume of air to a turbo pump; and a secondary manual actuator operable to deliver a secondary volume of air to the turbo pump, wherein the secondary volume of air is greater than the initial volume of air. In this way, an uncomplex and reliable vent is provided which can deliver initial volumes of air to slow the to turbo pump initially. Thereafter, the secondary volume of air may be delivered to slow the turbo pump more rapidly than is possible just using further initial volumes of air. Having an apparatus which can deliver differing volumes of air enables the turbo pump to be slowed safely and more quickly than is possible by delivering just the same sized volumes of air.