Abstract: A nasal cannula for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient and a method of treating a patient with sleep disorder. The nasal cannula comprises a pair of spaced apart supply lines which each have a head at one end thereof with a discharge opening located therein. The opposite end of each supply line is connectable to a high flow respiratory gas source. Each head is sized to be snugly received and retained within one of the nasal cavities of the patient while forming a sufficient leakage passage, between a portion of inwardly facing nasal cavity skin of a patient and a portion of an exterior surface of the head, to facilitate exhausting of any excess respiratory gas supplied to the patient through the leakage passage and also facilitate inhalation of any room air required in excess of the respiratory gas to be supplied to the patient.

Abstract: A nasal cannula, for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, comprising: a pair of spaced apart supply lines which each have a head at one end thereof with a discharge opening therein. The opposite end of each supply line is connectable to a respiratory gas source. Each head is sized to be snugly received and retained within one of the nasal cavities of the patient while forming a sufficient leakage passage, between a portion of inwardly facing nasal cavity skin of a patient and a portion of an exterior surface of the head, to facilitate exhausting of any excess respiratory gas supplied to the patient through the leakage passage and also facilitate inhalation of any room air required in excess of the respiratory gas to be supplied to the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing structural uncertainty in a seismic analysis of features in a subsurface region includes obtaining seismic data including information representative of the features, performing a plurality of depth migrations on the seismic data, each depth migration being based on a model using a respective set of parameters relating to a velocity field and anisotropy of the subsurface region, selecting a family of equivalent solutions from the plurality of depth migrations, evaluating a characteristic of at least a portion of the subsurface region for each member of the family of equivalent solutions, determining a range of values of the evaluated parameters, and based on the determined range, determining a degree of uncertainty of the seismic analysis.

Abstract: A nasal cannula, for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, comprising: a pair of spaced apart supply lines which each have a head at one end thereof with a discharge opening therein. The opposite end of each supply line is connectable to a respiratory gas source. Each head is sized to be snugly received and retained within one of the nasal cavities of the patient while forming a sufficient leakage passage, between a portion of inwardly facing nasal cavity skin of a patient and a portion of an exterior surface of the head, to facilitate exhausting of any excess respiratory gas supplied to the patient through the leakage passage and also facilitate inhalation of any room air required in excess of the respiratory gas to be supplied to the patient.

Abstract: A system and method, for maintaining a predetermined level of a treatment gas in a patient while conserving use of the treatment gas, comprising a source of the treatment gas, a sensing device for sensing a breathing cycle of a patient, a conserver for controlling intermittent supply of the treatment gas to the patient in response to the sensed breathing cycle. In a first mode, when the sensing device senses breathing, the treatment gas is intermittently supplied to the patient at a supply rate coordinated with the breathing cycle. In a second mode, when the sensing device is unable to sense breathing, the treatment gas is supplied to the patient at a second intermittent cycle, determined independently of the patient breathing cycle, which is selected to overlap an assumed patient breathing cycle such that at least a desired level of the treatment gas is maintained in the patient.

Abstract: A nasal cannula, for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, comprising: a pair of spaced apart supply lines which each have a head at one end thereof with a discharge opening therein. The opposite end of each supply line is connectable to a respiratory gas source. Each head is sized to be snugly received and retained within one of the nasal cavities of the patient while forming a sufficient leakage passage, between a portion of inwardly facing nasal cavity skin of a patient and a portion of an exterior surface of the head, to facilitate exhausting of any excess respiratory gas supplied to the patient through the leakage passage and also facilitate inhalation of any room air required in excess of the respiratory gas to be supplied to the patient.

Abstract: The devices and methods of placement of such devices disclosed herein are directed to altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. More particularly, these devices produce and maintain collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that oxygen depleted/carbon dioxide rich air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs. The medical kits disclosed herein are also directed to produce and maintain collateral openings through airway walls.

Abstract: The devices and methods of placement of such devices disclosed herein are directed to altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. More particularly, these devices produce and maintain collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that oxygen depleted/carbon dioxide rich air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs. The medical kits disclosed herein are also directed to produce and maintain collateral openings through airway walls.

Abstract: A bubble humidifier for adding humidity to supplied oxygen. The bubble humidifier has a humidifier base, for containing a quantity of liquid, and a cover for the humidifier base. The bubble humidifier has an oxygen inlet for supplying oxygen to the bubble humidifier and an moisturized oxygen outlet for connection to a moisturized oxygen supply conduit for supplying humidified oxygen to a patient, and the oxygen inlet being connected to a diffuser for diffusing the supplying oxygen within the bubble humidifier. The bubble humidifier has a pressure relief device for relieving excess pressure generated within the bubble humidifier during operation thereof. The bubble humidifier defining a longitudinal axis and the diffuser is arranged to discharge the oxygen from the diffuser substantially at an angle normal to the longitudinal axis of the bubble humidifier to minimize flow of liquid, contained within the humidifier base, from entering the moisturized oxygen outlet during operation of the bubble humidifier.

Abstract: The methods and devices disclosed altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Abstract: The devices and methods disclosed herein are directed to altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. More particularly, these devices and methods produce and to maintain collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs. The devices and methods also disclose locating and selecting a site for creation of a collateral opening.

Abstract: A bubble humidifier for adding humidity to supplied oxygen. The bubble humidifier comprising a humidifier base, for containing a quantity of liquid, and a cover for the humidifier base. The bubble humidifier has an oxygen inlet for supplying oxygen to the bubble humidifier and an moisturized oxygen outlet for connection to a moisturized oxygen supply conduit for supplying humidified oxygen to a patient, and the oxygen inlet being connected to a diffuser for diffusing the supplying oxygen within the bubble humidifier. The bubble humidifier has a pressure relieve device for relieving excess pressure generated within the bubble humidifier during operation thereof.

Abstract: Methods and assemblies for reducing the volume of a lung. A plurality of anchors are anchored at different positions in the lung. A cord is attached to each of the anchors. The anchors are drawn towards one another via the cords to cause the lung to collapse, thus compressing the tissue in the lung and establishing a reduction in lung volume.

Abstract: The devices and methods of placement of such devices disclosed herein are directed to altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. More particularly, these devices produce and maintain collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that oxygen depleted/carbon dioxide rich air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs. The medical kits disclosed herein are also directed to produce and maintain collateral openings through airway walls.

Abstract: Respiratory equipment coupled in interruptible fluid communication between a recipient and a source of pressurized respiratory gas and adapted for controlling delivery of the pressurized gas to the recipient as the recipient inhales and exhales. The equipment includes a supply valve and a sensing valve cooperable to intermittently deliver pressurized gas to the recipient responsive to the recipient's inhalation and exhalation. A regulator mechanism is disposed between and in fluid communication with the pressurized gas source and the supply valve. The equipment may include a control device for controlling flow of pressurized gas from the pressurized gas source to the supply valve and from the pressurized gas source to the regulator mechanism. The control device also controls the pressure of pressurized gas discharged by the regulator mechanism. At least one adjustable device limits movement of a sensing valve diaphragm member responsive to the recipient's inhalation.

Abstract: Pneumatically operated gas demand equipment coupled in interruptible fluid communication between a recipient and a source of pressurized respiratory gas and adapted for controlling delivery of the pressurized gas to the recipient as the recipient inhales and exhales. The equipment includes a supply valve and a sensing valve cooperable to intermittently deliver pressurized gas to the recipient responsive to the recipient's inhalation and exhalation. A regulator mechanism is disposed between and in fluid communication with the pressurized gas source and the supply valve. The equipment additionally includes a control device for controlling flow of pressurized gas from the pressurized gas source to the supply valve and from the pressurized gas source to the regulator mechanism. The control device also controls the pressure of pressurized gas discharged by the regulator mechanism.

Abstract: A supply valve for a pneumatically-operated gas demand apparatus or an intermittent gas delivery device disposed between a source of pressurized respiratory gas and a patient. The valve includes first and second housing parts defining a chamber and having first and second cooperating fluid passageways. A flexible diaphragm member is disposed in the chamber. The diaphragm member includes a central sealing portion and a radial projection integral with the central sealing portion for enabling fluid communication between the first and second fluid passageways and for sealing the first and second passageways against leakage.

Abstract: A pneumatically-operated gas delivery device coupled in interruptible fluid communication between a recipient and at least one course of pressurized respiratory gas controls delivery of the respiratory gas to the recipient as the recipient inhales and exhales. The device includes a regulator mechanism, a supply valve and a sensing valve, wherein the supply valve delivers the respiratory gas to the recipient responsive to movement of the sensing valve. Gas flow to the supply valve is communicated from the gas source, the regulator mechanism and through a plurality of bolus chambers each of which chambers communicates a portion of the recipient's demand gas flow rate from the regulator mechanism to the supply valve. The bolus chambers allow a high-flow pulse of respiratory gas to be delivered to the patient upon initiation of inhalation coupled with steady state flow for the remainder of inhalation.

Abstract: A method and assembly for reducing the volume of a lung. A plurality of anchors are anchored at different positions in the lung. A cord is attached to each of the anchors. The anchors are drawn towards one another via the cords to cause the lung to collapse, thus compressing the tissue in the lung and establishing a reduction in lung volume.

Abstract: A pneumatically-operated gas demand apparatus coupled in interruptible fluid communication between a recipient and a first source of a pressurized first gas controls delivery of the first gas to the recipient as the recipient inhales and exhales and comprises a supply valve and a sensing valve. The supply valve has a first interior chamber divided by a flexible first diaphragm into a supply chamber region and a control chamber region. The supply chamber region is in interruptible fluid communication between the first source of the first gas and the recipient. The control chamber region is in continuous fluid communication with a second source of a pressurized second gas. The sensing valve has a second interior chamber divided by a flexible second diaphragm into a venting chamber region and a sensing chamber region. The venting chamber region is in interruptible fluid communication between the control chamber region and an ambient air environment.