Abstract: A method and apparatus to identify the source of oxygen delivery failure to a patient. The apparatus comprises a pressure sensor to detect a patient's breathing pressure and ambient pressure, an oxygen flow analyzer to measure oxygen flow to the patient, and a processor to analyze the breathing pressure values, ambient pressure value, and oxygen flow rate values. When the oxygen flow rate value is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the processor is programmed to compare the breathing pressure values to the ambient pressure value and output an apnea alarm or an oxygen delivery device displacement alarm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to deliver a variable flow of oxygen to a patient is described. The apparatus may include a flow control valve, a pressure sensor to detect a patient's breathing pressure and ambient pressure, an oxygen flow analyzer to measure oxygen flow to the patient, and a processor to analyze the breathing pressure values, ambient pressure value, and oxygen flow rate values and to determine when a patient is inhaling. When the processor determines the patient is inhaling, the processor calculates an optimal oxygen flow rate to deliver to a patient, which may depend on a pre-selected flow rate and an oxygen backlog, and the processor sends a signal to the flow control valve to deliver the optimal oxygen flow rate to the patient.

Abstract: A headlamp and/or tail light assembly comprising a housing, an outer lens, a thermally conductive plastic situated in operative relationship with the outer lens and a heating element for heating the thermally conductive plastic, wherein when the heating element heats the thermally conductive plastic, heat is directed towards the outer lens.

Abstract: A system for simulating various clinical conditions which are detectable by a noninvasive respiratory monitor is provided. The simulated clinical conditions may be displayed on a noninvasive respiratory monitor to replicate a variety of disease states to provide training for a clinician. The system may include a pulse oximetry simulation device and/or a CO2 delivery system.

Abstract: A headlamp and/or a tail light assembly having a heating element is shown. The heating element comprises a deflector that is adapted to be received on a component of the headlamp and/or tail light assembly and to direct heat towards an interior surface of a transparent cover or an outer lens in order to facilitate de-icing or condensation removal.

Abstract: A system for simulating various clinical conditions which are detectable by a noninvasive respiratory monitor is provided. The simulated clinical conditions may be displayed on a noninvasive respiratory monitor to replicate a variety of disease states to provide training for a clinician. The system may include a pulse oximetry simulation device and/or a CO2 delivery system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for removing volatile anesthetics from an anesthesia or ventilation system to minimize the effects of malignant hyperthermia in susceptible patients. According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for removing volatile anesthetics is provided. A first filter component placed in fluid communication with an inspiratory limb of an anesthesia or ventilation system such that volatile anesthetics will pass through the first filter component during operation of the anesthesia or ventilation system. A second filter component is operably coupled to the expiration port of the anesthesia or ventilation system such that gases passing through the expiratory limb of the anesthesia or ventilation system pass through the second filter component. The first filter component and second filter component are adapted to effectively remove volatile anesthetics passing through the respective filters.

Abstract: Methods for noninvasively determining a pulmonary capillary blood flow or a cardiac output of a subject include determining data of the amount of gas exchanged between blood and gas in lungs of the subject, as well as data of an indicator of the content of the gas in blood of the subject. Such a determination may be made during two or more different states of ventilation. A geometric relationship is identified between data points, with any data points outlying the geometric relationship being disregarded. The remaining data points may be used to estimate or calculate a measure of pulmonary capillary blood flow or cardiac output. Systems that include elements that are configured to effect such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mainstream gas monitoring method includes a using a mainstream airway adapter and a gas sensing assembly associated with the mainstream airway adapter to measure an analyte of a gas flow through the adapter. A gas sensing portion outputs a signal indicative of the analyte in a gas flow in the mainstream airway adapter. A processing portion receives the signal from the gas sensing portion and determines an amount of the analyte in the gas flow based on the signal from the gas sensing portion. The processing portion also compensates for volumetric differences between the gas flow during inspiration and the gas flow during expiration to maximize the accuracy in the measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus for reversing inhaled anesthesia, which may be configured to be positioned along a breathing circuit or anesthesia delivery circuit, includes an anesthesia removal component and a blood flow acceleration component. The blood flow acceleration component facilitates an increase in the ventilation of the individual without resulting in a significant decrease in the individual's PaCO2 level and, thus, a decrease in the rate at which blood flows through the individual's brain. A method of reversing the effects of inhaled anesthesia includes increasing the rate of ventilation of an anesthetized individual while causing the individual to inhale gases with at least atmospheric amounts of CO2.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for removing volatile anesthetics from an anesthesia or ventilation system to minimize the effects of malignant hyperthermia in susceptible patients. According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for removing volatile anesthetics is provided. A first filter component placed in fluid communication with an inspiratory limb of an anesthesia or ventilation system such that volatile anesthetics will pass through the first filter component during operation of the anesthesia or ventilation system. A second filter component is operably coupled to the expiration port of the anesthesia or ventilation system such that gases passing through the expiratory limb of the anesthesia or ventilation system pass through the second filter component. The first filter component and second filter component are adapted to effectively remove volatile anesthetics passing through the respective filters.

Abstract: Methods for estimating the volume of the carbon dioxide stores of an individual's respiratory tract include determining a carbon dioxide store volume at which a correlation between corresponding signals of carbon dioxide elimination and an indicator of the content of carbon dioxide in blood of the individual is optimized. The estimate of the volume of carbon dioxide stores, which comprises a model of the respiratory tract, or lungs, of the individual, may be used as a transformation to improve the accuracy of one or both of the carbon dioxide elimination and carbon dioxide content signals. Transformation, or filtering, algorithms are also disclosed, as are systems in which the methods and algorithms may be used. The methods, algorithms, and systems may be used to accurately and noninvasively determine one or both of the pulmonary capillary blood flow and cardiac output of the individual.

Abstract: A mainstream gas monitoring system (30) and method that includes a using a mainstream airway adapter (32), and a gas sensing assembly (34) associated with the mainstream airway adapter to measure an analyte of a gas flow through the adapter. A gas sensing portion (36) outputs a signal indicative of the analyte in a gas flow in the mainstream airway adapter. A processing portion (38) receives the signal from the gas sensing portion and determines an amount of the analyte in the gas flow based on the signal from the gas sensing portion. The processing portion also compensates for volumetric differences between the gas flow during inspiration and the gas flow during expiration to maximize the accuracy in the measurements made using such a system and method.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for removing volatile anesthetics from an anesthesia or ventilation system to minimize the effects of malignant hyperthermia in susceptible patients. According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for removing volatile anesthetics is provided. A first filter component placed in fluid communication with an inspiratory limb of an anesthesia or ventilation system such that volatile anesthetics will pass through the first filter component during operation of the anesthesia or ventilation system. A second filter component is operably coupled to the expiration port of the anesthesia or ventilation system such that gases passing through the expiratory limb of the anesthesia or ventilation system pass through the second filter component. The first filter component and second filter component are adapted to effectively remove volatile anesthetics passing through the respective filters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using an end-tidal gas value taken from an non-intubated patient that includes measuring a plurality of gas concentration values, determining an end-tidal gas value from the gas concentration values, and reporting the end-tidal gas value for a breath as the greater of either: (a) a maximum gas concentration values observed during such a breath, or (b) the end-tidal gas value reported for a previous breath decreased by a maximum allowable breath-to-breath percent change.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of indicating the reliability of an end-tidal gas value that includes measuring a plurality of gas concentration values, measuring a plurality of ventilation values, determining an end-tidal gas value from the gas concentration values, determining the degree of ventilatory stability from the ventilation values, and providing an estimate of reliability of the end-tidal gas values using the degree of ventilatory stability.

Abstract: An apparatus for reversing inhaled anesthesia, which may be configured to be positioned along a breathing circuit or anesthesia delivery circuit, includes an anesthesia removal component and a blood flow acceleration component. The blood flow acceleration component facilitates an increase in the ventilation of the individual without resulting in a significant decrease in the individual's PaCO2 level and, thus, a decrease in the rate at which blood flows through the individual's brain. A method of reversing the effects of inhaled anesthesia includes increasing the rate of ventilation of an anesthetized individual while causing the individual to inhale gases with at least atmospheric amounts of CO2.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for non-invasively determining cardiac output using partial re-breathing techniques are disclosed in which the apparatus is constructed with an instantaneously adjustable deadspace for accommodating differences in breathing capacities of various patients. The apparatus is constructed of inexpensive elements, including a single two-way valve which renders the apparatus very simple to use and inexpensive so that the unit may be readily disposable. The method of the invention provides a novel means of estimating cardiac output based on alveolar CO2 values rather than end-tidal CO2 values as previously practiced. A program for calculating cardiac output is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for reversing inhaled anesthesia, which is configured to be positioned along a breathing circuit or anesthesia delivery circuit, includes a filter for removing one or more anesthetic agents from gases passing therethrough, as well as a component for elevating CO2 levels in gases that are to be inhaled by an individual. The apparatus is configured to be positioned between a Y-connector of the breathing circuit and the portion of the breathing circuit that interfaces with the individual. The CO2 level-elevating component facilitates an increase in the ventilation of the individual without resulting in a significant decrease in the individual's PaCO2 level and, thus, a decrease in the rate at which blood flows through the individual's brain. A method of reversing the effects of inhaled anesthesia includes increasing the rate of ventilation of an anesthetized individual while causing the individual to inhale gases with elevated amounts of CO2 and while filtering anesthetic agents from such gases.