Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the growing chronic respiratory diseases and is now a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Acute exacerbations have a negative impact on health related quality of life of COPD patients, survival rates, pulmonary function and utilization of health-care resources. The present application discloses an apparatus (100), system (1400), method (200), and computer program for assessing a risk of an exacerbation and/or hospitalization of a subject. To this extent, time-dependent activity data is Fourier-transformed to frequency space to obtain frequency-dependent activity data. Next, a moment of said frequency-dependent activity data is computed. Finally, a risk of said exacerbation and/or hospitalization of said subject to occur is assessed based on said moment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system (100), a method (200), and a computer program for assessing the risk of an exacerbation and/or hospitalization. A patient's physical activity is measured (e.g., by an accelerometer (110)) during an active period of time (e.g., during awake hours) and during a rest period of time (e.g., during sleep hours) to gather first and second activity data. A risk of exacerbation and/or hospitalization is assessed (e.g., by a risk assessment unit (120)) based on an expression involving the respective activity data during active and rest periods fulfilling a predetermined relationship with respect to a predetermined activity level. For instance, low activity data during active periods and high activity data during rest periods indicates an increased risk of exacerbation and/or hospital readmission for the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating oxygen. The method addresses the objects of reducing the servicing work and improving the purity of the generated oxygen. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: providing an oxygen comprising gas at a primary side of a dense voltage drivable membrane; applying a voltage between a conductive element at the primary side of the membrane and a conductive element at a secondary side of the membrane, the conductive elements being electrically connected to the membrane, wherein a plasma is generated at at least one of the primary side and the secondary side of the membrane, the plasma being used as conductive element.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an oxygen separation device (12, 14) for a pressure swing adsorption system. In order to provide at least one of improved maintenance behavior, longer lifetime and improved energy consumption, the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (18, 22) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and a gas outlet (28, 30) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), an oxygen separation membrane (78) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a support structure (80) for supporting the oxygen separation membrane (78), wherein the support structure (80) comprises a plurality of support bars (82) being fixed to the oxygen separation membrane (78).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating oxygen. The method addresses the objects of reducing the servicing work and improving the purity of the generated oxygen. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: providing an oxygen comprising gas at a primary side of a dense voltage drivable membrane (12); applying a voltage between a conductive element at the primary side of the membrane (12) and a conductive element at a secondary side of the membrane (12), the conductive elements being electrically connected to the membrane (12), wherein a plasma (18, 20) is generated at at least one of the primary side and the secondary side of the membrane (12), the plasma (18, 20) being used as conductive element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transducer (11) comprising a membrane (31) configured to change shape in response to a force, the membrane (31) having a first major surface (16) and a second major surface (17), a piezoelectric layer (18) formed over the first major surface (16) of the membrane (31), the piezoelectric layer (18) having an active portion, first and second electrodes (19) in contact with the piezoelectric layer (18), wherein an electric field between the first and second electrodes (19) determines the mechanical movement of the piezoelectric layer (18), support structures (40) at the second major surface (17) of the membrane (15) on adjacent sides of the active portion of the piezoelectric layer (18), at least part of the support structures (40) forming walls perpendicular, or at least not parallel, to the second major surface (17) of the membrane (31), so as to form a trench (41) of any shape underlying the active portion, so that an ultrasound transducer is obtained with a high output pr

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubbery or elastomeric polymer material taking up more than 5% by weight of water and at most 500% by weight of water after immersion in demineralized water at room temperature for a sufficient time to reach saturation, comprising: (a) repeating units from one or more hydrophobic organic monomers, and (b) repeating units from one or more monomers (a) being modified with one or more hydrophilic side groups. The rubbery or elastomeric polymer material may be in the form of a sheet, a foam, a coating adapted for adhesion to a substrate, or a fiber. This invention also relates to processes, polymerizable compositions, and foaming compositions for producing such rubbery or elastomeric polymer materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, the method comprising the steps of: performing at least a first and a second period of oxygen separation, the first and the second period of oxygen separation each comprising the steps of guiding an oxygen comprising gas to the primary side of an oxygen separation device (12, 14), the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and generating a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) by creating a pressure difference between the primary side and the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), and performing a cooling period between the first and the second period of oxygen separation, wherein the cooling period comprises the steps of guiding a flushing sorbate through the oxygen separation device (12, 14), the flushing sorbate having an adsorption energy e1 with respect to the oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and guiding a cooling sorbat

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separation device (12, 14), comprising a gas inlet (29, 31) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (33, 35) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), at least one oxygen separation area (20, 22) with an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen and being contaminatable by a contaminant, and a decontamination area (21, 23) with a decontamination material (17, 19) for decontaminating the oxygen comprising gas from at least one contaminant, wherein the oxygen separation area (20, 22) and the decontamination area (21, 23) are fluidly connected by a spacer (76, 78) comprising at least one diffusion reducing channel (80, 82), wherein the spacer (76, 78) has a value of diffusion reduction rR

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wear-out assessment system (10) comprising a patient interface (12) for delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, wherein the patient interface (12) comprises a first wireless communication unit (18), a communication device (14) comprising a second wireless communication unit (19) configured to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless communication unit (18) and a wear-out assessment unit (16) for determining wear-out data relating to a wear-out of the patient interface (12). The first and second wireless communication unit (18, 19) are configured to exchange at least parts of the wear-out data.

Abstract: Patient interface (50) optically indicating a user that a member (22) of the patient interface (50) needs to be replaced due to wear. In particular, it relates to a member (22) for patient interface (50) which comprises at least one functional material (32, 34) having a predefined functionality and at least one indicator (28, 30) wherein the concentration of said at least one indicator (28, 30) in said member (22) correlates with the predefined functionality of said at least one functional material (32, 34).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transducer (11) comprising—a membrane (31) configured to change shape in response to a force, the membrane (31) having a first major surface (16) and a second major surface (17), —a piezoelectric layer (18) formed over the first major surface (16) of the membrane (31), the piezoelectric layer (18) having an active portion, —first and second electrodes (19) in contact with the piezoelectric layer (18), wherein an electric field between the first and second electrodes (19) determines the mechanical movement of the piezoelectric layer (18), —support structures (40) at the second major surface (17) of the membrane (15) on adjacent sides of the active portion of the piezoelectric layer (18), at least part of the support structures (40) forming walls perpendicular, or at least not parallel, to the second major surface (17) of the membrane (31), so as to form a trench (41) of any shape underlying the active portion, so that an ultrasound transducer is obtained with a high output pr

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing cushion (24) for a patient interface (16), wherein the cushion (24) comprises a nose bridge contacting area (40) that is configured to contact a nose bridge of a patient (12) during use of the cushion (24), wherein the nose bridge contacting area (40) comprises a material having a secant stiffness of less than 0.45 N/mm at a material strain between 0.1 and 1, wherein the secant stiffness is defined as tensile force applied to the material per unit width of the material divided by the material strain, wherein the material strain denotes a ratio of material extension in length per unit of original length of the material.

Abstract: A seal for a respiratory mask that includes a first end portion adapted to be coupled to a mask shell, a second end portion for sealing engagement with a face of a patient, and a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion. At least a portion of the second end portion includes a textured area having a predetermined pattern. The area of increased surface roughness provides the patient contacting portion of the seal with a silky feeling to maximize patient comfort and the effectiveness of the seal without impairing the sealing ability.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises a fuel cell and a battery, each for supplying electrical power to a load. The system is controlled to use the fuel cell for a first period of time (82) to supply electrical power to the load, wherein the power demand is constant over a first time period (82). The battery is used simultaneously with the fuel cell for a second supply time of electrical power to the load, wherein the power varies (84). In this way, fluctuating output is provided by the battery, and the fuel cell output is maintained as constant as possible to prolong the lifetime. During the second supply time, the power to the load (80) can be provided as a constant contribution from the fuel cell and a variable contribution from the battery.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a light guidance system for adapted illumination in emergency or power cut situations is provided, wherein the light guidance system is connected to an auxiliary power supply system (101) and comprises at least one light unit (103) adapted to emit light for illuminating surroundings and a control unit adapted to increase a light level of the light unit (103) according to a presence signal indicating the presence of a person, wherein the increasing of the light level is adjusted to enable a mandatory lighting period and a mandatory light level by considering a power value of the auxiliary power supply system (101).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating oxygen. The method comprises the steps of: intermittently guiding a stream of oxygen comprising gas through at least one adsorption chamber (12) being equipped with an oxygen separation adsorbent (16), thereby defining an adsorption mode and a desorption mode of the at least one adsorption chamber (12), and thereby enriching the oxygen comprising gas with respect to oxygen, guiding the enriched oxygen comprising gas to a primary side of a dense membrane (52), heating the dense membrane(52) to a temperature at which it is permeable for oxygen, generating an oxygen flow through the dense membrane (52) to its secondary side, thereby separating the oxygen from the enriched oxygen comprising gas and forming a stream of oxygen. According to the invention, the invention further comprises the step of guiding at least a part of the generated oxygen through the at least one adsorption chamber (12) being in desorption mode.

Abstract: A sensor system for measuring a velocity of a fluid flowing through a channel includes a heating element for heating the fluid. The heating element is provided with a predetermined level of power during operation. The sensor system further includes a primary electronic circuit having a primary resonance frequency which is temperature dependent. The temperature of the primary electronic circuit is determined by heat transferred from the heating element to the fluid flowing through the channel. In addition, the sensor system also includes a transducer arrangement configured to generate a measurement signal indicative of the velocity of the fluid flowing through the channel. The measurement signal is based on the primary resonance frequency.

Abstract: A patient interface device uses a pressure flap which extends inwardly from an outer edge of a mask of the device. The pressure flap is for contacting the skin of the patient to provide a seal or partial seal between the mask volume and the ambient surroundings. The pressure flap comprises a cavity area which is exposed to a reduced pressure compared to the mask volume. This assists in keeping the pressure flap pressed against the patient's skin, and thereby maintain a large contact area. This in turn gives a reduction in local high pressure areas.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an oxygen separation device (12, 14) for a pressure swing adsorption system. In order to provide at least one of improved maintenance behavior, longer lifetime and improved energy consumption, the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (18, 22) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and a gas outlet (28, 30) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), an oxygen separation membrane (78) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a support structure (80) for supporting the oxygen separation membrane (78), wherein the support structure (80) comprises a plurality of support bars (82) being fixed to the oxygen separation membrane (78).