Abstract: Respiratory therapy apparatus includes an oscillating expiratory therapy device and pressure and flow sensors in the patient inlet connected to supply signals to a processor. The processor includes artificial intelligence software to correlate the output signals with prescribed values and control a feedback device that prompts the patient accordingly to adjust use of the device as necessary. The feedback device may be of a visual, audible or tangible kind. The processor may also automatically adjust a setting dial of the therapy device by means of an actuator.

Abstract: Ventilator apparatus includes a pump (41) connected to supply pressurised air both to an air reservoir (23) and to an oxygen concentrator (70) that supplies pressurised oxygen to an oxygen reservoir (24). The outlet (50) of the air reservoir (23) is connected to the inlet of a breathing circuit (30) via an entrainment device (56) so that pressurised air from the reservoir entrains atmospheric air. The outlet (84) of the oxygen reservoir (24) is connected via oxygen tubing (99) to the patient end of the breathing circuit (30). A patient valve (90) at the patient end (93) of the breathing circuit (30) opens to allow the patient to exhale via openings (97) in the valve. The oxygen supply is switched to supply oxygen to the breathing circuit (30) during the expiratory phase so that oxygen in the circuit is inhaled during a subsequent inhalation phase.

Abstract: An expiratory, vibratory therapy device (100, 200 300, 400) includes a compliance meter (104, 204, 304, 404) having a cylinder (110, 210, 310, 410) with a piston (111, 211, 411) movable along its length. The piston is urged by a spring (116, 226) to one end of the cylinder. The opposite end of the cylinder has an air inlet (120, 123, 219) normally closed by a springloaded occluder (129). The occluder (129) is moved to open the air inlet when the patient exhales in the prescribed manner. This allows some air to enter the cylinder and enables the piston to be displaced. The piston is coupled to a flag (106, 206, 306, 406) visible to the patient. When the correct number of prescribed breaths have been made the piston displaces the flag to indicate completion of the therapy.

Abstract: Respiratory therapy apparatus has a short conduit (10) with a mouthpiece (13) at one end and open to atmosphere at its opposite end (11). One end of a cylinder (22), (110, 203) opens into the conduit (10) and contains a piston (21, 111, 205) slidable along the cylinder. The piston (21, 111, 205) carries a permanent magnet (24) that interacts with a magnetic field produced by electromagnetic coils (25, 26), 101-109 surrounding the cylinder. The coils are driven by a control unit (30) that receives inputs from pressure, flow and piston position sensors (40, 41) and (42) to cause the piston to oscillate in the cylinder and superimpose an oscillatory waveform on the normal tidal respiration along the conduit (10) at an amplitude sufficient to mobilize mucus in the patient's airway and produce a therapeutic effect.

Abstract: An expiratory therapy device (100) has a disc (21) mounted at right angles in the expiratory gas passage (9). The disc (21) is rotated about an axis at right angles to the passage (9) by an electric motor (23) at a speed that is independent of the respiratory pressure exerted by the patient during use. The motor (23) and its control (30) are located in a drive unit (25) that can be removed from the device (100) for reuse on another device.

Abstract: A respiratory therapy system includes a vibratory expiratory therapy device through which the patient exhales to set up vibrations within the chest. An array of piezoelectric vibration sensors is mounted on the patient's chest and supplies vibration outputs to a processor, which in turn provides an output to a display indicative of impedance of different regions of the chest.

Abstract: Respiratory therapy apparatus includes an oscillating expiratory therapy device (100) and pressure and flow sensors (20 and 21) in the patient inlet (7) connected to supply signals to a processor (24). The processor (24) includes artificial intelligence software to correlate the output signals with prescribed values and control a feedback device (26) that prompts the patient accordingly to adjust use of the device as necessary. The feedback device (26) may be of a visual, audible or tangible kind. The processor (24) may also automatically adjust a setting dial (5) of the therapy device (100) by means of an actuator (27).

Abstract: A video bougie 1 for use in inserting a medical tube 3 includes a bendable rod 10 with a camera unit 11 mounted at its forward end and connected by a cable 13 with an electrical connector 14 at the machine end of the bougie. A brass ferrule 30 has its forward end 32 attached to an external recess 24 around the machine end of the rod 10, the rear end 33 of the ferrule supporting the electrical connector 14.

Abstract: A resuscitator has two separate, spaced controls (23) and (30) both of which can be actuated manually to open a valve (100) and deliver a breathing cycle of a maximum timed duration to a patient. One control (23) has a button (24) on the top (13) of the unit (1), which is pushed in to actuate. A ring (25) surrounds the button (24) and has cam profiles (122) that engage with cam pins (120) on the button to push and hold it down when rotated. The other control (30) is on the underside surface (14), facing the patient and adjacent the gas outlet (5). This control includes a toggle lever (31), which can be displaced laterally in two different planes to open the valve (100).