Abstract: A syringe assembly includes a syringe having a body with a proximal end and a distal end and a discharge outlet formed at the distal end of the syringe. The syringe assembly further includes a closure element having a body configured for removable engagement with at least a portion of the discharge outlet. The body of the closure element is porous to define a tortuous internal path through the body to allow venting of excess pressure within the syringe while preventing pathogens from entering the syringe. The discharge outlet is configured as a luer connector and the closure element has at least one engagement feature for engaging the luer connector.

Abstract: A syringe assembly includes a syringe having a body with a proximal end and a distal end and a discharge outlet formed at the distal end of the syringe. The syringe assembly further includes a closure element having a body configured for removable engagement with at least a portion of the discharge outlet. The body of the closure element is porous to define a tortuous internal path through the body to allow venting of excess pressure within the syringe while preventing pathogens from entering the syringe. The discharge outlet is configured as a luer connector and the closure element has at least one engagement feature for engaging the luer connector.

Abstract: A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

Abstract: A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

Abstract: A gas delivery system including a pressure generator, a pressure sensor, a control valve, and a processor. The pressure generator pressurizes breathable gas for delivery to a patient. The pressure sensor measures a pressure difference between the pressurized breathable gas and atmospheric pressure. The control valve is disposed downstream from the pressure generator and is constructed and arranged to control a flow rate of the pressurized breathable gas. The processor controls the control valve to bring the flow rate of the pressurized breathable gas to substantially zero while the pressure generator is operating and, when the flow rate is substantially zero, determines at least one of atmospheric pressure, an atmospheric air density, or a density correction factor based at least in part on the pressure difference between the pressurized breathable gas and the atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An RFID reader is configured to be worn on the arm of a user and includes a housing with a bottom surface for facing the arm of a user and a top surface facing away from the arm. A securement structure engages the arm of the user to secure the housing. An antenna is mounted within the housing and is angled with respect to the bottom surface of the housing for providing an RF field at an angle to the arm of a user to direct the RF field toward an item held by the arm. The antenna includes an indexing structure with multiple angular positions for orientation of the antenna. A key structure is positioned in the housing and configured for engaging the indexing structure at an angular position around the antenna to orient the antenna at a desired rotational orientation in the housing to tune the antenna. Grip structures are formed along the top surface of the housing for gripping an item held by a user that contains an RFID tag that is read by the RFID reader.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a body for housing processing circuitry, the body configured for being carried or worn by a user. A battery is coupled with the body for providing power to the processing circuitry. A flexible heater unit is disposed adjacent to the battery, the flexible heater unit is operable to generate heat when powered to transfer heat to the battery. A photonic power source is configured for being carried or worn by a user and operatively coupled with the flexible heater unit to provide electrical power to the flexible heater unit.

Abstract: An impeller, a pressure generator using such an impeller, and a pressure support system and method using such a pressure generator to deliver a flow of breathing gas to a patient is disclosed. The impeller enables a pressure of a flow of breathing gas delivered by a pressure support system to a patient to remain substantially constant despite variations of the output flow rate. The impeller includes a plurality of impeller blades disposed on a face of the impeller body with an inlet area between each pair of adjacent blades being substantially equal a corresponding outlet area for each pair of adjacent blades.

Abstract: A medical device, such as a respiratory treatment device, includes a passive acoustic noise reduction system in the form of a vibration reducing blower assembly isolation mount. The device includes a housing, a blower assembly mounted therein, a patient circuit coupled to the blower assembly, and a noise reducing blower assembly isolation mount. The mount includes a first vibration damping member adjacent one side of the blower assembly spacing the blower assembly from a mounting surface upon which the blower assembly is supported. A securing member positions and holds the blower assembly onto the mounting surface, and a second vibration damping member adjacent an opposite side of the blower assembly spaces the blower assembly from the securing member. The vibration damping members are injection molded thermoplastic elastomeric members.

Abstract: A user interface for a pulse oximetry device that calculates physiologic parameters of a subject including at least a subject's heart rate and SpO2, is disclosed wherein the interface comprises a graphical display of at least one raw data signal of the pulse oximetry device that maintains heart and breath rate components and a display of the calculated heart rate and SpO2 of the subject. The interface may further include a user selectable data averaging function in which the interface is configured to selectively obtain and display averages of at least some of the calculated physiologic parameters over a defined period. The interface may further include a user selectable noise suppression function for the displayed data.

Abstract: A pressure support system has a motor, a switching element that supplies power to motor windings, and a blower coupled to the motor. Rotation of the blower elevates a pressure of fluid in a patient circuit coupled to an outlet of the blower. A rotational speed controller maintains the motor at a set rotational speed corresponding to a selected pressure for the fluid in the patient circuit. The rotational speed of the motor is maintained by a switching signal provided by a rotational speed controller to the switching element to control the actuation of the switching element. A fluid parameter monitoring portion monitors a parameter associated with the flow of fluid in the patient circuit, such as the magnitude, direction, or volume, based on a characteristic, such as duty cycle, of the switching signal, or based on a characteristic of a control signal that is used to generate the switching signal.

Abstract: A medical device, such as a respiratory treatment device, having an active acoustic noise cancellation system. In one embodiment, the noise minimizing system includes at least one detector detecting characteristics of acoustic noise of a blower assembly and at least one speaker creating a cancellation frequency in the form of acoustic waves that at least partially cancels acoustic waves generated by the blower assembly. In another embodiment, the noise minimizing system includes a mechanical vibration generating element that creates a cancellation frequency in the form of a mechanical vibration that at least partially cancels vibrations of the blower assembly. This is accomplished, for example, by dithering a flow control valve at a frequency corresponding to an operating frequency of the blower assembly. Each embodiment can be used alone or in combination.

Abstract: A small animal restraining tube comprises a tube configured to receive a small animal therein; a nosecone within the tube and coupled thereto and configured to abut the animal within the tube to confine the animal on one side of the tube; an endplate coupled to the tube and configured to confine a body portion of the animal on a side opposite the nosecone, whereby the body of the animal is confined within the tube between the nosecone and the endplate, the endplate including an opening there through configured to receive a tail of the animal when the animal is confined within the tube; and a tubular loader mechanism selectively coupled to the tube, wherein the loader mechanism is configured to selectively receive the animal therein and configured to transfer the animal to the retraining tube.

Abstract: A restraining tube for small animals (preferably animals with tails) is designed to facilitate physiologic measurements of the animal through an integrated or associated sensor mount. The physiologic sensors include those for the measurement of pulse oximetry and other measurements such as breath rate, heart rate, pulse distention and breath distention, temperature to name a few. A tail engaging sensor mount geometry is provided for a particular pulse oximeter into the back plate of the tube. The immobility of the animal is especially important given the fact that pulse oximetry measurements are extremely susceptible to even the smallest motion artifact.

Abstract: A high frequency pressure oscillation device that selective restricts the flow of breathing gas to or from a patient to produce pressure spikes in the patient's airway that facilitate clearing secretions from the patient's airway. The device includes a patient circuit that defines a closed path between a source of breathing gas and the patient's airway. A valve is disposed in the patient circuit such that in an open position the path between the source of breathing gas and the airway of the patient is substantially unobstructed. When the valve is in a closed position, the path between the source of breathing gas and the patient's airway is at least partially obstructed to create the pressure spikes. An actuating system associated with the valve alternatively places the valve in the open position and in the closed position at a predetermined oscillation rate that is independent of patient effort.

Abstract: A pressure support system having enhanced noise reduction and a valve assembly for use in pressure support system. The pressure support system includes a pressure generator having an inlet and an outlet. A first conduit defining a tortuous path is coupled between a gas source and the inlet of the pressure generator. A second conduit coupled to the outlet of the pressure generator delivers the flow of gas from the pressure generator to a patient. A valve assembly communicates gas from the second conduit to the first conduit to control the pressure or a rate of the flow of gas in the second conduit. By communicating gas from the second conduit to the first conduit, the noise associated with exhausting gas from the second conduit is muffled by the tortuous path of the first conduit.

Abstract: A pressure support system has a motor, a switching element that supplies power to motor windings, and a blower coupled to the motor. Rotation of the blower elevates a pressure of fluid in a patient circuit coupled to an outlet of the blower. A rotational speed controller maintains the motor at a set rotational speed corresponding to a selected pressure for the fluid in the patient circuit. The rotational speed of the motor is maintained by a switching signal provided by a rotational speed controller to the switching element to control the actuation of the switching element. A fluid parameter monitoring portion monitors a parameter associated with the flow of fluid in the patient circuit, such as the magnitude, direction, or volume, based on a characteristic, such as duty cycle, of the switching signal, or based on a characteristic of a control signal that is used to generate the switching signal.

Abstract: A flow sensor is disclosed that measures a flow of fluid passing through a conduit and a flow resistive element for use in such a flow sensor. The flow sensor includes a housing having a main channel defined therethrough. A flow resistive element is disposed in the housing across the main channel. The flow resistive element includes a rigid body member having a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of unobstructed, wedge-shaped, openings are defined in the body member and extend through the rigid body member. In addition, a plurality of spokes extend from a central portion of the body member to its perimeter so that each spoke separates adjacent wedge-shaped openings from one another.

Abstract: An impeller, a pressure generator using such an impeller, and a pressure support system and method using such a pressure generator to deliver a flow of breathing gas to a patient is disclosed. The impeller enables a pressure of a flow of breathing gas delivered by a pressure support system to a patient to remain substantially constant despite variations of the output flow rate. The impeller includes a plurality of impeller blades disposed on a face of the impeller body with an inlet area between each pair of adjacent blades being substantially equal a corresponding outlet area for each pair of adjacent blades.

Abstract: A pressure support system having enhanced noise reduction and a valve assembly for use in pressure support system. The pressure support system includes a pressure generator having an inlet and an outlet. A first conduit defining a tortuous path is coupled between a gas source and the inlet of the pressure generator. A second conduit coupled to the outlet of the pressure generator delivers the flow of gas from the pressure generator to a patient. A valve assembly communicates gas from the second conduit to the first conduit to control the pressure or a rate of the flow of gas in the second conduit. By communicating gas from the second conduit to the first conduit, the noise associated with exhausting gas from the second conduit is muffled by the tortuous path of the first conduit.