Abstract: The present ventilator system, for detecting and treating concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA event(s)) overlap syndrome, comprises a pressure generator for generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of a subject; sensor(s) for generating output signals conveying information related to breathable gas parameters; and processor(s) operatively connected to the sensor(s) and the pressure generator, configured to: detect presence of OSA event(s) and/or expiratory flow limitation (EFL) in the subject based on the output signals.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a ventilator may provide interactive guidance for obtaining a subject's expiratory flow limitation results. In some embodiments, the ventilator may cause a progressive color component to be presented, where the progressive color component indicates a progression from one color proximate one side of the progressive color component to another color proximate another side of the progressive color component. The ventilator may cause a forced oscillation to be continuously applied to an airway of the subject for a time period. The ventilator may monitor the subject's degree of expiratory flow limitation based on output signals generated by one or more sensors as the forced oscillation is continuously applied for the time period. The ventilator may cause, based on the monitoring, a movable component's position on the progressive color component to be continuously updated during the time period to indicate the degree of expiratory flow limitation.

Abstract: The present ventilator system, for detecting and treating concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA event(s)) overlap syndrome, comprises a pressure generator for generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of a subject; sensor(s) for generating output signals conveying information related to breathable gas parameters; and processor(s) operatively connected to the sensor(s) and the pressure generator, configured to: detect presence of OSA event(s) and/or expiratory flow limitation (EFL) in the subject based on the output signals.

Abstract: A humidifier for an airway pressure support system, includes a base, a number of side walls extending from the base, and a top wall provided opposite the base, wherein the base, the number of side walls, and the top wall are made from an elastomeric material and at least partially define an internal chamber for receiving and holding a liquid. The humidifier also includes a plurality of support structures provided on or within the humidifier, each support structure extending along at least the number of side walls, wherein the humidifier is structured to collapse from an initial, expanded condition to a collapsed condition when a compressive force is applied to the top wall in the initial, expanded condition and to automatically return to the initial, expanded condition when the force is removed.

Abstract: The present patent application discloses a system that includes a pressure generator; one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more parameters of a pressurized flow of breathable gas to an airway of the subject and respiration of the subject; and one or more hardware processors configured by machine readable instructions to: determine the one or more parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas and the respiration of the subject based on the information in the output signals; determine one or more indices of respiratory impedance for the airway of the subject based on the determined parameters; determine a change in health status of the subject based on the one or more indices of respiratory impedance; and generate an alert indicative of the change in health status for communication to the subject and/or a caregiver of the subject.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a ventilator may provide interactive guidance for obtaining a subject's expiratory flow limitation results. In some embodiments, the ventilator may cause a progressive color component to be presented, where the progressive color component indicates a progression from one color proximate one side of the progressive color component to another color proximate another side of the progressive color component. The ventilator may cause a forced oscillation to be continuously applied to an airway of the subject for a time period. The ventilator may monitor the subject's degree of expiratory flow limitation based on output signals generated by one or more sensors as the forced oscillation is continuously applied for the time period. The ventilator may cause, based on the monitoring, a movable component's position on the progressive color component to be continuously updated during the time period to indicate the degree of expiratory flow limitation.

Abstract: A humidifier (68, 68?, 100, 100?) for an airway pressure support system (50), includes a base (70, 102), a number of side walls (76, 78, 104) extending from the base, and a top wall (80, 106) provided opposite the base, wherein the base, the number of side walls, and the top wall are made form an elastomeric material and at least partially define an internal chamber (82) for receiving and holding a liquid. The humidifier also includes a plurality of support structures (88, 88?, 112, 114, 118, 120) provided on or within the humidifier, each support structure extending along at least the number of side walls, wherein the humidifier is structured to collapse from an initial, expanded condition to a collapsed condition when a compressive force is applied to the top wall in the initial, expanded condition and to automatically return to the initial, expanded condition when the force is removed.

Abstract: A disposable tip (20) having a sheath (30) and which is structured to be used with a medical device is provided. The sheath (30) provides protection for the medical device base unit (10). The sheath (30) is sealingly coupled to the tip (20), preferably at an end of the tip (20), proximal to the base unit (10). In this configuration, the sheath (30) may be extended to substantially enclose and protect the base unit (10) from contamination.

Abstract: An ultraviolet light pacifier (10) is provided. That is, a pacifier includes an ultraviolet light source (42) and is structured to project the ultraviolet light within the mouth of an infant via the pacifier nipple (16).

Abstract: In a live, expressive combinatorial exchange, each of plural bidders can submit a bid. Based on the submitted bids, an allocation of the bids is determined that is optimal for the type of exchange being conducted. At least a portion of each bid of the allocation is displayed to each bidder of a first subset of the bidders that has at least one bid that is not included in the allocation. Each bidder of a subset of the first subset of bidders can then amend one or more of their existing bids or submit a new bid that is considered the next time the allocation is determined. The process of feeding back at least a portion of each bid of the allocation, submitting new bids or amendments to existing bids, and determining a new allocation based on all of the submitted bids continues until a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: In a live, expressive combinatorial exchange, each of a plurality of bidders can submit a bid. Based on the submitted bids, an allocation of the bids is determined that is optimal for the type of exchange being conducted. At least a portion of each bid of the allocation is displayed to each bidder of a first subset of the bidders that has at least one bid that is not included in the allocation. Each bidder of a subset of the first subset of bidders can then amend one or more of their existing bids or submit a new bid that is considered the next time the allocation is determined. The process of feeding back at least a portion of each bid of the allocation, submitting new bids or amendments to existing bids, and determining a new allocation based on all of the submitted bids continues until a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: In an allocation of subscribers to one or more wireless carrier rate plans, a number of wireless voice and/or data carrier rate plans is selected and each subscriber's historical wireless time usage for each of a number of foregone time intervals is determined. For each combination of subscriber and rate plan a first expression is defined that includes a unique variable and a cost associated with assigning the subscriber to the rate plan for at least one of the time intervals. Constraints that collectively ensure that subscribers are allocated to a specified minimum or maximum number of rate plans, or restrict a subscriber to be allocated to just one rate plan are determined. The expressions and constraints are processed by an optimal solution solver running on a computer to determine an optimal assignment of subscribers to at least one rate plan.

Abstract: In a live, expressive combinatorial exchange, each of a plurality of bidders can submit a bid. Based on the submitted bids, an allocation of the bids is determined that is optimal for the type of exchange being conducted. At least a portion of each bid of the allocation is displayed to each bidder of a first subset of the bidders that has at least one bid that is not included in the allocation. Each bidder of a subset of the first subset of bidders can then amend one or more of their existing bids or submit a new bid that is considered the next time the allocation is determined. The process of feeding back at least a portion of each bid of the allocation, submitting new bids or amendments to existing bids, and determining a new allocation based on all of the submitted bids continues until a predetermined condition is satisfied.