Abstract: A method for synchronizing data for gas samples with volatile organic compounds. The data includes chromatographic data indicative of molecule retention times. The method includes identifying or selecting marker molecules and clustering the plurality of gas samples into a plurality of clusters according to a clustering criterion. Next, a first correction of retention time deviations is performed on the data for the gas samples between clusters by using the marker molecules as anchor points to provide a coarse reduction of retention time deviations between the data. Finally, a second correction of retention time deviations is performed on the data, so as to further reduce retention time deviations between the data. The method reduces significant retention time deviations to allow, e.g., breath sample fingerprints obtained by different equipment at different times to be compared in one database for use on a digital platform.

Abstract: Various improvements are provided to breathing training, monitoring and/or assistance devices. A portable device is provided which optionally includes a gas canister, a feedback system for implementing pressure control, and a visual output for indicating adherence to a breathing exercise to the user. The pressure control may provide regulation of different pressures for inhalation and exhalation.

Abstract: A method (RT_A) for synchronizing data for a plurality of gas samples, e.g. breath samples, with volatile organic compounds. The data comprises chromatographic data indicative of molecule elution times, and preferably also mass spectrography data. The method comprises identifying or selecting (I_MM) marker molecules, e.g. 5-20 molecules, preferably easily identifiable molecules for each of the plurality of gas samples, and clustering (CL) the plurality of gas samples into a plurality of clusters according to a clustering criterion, e.g. including additional information such as time of obtaining the data and/or analyzing equipment used. Next, a first correction of retention time deviations (P_C1) is performed on the data for the gas samples between clusters by using the marker molecules as anchor points, so as to provide a coarse reduction of retention time deviations (d) between the data for the gas samples.

Abstract: Various improvements are provided to breathing training, monitoring and/or assistance devices. A portable device is provided which optionally includes a gas canister, a feedback system for implementing pressure control, and a visual output for indicating adherence to a breathing exercise to the user. The pressure control may provide regulation of different pressures for inhalation and exhalation.

Abstract: Airway impedance of a subject using a respiratory treatment device can be measured, in accordance with one or more embodiments. A conduit is configured to communicate a flow of inhaled gas and a flow of exhaled gas to and from an airway of the subject using the respiratory treatment device. A first valve is disposed within the conduit and configured to affect the flow of exhaled gas. One or more sensors are disposed within the conduit and are configured to provide a signal conveying information associated with one or more characteristics of gas exhaled by the subject while the flow of exhaled gas is affected or unaffected by the first valve. An airway impedance monitoring module can be executed by a processor to determine an impedance metric of the airway of the subject based on the information conveyed by the signal provided by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for providing an ARDS indication of a patient comprising a sampling device for obtaining a gas sample of the exhaled breath of a patient, a measuring unit for measuring a content of n-octane in the exhaled breath of a patient, a controller which is able to distinguish if the patient has or may develop ARDS based on the content of n-octane in the exhaled breath of a patient resulting in a ARDS indication of the patient and provided with a protocol for providing output regarding the ARDS indication of the patient, and a user interface for indicating the ARDS indication to a user.

Abstract: Various improvements are provided to breathing training, monitoring and/or assistance devices. A portable device is provided which optionally includes a gas canister, a feedback system for implementing pressure control, and a visual output for indicating adherence to a breathing exercise to the user. The pressure control may provide regulation of different pressures for inhalation and exhalation.

Abstract: Various improvements are provided to breathing training, monitoring and/or assistance devices. A portable device is provided which optionally includes a gas canister, a feedback system for implementing pressure control, and a visual output for indicating adherence to a breathing exercise to the user. The pressure control may provide regulation of different pressures for inhalation and exhalation.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a device (4) for providing supplemental oxygen to a subject (8), the device (4) comprising a subject interface (10) through which the subject (8) can inhale; a container (12) that has a first outlet (18) connected to the subject interface (10) to allow gas with an elevated oxygen level stored in the container (12) to be inhaled by the subject (8), a first inlet (24), and a material (15) for removing a specific gas from air passing through the container (12) to increase the oxygen content of the air passing through the container (12); and an air blower (14) that is connected to the first inlet (24) of the container (12) and that is configured to supply air into the container (12) as the subject (8) uses the device (4).

Abstract: There is provided a method of determining at least one parameter value relating to nitric oxide, NO, production in the lower respiratory tract of a subject, the method comprising obtaining a plurality of measurements of NO levels in exhaled air and air flow rate during multiple exhalations of a subject performing tidal breathing; analyzing the plurality of measurements to identify exhalations where the NO produced in the lower respiratory tract dominates the NO contribution from other sources; determining at least one parameter value relating to NO in the lower respiratory tract of the subject from the measurements of NO levels and/or air flow rate obtained during the identified exhalations.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for monitoring the respiration of a subject, the apparatus comprising a sensor for measuring the concentration of a specified gas in air exhaled by the subject and a processor configured to provide an output indicating the concentration of the specified gas in a selected portion of the exhaled air, the selected portion of the exhaled air corresponding to air from a specific part of the respiratory system of the subject.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for providing an ARDS indication of a patient comprising a sampling device for obtaining a gas sample of the exhaled breath of a patient, a measuring unit for measuring a content of n-octane in the exhaled breath of a patient, a controller which is able to distinguish if the patient has or may develop ARDS based on the content of n-octane in the exhaled breath of a patient resulting in a ARDS indication of the patient and provided with a protocol for providing output regarding the ARDS indication of the patient, and a user interface for indicating the ARDS indication to a user.

Abstract: Airway impedance of a subject using a respiratory treatment device can be measured, in accordance with one or more embodiments. A conduit is configured to communicate a flow of inhaled gas and a flow of exhaled gas to and from an airway of the subject using the respiratory treatment device. A first valve is disposed within the conduit and configured to affect the flow of exhaled gas. One or more sensors are disposed within the conduit and are configured to provide a signal conveying information associated with one or more characteristics of gas exhaled by the subject while the flow of exhaled gas is affected or unaffected by the first valve. An airway impedance monitoring module can be executed by a processor to determine an impedance metric of the airway of the subject based on the information conveyed by the signal provided by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for combined respiratory therapy and respiratory monitoring. A respiratory therapy and respiratory monitoring apparatus as described herein may include a spacer portion having first and second ends, wherein the first end includes a patient interface and the second end includes a respiratory therapy device. A monitoring device such as, for example, a microphone is incorporated into the spacer portion so as to record sounds from within the apparatus. The sounds may be processed and otherwise analyzed to derive one or more characteristics therefrom. These characteristics may be used to make one or more determinations relevant to the monitored and treated patient.

Abstract: There is provided a method of determining at least one parameter value relating to nitric oxide, NO, production in the lower respiratory tract of a subject, the method comprising obtaining a plurality of measurements of NO levels in exhaled air and air flow rate during multiple exhalations of a subject performing tidal breathing; analyzing the plurality of measurements to identify exhalations where the NO produced in the lower respiratory tract dominates the NO contribution from other sources; determining at least one parameter value relating to NO in the lower respiratory tract of the subject from the measurements of NO levels and/or air flow rate obtained during the identified exhalations.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for monitoring the respiration of a subject, the apparatus comprising a sensor for measuring the concentration of a specified gas in air exhaled by the subject and a processor configured to provide an output indicating the concentration of the specified gas in a selected portion of the exhaled air, the selected portion of the exhaled air corresponding to air from a specific part of the respiratory system of the subject.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining the level of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is disclosed. The method involves measuring the level of exhaled NO (34) and the corresponding exhalation flow rate in one or more exhalations (30, 32) of a tidal breathing manoeuvre performed by a subject. The data is used with a model describing the flow dependence of exhaled NO to derive a value for exhaled NO corresponding to a fixed flow rate, especially to an exhaled NO level corresponding to a fixed flow rate of 50 ml/s. During the manoeuvre a variation in flow restriction (31) may be applied so as to vary the overall flow rate of exhalation. The method offers a simple and quick way to determine exhaled NO levels with good accuracy and is suitable for use with children.

Abstract: A method for measuring a concentration of a sample in a sample mixture, the method comprising bringing the sample mixture in contact with an organic semiconductor transistor, applying measurement signals to electrodes of the transistor for enabling measuring a drain current through the transistor, applying a refreshment signal to the gate electrode for counteracting effects imposed on the transistor during the measurement signal, measuring the drain current, applying an adaptation to at least one of said signals for stabilizing the drain current, and determining the concentration based on the adaptation.

Abstract: Nitrogen-containing compounds are detected by chemically converting (210) them to nitrogen dioxide, and detecting (10) the amount of nitrogen dioxide. A semiconductor laser or light emitting diode (132) provides a modulated light (131) in the blue-violet-green wavelength range and a narrow bandwidth photo-acoustic sensor (10) detects the standing waves produced by the absorption of the light by the nitrogen dioxide. The photo-acoustic sensor (10) uses a resonant cavity (161, 182a-b) with a resonant frequency that corresponds to the modulation frequency of the light (131). For detecting nitric oxide, a surface chemical oxidation unit (210) is preferably used to convert the nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide, using, for example potassium permanganate (KMnO4) filter, or a platinum (Pt) catalyst unit (260).