Abstract: There is provided a portable oxygen concentrator. The portable oxygen concentrator comprises a sieve bed comprising an inlet and an outlet; a first region of adsorbent material adjacent the inlet; and a second region of adsorbent material adjacent the outlet. The first and second regions of adsorbent material comprise beads of adsorbent material. The first region comprises beads of a first size and the second region comprises beads of a second size which is larger than the first size.

Abstract: A kyphoplasty system includes various instruments which can be selectively used in a surgical theater (e.g., during a surgical operation on a patient) or a surgical training environment. The kyphoplasty system can include one or more of a kyphoplasty apparatus, a prone table mat, a connector system, a bone introducer needle, and a biopsy device. The kyphoplasty system may also include a training system for use in the training environment.

Abstract: A kyphoplasty system includes various instruments which can be selectively used in a surgical theater (e.g., during a surgical operation on a patient) or a surgical training environment. The kyphoplasty system can include one or more of a kyphoplasty apparatus, a prone table mat, a connector system, a bone introducer needle, and a biopsy device. The kyphoplasty system may also include a training system for use in the training environment.

Abstract: A kyphoplasty system includes various instruments which can be selectively used in a surgical theater (e.g., during a surgical operation on a patient) or a surgical training environment. The kyphoplasty system can include one or more of a kyphoplasty apparatus, a prone table mat, a connector system, a bone introducer needle, and a biopsy device. The kyphoplasty system may also include a training system for use in the training environment.

Abstract: A kyphoplasty system includes various instruments which can be selectively used in a surgical theater (e.g., during a surgical operation on a patient) or a surgical training environment. The kyphoplasty system can include one or more of a kyphoplasty apparatus, a prone table mat, a connector system, a bone introducer needle, and a biopsy device. The kyphoplasty system may also include a training system for use in the training environment.

Abstract: A kyphoplasty system includes various instruments which can be selectively used in a surgical theater (e.g., during a surgical operation on a patient) or a surgical training environment. The kyphoplasty system can include one or more of a kyphoplasty apparatus, a prone table mat, a connector system, a bone introducer needle, and a biopsy device. The kyphoplasty system may also include a training system for use in the training environment.

Abstract: A rotary control valve and a sieve bed module assembly for use in pressure swing adsorption processes to make enriched oxygen product gas for therapy in patients is disclosed. The valve includes a stepping motor with a single shaft extending between ends. At ends of the valve, an air side valve function and oxygen side valve function are provided. Each end includes a stationary plate (stator) with ports, and a disc (rotor) that rotates with the shaft, opening and closing ports to achieve the desired valve function. The valve is integrated into the assembly between two sieve beds and a product storage tank is directly coupled to the oxygen side. Placement of the motor, shaft, and movable parts in the valve and mounting of the beds, valve, and tank in the assembly, result in more compact designs. The motor can be programmed to obtain multiple, different PSA processes and flexibility.

Abstract: A rotary control valve and a sieve bed module assembly for use in pressure swing adsorption processes to make enriched oxygen product gas is disclosed. The valve includes a stepping motor with a single shaft extending between ends. At ends of the valve, an air side valve function and oxygen side valve function are provided. Each end includes a stationary plate (stator) with ports, and a disc (rotor) that rotates with the shaft, opening and closing ports to achieve the desired valve function. The valve is integrated into the assembly between two sieve beds and a product storage tank is directly coupled to the oxygen side. Placement of the motor, shaft, and movable parts in the valve and mounting of the beds, valve, and tank in the assembly, result in more compact designs. The motor can be programmed to obtain multiple, different PSA processes and flexibility.

Abstract: A kyphoplasty system includes various instruments which can be selectively used in a surgical theater (e.g., during a surgical operation on a patient) or a surgical training environment. The kyphoplasty system can include one or more of a kyphoplasty apparatus, a prone table mat, a connector system, a bone introducer needle, and a biopsy device. The kyphoplasty system may also include a training system for use in the training environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and method for maintaining oxygen purity in portable oxygen concentrators, even with asymmetric generation of oxygen enriched gas volumes from different sieve beds of the concentration system. The present system and method compensate for asymmetric oxygen enriched gas generation using asymmetric delivery of purge volumes. Purge valves are used to deliver the asymmetric purge gas volumes, enables the system to maintain oxygen purity without additional power consumption, even when a portable oxygen concentrator does not include a product tank. The present system and method are configured such that asymmetry in enriched oxygen generation can be monitored and the asymmetric purge gas compensation can be applied independently from other control mechanisms of a portable oxygen concentrator.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to generate oxygen including a compressor configured to intake and pressurize gas, an oxygen separation unit comprising a first sieve bed, a second sieve bed, and an input receiving the stream of gas from an output of the compressor. The oxygen separation unit generates an oxygen flow by separating oxygen from the stream of gas. A membrane module in fluid connection with an output of the oxygen separation unit is configured to purify the oxygen flow generated by the oxygen separation unit. A valve arrangement is configured to direct, periodically, at least some of the oxygen flow from the membrane module through the sieve beds to purge the sieve beds with retentate gas and exhaust such retentate gas. One or more processors control the valve arrangement, so as to control the oxygen flow and purging of the sieve beds.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring subjects after discharge from a hospital use a dynamic baseline to determine whether a caregiver needs to be notified regarding exacerbation of a medical state of a subject. The subjects are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The dynamic baseline is determined by aggregating (for example averaging) multiple values of a sequence of values for a metric that quantifies one or both of a patient symptom (e.g. the number of overnight apnea occurrences) and/or lung function of a subject (e.g. forced expiratory volume in 1 second). Multiple metrics may be combined to generate the value that is monitored for a subject.

Abstract: A rotary control valve and a sieve bed module assembly for use in pressure swing adsorption processes to make enriched oxygen product gas is disclosed. The valve includes a stepping motor with a single shaft extending between ends. At ends of the valve, an air side valve function and oxygen side valve function are provided. Each end includes a stationary plate (stator) with ports, and a disc (rotor) that rotates with the shaft, opening and closing ports to achieve the desired valve function. The valve is integrated into the assembly between two sieve beds and a product storage tank is directly coupled to the oxygen side. Placement of the motor, shaft, and movable parts in the valve and mounting of the beds, valve, and tank in the assembly, result in more compact designs. The motor can be programmed to obtain multiple, different PSA processes and flexibility.

Abstract: A rotary control valve and a sieve bed module assembly for use in pressure swing adsorption processes to make enriched oxygen product gas for therapy in patients is disclosed. The valve includes a stepping motor with a single shaft extending between ends. At ends of the valve, an air side valve function and oxygen side valve function are provided. Each end includes a stationary plate (stator) with ports, and a disc (rotor) that rotates with the shaft, opening and closing ports to achieve the desired valve function. The valve is integrated into the assembly between two sieve beds and a product storage tank is directly coupled to the oxygen side. Placement of the motor, shaft, and movable parts in the valve and mounting of the beds, valve, and tank in the assembly, result in more compact designs. The motor can be programmed to obtain multiple, different PSA processes and flexibility.

Abstract: A portable handheld pressure support system (10) is configured to provide pressure support therapy to a subject. The pressure support system provides a pressurized flow of breathable gas that is delivered to the airway of the subject to treat COPD and/or dyspnea, hyperinflation, and/or other conditions. The system is configured to adjust an expiratory pressure level of the pressure support therapy responsive to identification of hyperinflation in the subject. The pressure support therapy provided to the subject is configured to be used as needed to rapidly alleviate shortness of breath, hyperinflation, and/or other symptoms. The pressure support system is configured to be small and lightweight so that the subject may carry the system and use the system as needed.

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: Systems and methods for monitoring subjects after discharge from a hospital use a dynamic baseline to determine whether a caregiver needs to be notified regarding exacerbation of a medical state of a subject. The subjects are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The dynamic baseline is determined by aggregating (for example averaging) multiple values of a sequence of values for a metric that quantifies one or both of a patient symptom (e.g. the number of overnight apnea occurrences) and/or lung function of a subject (e.g. forced expiratory volume in 1 second). Multiple metrics may be combined to generate the value that is monitored for a subject.

Abstract: A portable handheld pressure support system (10) is configured to provide pressure support therapy to a subject. The pressure support system provides a pressurized flow of breathable gas that is delivered to the airway of the subject to treat COPD and/or dyspnea, hyperinflation, and/or other conditions. The system is configured to adjust an expiratory pressure level of the pressure support therapy responsive to identification of hyperinflation in the subject. The pressure support therapy provided to the subject is configured to be used as needed to rapidly alleviate shortness of breath, hyperinflation, and/or other symptoms. The pressure support system is configured to be small and lightweight so that the subject may carry the system and use the system as needed.

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: Curcumin, a polyphenol extracted from the rhizome turmeric, has been polymerized to produce a polymer material having a backbone of one or more repeating structural units, at least one of which comprises a curcumin monomer residue. These curcumin-containing polymers have a wide range of pharmacological activities, including, among others antitumor, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antithrombotic and antibacterial activities. Certain species of these polymers have exhibited remarkable antitumor activity. Water-soluble curcumin derivatives and their use as prodrugs and prodrug carriers are also disclosed.