Abstract: A balanced breathing loop for a rebreather is disclosed which includes a system of components that interact to provide substantial safety and alarm awareness benefits over existing methodology in recirculating breathing apparatus loops. The device relies on a specific arrangement of components to create both automatic alternate delivery of gas to replace metabolized oxygen in case of single component failures and breathing characteristic changes that warn the user that a component failure has occurred. The breathing characteristic changes allow the user to identify which specific component has failed, thus allowing for immediate corrective action.

Abstract: A heat and moisture exchanger including a gas-permeable element, preferably a fibrous media, adapted to be warmed and to trap moisture from a patient's breath during exhalation and to be cooled and to release the trapped moisture for return to the patient during inspiration to effectively conserve the humidity and body heat of the patient's respiratory tract, wherein the media comprises a hydrophilic nylon polymer. The gas-permeable element can be formed entirely of monocomponent fibers of the hydrophilic nylon polymer or, preferably, fibers comprising at least a sheath of the hydrophilic nylon polymer can be bonded at their points of contact by a bonding agent, such as a polyester.

Abstract: An anesthetic apparatus has a control unit and a breathing circuit with a connector for fresh gas, a bellows system and an outlet valve. The anesthetic apparatus operates at least as an open system, the connector then constituting an inspiratory part of the breathing circuit and the bellows system and outlet valve constituting an expiratory part of the breathing circuit. In order to reduce the adverse impact of compressible volume in the expiratory section on the functioning of the anesthetic apparatus, the control unit regulates the bellows system during inspiration so that a counter pressure, largely corresponding to the pressure of fresh gas at the connector, is maintained in the expiratory section of the breathing circuit.

Abstract: A sterile cap assembly including first and second cap sections, the first cap section to be coupled to an opening of a first element and the second cap section to be coupled to an opening of a second element, upon the opening of the first element being separated from the opening of the second element. The first cap section includes a sterile engagement face exposed to an interior of the first element upon being coupled thereto and the second cap section including a sterile engagement face exposed to an interior of the second element upon being coupled thereto, the sterile engagement faces structured to be coupled with one another upon the opening of the first element being coupled to the opening of the second element, thereby maintaining the sterility of the sterile engagement faces.

Abstract: A vacuum system for medical tables, primarily comprises a universal arm, attached inhaler masks and a vacuum source. This equipment primarily places the inhaler masks at the sides of patient's mouth. Then, through the vacuum source, the mist surrounding the patient's mouth and the dirty air breathed out by the patient will be inhaled and clean air is released after filtering.

Abstract: A filter for a respiratory circuit has a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port for connection to respective breathing tubes. A gases space lies between the inlet and outlet ports and gases pass across the gases space from the inlet port to the outlet port in use. A filter media spans the gases space, dividing the gases space into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. Gases passing from the inlet port to the outlet port pass through the filter media. A surrounding outer wall surrounds the housing apart from the inlet port and outlet port and is spaced from the wall of the housing. One or more air pockets are created between the outer wall and the housing. The air pockets insulate the housing from ambient conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying breathable gas wherein the apparatus includes a main housing, a sub-housing having a gas flow path between a gas inlet and a gas outlet, a power source within the main housing and an impeller within the sub-housing in fluid communication between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The impeller is adapted to releasably engage the motive power source external the gas flow path and the sub-housing is releasably connectable to said main housing. Also disclosed is a method of cleaning, sterilising or disinfecting the gas flow path of the breathable gas supply apparatus. The method includes removing the sub-housing from the main housing, cleaning, sterilising, disinfecting or replacing the sub-housing and connecting the sub-housing to the main housing.

Abstract: A device for flushing a deadspace during mechanical ventilation of a patient with a ventilator includes a reservoir having a variable volume container, such as a balloon, adapted to receive and hold a portion of the pressurized breathing gas provided by the ventilator during an inspiration phase and to supply, at least during a final part of an expiration phase, the received breathing gas as pressurized flushing gas to a first end of a conduit which is disposed in a patient's airway. The reservoir has an outlet in pressure communication with the first end of the conduit and operable to supply the flushing gas as a result of the pressure at the first end of the conduit falling below that of the gas within the reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for dispensing gases to a patient, in particular anesthetic gases, with reinhalation of the gas exhaled.

Abstract: An improved compressor system (10) designed for use with a patient assist medical ventilator is provided which includes a compressor (12) and a pressurized gas delivery conduit (14); a hollow fiber membrane dryer (16) is interposed within the conduit (14) for final dehumidification of the pressurized gas and suppression of the dew point thereof In preferred forms, the membrane dryer output air may be recycled via a conduit (50) to the compressor (12) during phases of the system operation, so that such dried, pressurized air may be mixed with ambient air and fed to the compressor (12).

Abstract: A hydrophobic electrostatic breathing filter is fabricated by applying a thin layer of adhesive to the pinch ring of a patient side filter housing portion. A hydrophobic membrane is positioned over the adhesively coated pinch ring to effect a hermetic seal between the pinch ring and membrane using the adhesive interface. Electrostatic filter media and scrim are positioned adjacent the pinch ring of a machine side filter housing portion, and the patient and machine side portions of the housing are then welded together to hold the electrostatic filter media/scrim in place adjacent the hermetically sealed hydrophobic membrane by a mechanical clamping force exerted by the pinch rings. The resultant filter includes a hydrophobic membrane which is hermetically sealed across the patient side of the filter housing, and an electrostatic filter media/scrim element which is independent of the hydrophobic membrane and which is mechanically held in place adjacent the hydrophobic membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for recovering anaesthetic during the use of inhaled anaesthetics. An anaesthetic reflector (5) is used which absorbs anaesthetic medium from the gas exhaled by the patient and desorbs anaesthetic medium to the gas inhaled by the patient. According to the invention a moisture-heat exchanger (12) is arranged in the system which, in an equivalent manner, recovers water vapor from the gas exhaled to the gas inhaled. The moisture-heat exchanger (12) is preferably located between the anaesthetic reflector (5) and the patient (1). The device and the method according to the invention enable the gas inhaled to be moistened to prevent dehydration, as well as increasing the efficiency of the reflector (5).

Abstract: A mask for artificial ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation is disclosed and claimed. The mask comprises a compartment which contains a material that alters the composition of the gas which is exhaled by the rescuer into the victim. The mask also provides a physical barrier between the victim and rescuer to aid in preventing the transmission of disease.

Abstract: Device comprised of a container (3) associated to a pump (4), and intended to the forced expectoration of pulmonary mucus by generating in the total air volume of the lungs controlled oscillatory variations of pressure, frequency and amplitude up to optimum valuesso as to achieve the thixotropy of the mucus, the device being characterized in that the container (3) forming the oscillatory pressure variator contains an air volume to which is applied suddenly and cyclically a progressive oscillatory depression and communicates with the air of the lungs through a flexible hose (2) and a respiratory mask (1). The device has two conduits (6) to communicate the air contained in the lungs and the hose (2) with the tympanums.