Abstract: A tongue positioning device is disclosed for positioning the tongue within a user's mouth. The device includes a tongue positioning mouthpiece that includes a mouthpiece body with a center hole therein. A flange portion extends around the periphery of the mouthpiece body that forms an acoustic seal with the teeth and lips of a patient during use. A pair of bite blocks protrude from the mouthpiece body on opposing lateral sides of the center hole. A tongue bridge is fixedly secured to the bite blocks via a pair of downwardly extending arms. The tongue bridge includes a platform area where a patient's tongue is placed under when the mouthpiece is used. A cylindrical portion extends from the mouthpiece body in a direction away from the flange. An optional filter is removable from the cylindrical portion and acts as a protective barrier for viruses, bacteria, microbes, and other pathogens. The filter includes a removable filter body containing a filter media.

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: An advanced chemical-biological mask for protecting a wearer from chemical and biological environmental contaminants. The mask provides improvements for the wearer in the areas of weight/bulk, fit/comfort, optical compatibility, breathing resistance, communication, and protection. The mask includes a facepiece, eye lens, filter means, inlet and outlet valves, and a nosecup all of which may be molded or integrally bonded to the facepiece which also has a face seal adapted to engage a person's face and form seal therewith. The mask also has a suspension flange which is connected to the facepiece adjacent the seal. An elastic suspension system includes a crown portion for suspending the mask on a person's head and pulling the seal downwardly and into contact with the person's face. The separate nosecup has integral channels to direct the flow of incoming gas along a path adjacent the lens to prevent fogging of the lens.