Abstract: A method for external ear canal pressure regulation to alleviate one or more symptoms associated with a disorder or treat one or more disorders, the method including providing a fluid transfer device which generates a fluid flow of a fluid through an earplug, the earplug having an earplug external surface configured to sealably engage an external ear canal wall as a barrier between an external ear canal pressure and an ambient pressure; sealably engaging the earplug of the fluid transfer device with the external ear canal wall as the barrier between the external ear canal pressure and the ambient pressure; and operating the fluid transfer device to generate the fluid flow of the fluid through the earplug to achieve an external ear canal pressure differential between the external ear canal pressure and the ambient pressure effective to alleviate a disorder symptom or treat a disorder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine body composition of a subject is disclosed. Physical characteristics of a subject and water in a pool is determined. A body of the subject is completely submerged in the pool of water such that a head of the subject is just below a surface of the water in the pool. The subject completely exhales air into an air measuring device as the body of the subject is submerged just below the surface of the water. A semi-rigid strip or tab portion may be coupled to the air measuring device to indicate when air pressure within the air measuring device is between a predetermined range. The body composition is then determined based on the determined subject characteristics, water characteristics and the amount of air exhaled into the air measuring device when the air pressure is between the predetermined range.

Abstract: An anesthesia machine, an anesthetic output concentration monitoring method, system, a device, and a storage medium are disclosed. The method includes respectively monitoring a flow of a fresh gas flowing into a breathing circuit and a flow of an inhaled gas of an anesthetized object. The method further includes when the inhaled gas flow is greater than a fresh gas flow, respectively monitoring a concentration of anesthetic in the inhaled gas and an exhaled gas of the anesthetized object. The method also includes using the exhaled gas anesthetic concentration and a concentration of carbon dioxide in the exhaled gas to calculate a concentration of anesthetic in a gas, reflowing into an inspiratory branch, in the exhaled gas, thereby obtaining a re-inhaled gas anesthetic concentration.

Abstract: Provided is a spacer device (110) for delivery of drugs via a nebuliser device, the spacer device (110) comprising a bag (112) and a body (118) including inlet (114) and opposed outlet (116), the inlet (114) and opposed outlet (116) being provided on, and integral with, the body (118). The body (118) and bag (112) combine to form chamber (120) for receiving aerosolised medication. The inlet (114) and outlet (116) each are in the form of a port that is in fluid flow communication with the chamber (120). The inlet (114) and outlet (116) define, and are separated by, a broad V-formation formed as part of the body (118). The body (118) further includes an elliptical lower perimeter (118.1) defining flange (118.2), for demountably receiving bag (112).

Abstract: Provided is a Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) arrangement comprising a DPI arranged in fluid communication with a spacer device (110) comprising a bag (112) and a body (118) including inlet (114) and opposed outlet (116), the inlet (114) and opposed outlet (116) being provided on, and integral with, the body (118). The body (118) and bag (112) combine to form chamber (120) for operatively receiving vaporised dry powder medication. The inlet (114) and outlet (116) each are in the form of a port that is in fluid flow communication with the chamber (120). The inlet (114) and outlet (116) define, and are separated by, a broad V-formation formed as part of the body (118). The body (118) further includes an elliptical lower perimeter (118.1) defining flange (118.2), for demountably receiving bag (112).

Abstract: A three-dimensional folding self-driving flexible respiration monitoring sensor and the preparing method thereof is disclosed. In the present invention a first friction unit and a second friction unit are set on a bottom of the box, which comprise a substrate, a conductive electrode layer and a friction layer respectively; the second friction unit is fixed on the bottom of the box; a friction layer of the first friction unit faces a friction layer of the second friction unit; a back plate is set on a substrate of the first friction unit; a balloon is between the box and the back plate; an inlet tube connects the balloon and the box, which is on a side wall of the box; the conductive electrode layer of the first friction layer and the second friction layer are connected to the electrometer respectively. Micro-energy of the respiration is adopted to monitor the breathing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine residual long volume of a subject is disclosed. Physical characteristics of water in a pool and surrounding air barometric pressure is determined. A body of the subject is completely submerged in the pool of water at a known depth and exhales. The subject then moves to a shallower depth in the water and completely exhales air into an air measuring device. The residual lung volume is then determined and displayed based on the water characteristics, barometric air pressure, the amount of air exhaled into the air measuring device, and the depths of the subject during exhalation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine body composition of a subject is disclosed. Physical characteristics of a subject and water in a pool is determined. A body of the subject is completely submerged in the pool of water such that a head of the subject is just below a surface of the water in the pool. The subject completely exhales air into an air measuring device as the body of the subject is submerged just below the surface of the water. The body composition is then determined and displayed based on the determined subject characteristics, water characteristics and the amount of air exhaled into the air measuring device.

Abstract: A passive valve for use as a fixed leak valve. The valve includes a body having an internal chamber, first and second body ports in fluid communication with the chamber with the first port configured for fluid communication with a patient connection and the second body port configured for fluid communication with a ventilator, a body passageway in fluid communication with the chamber and with ambient air exterior of the body, and a check valve seal positioned to seal the body passageway to permit the flow of gas within the chamber through the body passageway to the exterior of the body and to prevent the flow of ambient air exterior of the body through the body passageway into the chamber. In alternative embodiments, the valve is incorporated into the patient connection or constructed as a separate part connectable to the patient connection.

Abstract: A disposable volume spirometry apparatus and non-contact measurement system is described. The spirometry system includes an expandable disposable volume spirometry apparatus, a remote non-contact sensor, memory, and a processor. The remote non-contact sensor captures images associated with the expandable disposable volume spirometry apparatus. The memory stores the captured images. The processor is operatively coupled to the memory and determines a volume for the expandable disposable volume spirometry apparatus by analyzing the captured images.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method to determine the lung clearance index (LCI) or other indices of ventilation inhomogeneity of the lungs by combining two pulmonary gas exchange techniques; Inert gas rebreathing (IGR) is used for rapid wash-in of the inert tracer gas and for accurate determination of the functional residual capacity (FRC) by gas analysis alone. This is followed by multiple-breath wash-out (MBW) for determination of the cumulative expired volume (VCE) required to clear the inert tracer gas from the lungs, and calculation of the LCI as the ratio between VCE and FRC. The advantages of the method are i) significant reduction of required test time, ii) significant reduction of consumed gas mixture for wash-in of tracer gas, iii) potential for further reduction of the use of tracer gas, and iv) more accurate determination of the FRC by gas dilution alone. Furthermore the present invention relates to a corresponding system and computer-readable medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inhalation device (FIG. 1) having a connection device (4) and a container (8) connected or connectable thereto and collapsing upon inhaling, for intermediately storing an aerosol. In order to increase the fine particle count of the dispensed aerosol, the container (8) at least substantially retains the length thereof when collapsing, and/or tapers down toward the free end thereof.

Abstract: A pleural drainage system having an inflatable membrane and a method of using the system are disclosed. The pleural drainage system includes a pleural drainage catheter system. The pleural drainage catheter system includes an inflatable membrane and a drainage catheter integrally coupled to the inflation membrane, the drainage catheter defining a drainage lumen through which fluid is drawn from the pleural cavity, and an inflation lumen coupled for flow of inflation fluid to and from an interior of the inflatable membrane. The pleural drainage system further includes a suction system coupled to the drainage catheter and a fluid collector coupled to receive fluid from the drainage catheter. The pleural drainage system further includes an inflation system connected to deliver inflation fluid to the interior of the inflatable membrane. The pleural drainage system may be used to monitor an associated airleak in the pleural cavity of a patient.

Abstract: Vital sign monitoring is especially challenging in small animals, given the high metabolic rates and small volumes under consideration. An embodiment of the present invention includes a unique nose-cone design and associated instrumentation which allows for measurement of respiratory parameters, including anesthesia gas concentration, inspiratory and expiratory O2, and inspiratory and expiratory CO2 (capnometry). Such instrumentation facilitates a physiologic assessment of small animals undergoing general anesthesia, an increasingly important consideration as small animals play a greater role in in vivo biomedical studies. In addition, the techniques proposed herein are suitable for measurement on small respiratory volumes associated with neonatal monitoring.

Abstract: Methods and devices to determine rate of particle production and the size range for the particles produced for an individual are described herein. The device (10) contains a mouthpiece (12), a filter (14), a low resistance one-way valve (16), a particle counter (20) and a computer (30). Optionally, the device also contains a gas flow meter (22). The data obtained using the device can be used to determine if a formulation for reducing particle exhalation should be administered to an individual.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for detecting the circadian state of a patient using an implantable medical device based on selected blood carbon dioxide (CO2) parameters. In one example, the implantable device tracks changes in end tidal CO2 (etCO2) levels and changes in maximum variations of pCO2 levels per breathing cycle (?cycleCO2) over the course of the day and determines the circadian state based thereon. It has been found that average etCO2 levels are generally highest and average ?cycleCO2 levels are generally lowest while a patient is asleep and opposite while a patient is awake. Hence, by tracking changes in average etCO2 and ?cycleCO2 levels over the course of the day, circadian states can be detected. Minute ventilation and activity levels are used to assist in the determination of the circadian state. Additional techniques are directed to detecting the stage of sleep.

Abstract: A device for detecting the flow of a gas from an opening comprising a chamber with an inlet, the chamber carrying a pressure displaceable member with an inner face exposed to the interior of the chamber and an outer face exposed to the ambient pressure such that the member is displaced as a result of the differential of the pressures; and a method of using the device and a method of manufacturing the device.

Abstract: An improved flow based incentive spirometer operable through a range of user set flow rates and being adapted to receive a supplemental flow of Oxygen without requiring any change in the calibration of the device or effecting the patient's monitoring of usage. In this manner the spirometer may be utilized by a range of patients having quite distinct therapy needs. The device also features an integral information display receptacle in the base for storage of operational instructions. A portion of the base is transparent to that the information contained in the storage receptacle can be viewed by a patient while the device is in use, thereby permitting a patient to observe such things as the instructions for proper use of the incentive spirometer while using the device.

Abstract: In a lung therapy method, hyperpolarized gas is administered for one breath to a subject, and a magnetic resonance scan of at least one lung of the subject is conducted. The data obtained from the scan are evaluated, specifically to determine the extent and distribution of infusion of hyperpolarized gas in the lung, as an indication of the alveolae in the lung which are open. Based on the evaluation of the data obtained in the magnetic resonance scan, a determination is made as to whether administration of a surfactant is necessary in order to improve opening of the lung. If a surfactant is administered, the procedure can be repeated to obtain an updated dataset, which can be evaluated to determine whether the administered surfactant has been effective.

Abstract: Apparatus for exercising the muscles of the respiratory system for improving endurance. The apparatus includes a bag which is inflatable for receiving a predetermined volume of expired air. A valve is closed during rebreathing of expired air in the bag and is adapted to open in response to deflation of the bag to admit fresh air to the air way. The valve is also adapted to open when the bag is fully inflated to release excess expired air. The breathing frequency is paced so that, in combination with the predetermined volume, the overall ventilation may be maintained over a period of time for increasing endurance. As endurance is increased over time, the bag may be replaced with incrementally larger volume bags or the bag volume may be incrementally increased. Guidance of the training schedule and central monitoring of the training are also provided.