Abstract:
A relief valve assembly for use with a ventilator to selectively release pressure from within a breathing tube. The relief valve assembly can be attached and removed from the ventilator as a single unit. The relief valve assembly includes a sealing member that is movable by operating components within the ventilator to either seal or open at least one relief port contained within the relief valve assembly.
Abstract:
Described are systems and methods for compensating long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors used in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient by compensating for drift that may be specific to the sensors atypical use in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide gas to a patient. In at least some instances, the long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors can be addressed using calibration schedules, which can factor in the absolute change in set dose of NO being delivered to the patient that can drive one or more baseline calibrations. The calibration schedules can be used reduce the amount of times the sensor goes offline. Systems and methods described may factor in in actions occurring at the delivery system and/or aspects of the surrounding environment, prior to performing a baseline calibration, and may postpone the calibration and/or rejected using the sensor's output for the calibration.
Abstract:
A ventilator, or a breathing assistance apparatus, is provided to ventilate patients who may have breathing difficulties, said device comprising a inspiratory pressure control duct; a positive end-expiratory pressure control duct; at least one valve connected to the peak inspiratory pressure control duct and to the positive end-expiratory pressure control duct, and at least one controller communicably connected to the valve to control rate of cycling of the valve, thereby controlling number of breaths per minute, and to control the duration of peak inspiratory pressure also known as inspiratory time.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mouthpiece for controlled delivery of a breathing gas including oxygen, preferably an increased ratio of oxygen with respect to ambient air, to the respiratory tracts of a user comprising a valve having two modes; a closed default mode, which substantially impedes any flow of the breathing gas through the valve; and an active open mode, which allows for a substantial flow of the breathing gas through the valve, wherein the open mode can be activated by the user manipulating the valve with his/her mouth. The invention also relates to the use of such a valve in a device for delivery of breathing gas and further to an apparatus for controlled delivery of the breathing gas to the respiratory tracts of a user. Finally, the invention also relates to a method for controlled delivery of the breathing gas to the respiratory tracts of a user.
Abstract:
Gas flow reversing element (1) for the use of a gas supply (14) under excess pressure, in particular inspiratory gases, for selectively generating a gas flow (8) from or to a line connector (6) which can in particular be connected to an airway of a patient, said gas flow reversing element (1) being designed as a main piece (2), the main piece (2) at least comprising an inflow region (9), a nozzle region (15) and a mixing region (16), and further a branching piece (3), the inflow region (9) connecting a pressure connector (4), for connection to the gas supply (14), to at least one closable outlet opening (5) arranged in the mixing region (16), and the branching piece (3) connecting the nozzle region (15) of the main piece (2) to the line connector (6), wherein a nozzle (7), particularly an injector nozzle, is configured and arranged in the nozzle region (15) in such a way that, a gas flow (8) flowing along a first flow path (20) through the main piece (2) from the pressure connector (4) subsequently through the inflow region (9), the flow region (28), the nozzle region (15) and through the nozzle (7) into the mixing region (16) to the outlet opening (5), with the outlet opening (5) opened, can generate a gas flow (8) in the branching piece (3) flowing along a second flow path (21) from the line connector (6) and subsequently through the branching piece (3), through the nozzle region (15) and through the mixing region (16) to the outlet opening (5), wherein the gas flow reversing element (1) further comprises a bypass (18) connecting the pressure connector (4) and the line connector (6) so that a gas flow (8) can flow along a third flow path (22) via the inflow region (9), the bypass (18) and the branching piece (3), wherein at least the bypass (18) and the flow region (28) are closable by at least one closing element (19), so that the gas flow (8) can bypass the nozzle (7) in the nozzle region (15) via the bypass (18) along the third flow path (22). The invention further relates to method for controlling expiration of a patient.
Abstract:
Described are systems and methods for compensating long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors used in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient by compensating for drift that may be specific to the sensors atypical use in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide gas to a patient. In at least some instances, the long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors can be addressed using calibration schedules, which can factor in the absolute change in set dose of NO being delivered to the patient that can drive one or more baseline calibrations. The calibration schedules can be used reduce the amount of times the sensor goes offline. Systems and methods described may factor in in actions occurring at the delivery system and/or aspects of the surrounding environment, prior to performing a baseline calibration, and may postpone the calibration and/or rejected using the sensor's output for the calibration.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for collecting samples from a patient for diagnosis are provided. In many embodiments, the sample collection and analysis system concentrates particles emanating from a patient's cough, sneeze, or breathe in a sample for the diagnosis of a respiratory tract infection or other ailment of the patient. The sample collection and analysis system has a pre-collection assembly (that is patient interface, a collector in fluid communication with a sample reservoir that function in combination to: efficiently capture the volume of air expelled from the subject, direct the expelled air towards a sample reservoir, and separate the desired particle sizes from the expelled air into the sample reservoir.
Abstract:
A gas delivery system, having a gas identification, by which a gas supplied to the gas delivery system is identified, a blender, blending oxygen and the gas to provide a gas mixture with an oxygen flow rate set up by an operator, and at least one flow sensor, to measure a flow rate of the gas mixture. The blender is driven by an actuator motor to various blender positions with the blender positions being calibrated based on the specific heat ratio and the gas constant of the gas. The flow sensor can be installed at the inspiratory circuit, the proximal circuit and the expiratory circuit of the gas delivery system. The flow sensor output is corrected based on the actual conditions, including the temperature, pressure and humidity, and characteristics of the gas mixture.
Abstract:
A control circuit of an oxygen concentrator maintains pressure within a compressor of the oxygen concentrator. The control circuit includes a microprocessor that controls functioning of a controller based on two or more of: a user-adjustable flow rate of oxygen delivered by the oxygen concentrator to a user, an ambient temperature, and an ambient pressure. The functioning of the controller further controls the adsorption of various gases by sieve beds of the oxygen concentrator to produce oxygen enriched gas.
Abstract:
The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient's airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. A bleed port for release of exhaled air is defined through a conical vent projecting normally to the path of the incoming air flow, and continues through a nipple extending to the exterior of the air conduit. In one embodiment, a pair of nasal inserts are integral with a nasal cannula body, with bleed ports axially aligned with each insert. In another embodiment, each insert is independently connected to a separate, thin-walled, flexible supply line.