The invention relates to an artificial airway device (1) to facilitate lung ventilation of a patient, comprising an airway tube (2), a gastric drain tube (3) and a mask (4) at one end of the airway tube (2), the mask (4) including a backplate (5) and having a peripheral formation (6) capable of forming a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet, the peripheral formation (6) surrounding a hollow interior space (7) or lumen of the mask (4) and the airway tube (2) opening into the lumen of the mask, wherein the mask includes an atrium (8) for passage to the gastric drain tube (3) of gastric matter leaving the oesophagus.

Artificial airway device

A modified laryngeal mask airway device (LMA-device) is provided with means to improve ease of insertion, reliability of function and higher seal pressure (i.e., cuff pressure ratio). The LMA-device includes an indented section of the airway tube to offer locating means and purchase for the inserting finger, and extended mask aperture bars to increase the effective ventilating area of the mask and reduce the possibility of epiglottis displacement occasioned by mask insertion. The LMA-device further includes a modification of the airway tube angle of attachment to the mask, and provision of a posterior or back-cushion covering the entire posterior surface of the mask.

Laryngeal mask airway device

A method for supplying a mask through which air flows with a regulated degree of humidification (m) is provided. The method may include: providing a water reservoir configured such that the air circulates in contact with the surface of water within the reservoir is charged with humidity; providing a heating device for heating the water in the reservoir by circulating an electric current; measuring an average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device; and controlling the average intensity (Iav) relative to a reference value (Iav c ) to obtain a degree of humidification (m) of the air that is independent of the ambient temperature (Ta). An apparatus for regulating the degree of humidification of air flow, as well as a heating humidifier including such a regulation device, are also provided.

System and method for regulating a heating humidifier

The invention provides methods and systems for evaluating a fluid transfer event between a parenteral fluid delivery and a patient. The evaluation of the fluid transfer event can be prospective, real-time and/or historic, as desired, and take a variety of different formats.

Smart parenteral administration system

A septum for use in access port for providing subcutaneous access to a patient is disclosed. More particularly, a septum including at least one topographical feature configured for identification of the septum is disclosed. An access port including such a septum is also disclosed. In addition, an access port comprising a septum and a means for identification of the septum is disclosed. Also, a method of identifying a subcutaneously implanted access port is disclosed. Specifically, an access port including a septum may be provided and at least one topographical feature of the septum of the access port may be perceived. The subcutaneously implanted access port may be identified in response to perceiving the at least one feature of the septum of the access port.

Septum including at least one identifiable feature, access ports including same, and related methods

A pulmonary dosing system and method for supplying to a patient a predetermined amount of respirable therapeutically active material is disclosed. The system comprises a patient interface to introduce the material into the patient's lungs and an apparatus for providing pulsed amounts of the material to a plenum chamber. The plenum chamber has a diffuser baffle which increases the efficiency of the dosing system by preventing axial flow of the active material thereby utilizing the available volume of the chamber for holding the aerosolized drug prior to inhalation.

Pulmonary dosing system and method

An improved Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) nozzle (20a) particularly suitable for a handheld pulmonary aerosol inhaler increases the consistent and efficient dispensing of therapeutic liquids by reducing or eliminating wetting through shielding of discharge electrodes (26). Some versions further eliminate wetting while enhances neutralization of the aerosol through presentation of a corona wind of ions annularly surround the aerosol. Incorporation of improved liquid distribution with consistent pressure drops to each EHD nozzle tip (32) allows horizontal dispensing, and by using dielectric nozzle tips (32) with low surface energy to thereby avoid wicking between dispenses and to advantageously reduce achievable particle size when dispensing. Some versions feature enhanced snap-fit assembly and other manufacturability advantages. One of the unique features of the EHD nozzles (32) is achieved high dose rate (microliters/minute) with low wetting and small particle size (1.0-5 microns), although these properties tend to be mutually exclusive. Furthermore, these attributes are incorporated into a conveniently small, handheld device.

Improved nozzle for handheld pulmonary aerosol delivery device

An improved Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) nozzle particularly suitable for a handheld pulmonary aerosol inhaler increases the consistent and efficient dispensing of therapeutic liquids by reducing or eliminating wetting through shielding of discharge electrodes. Some versions further eliminate wetting while enhances neutralization of the aerosol through presentation of a corona wind of ions annularly surround the aerosol. Incorporation of improved liquid distribution with consistent pressure drops to each EHD nozzle tip allows horizontal dispensing, and by using dielectric nozzle tips with low surface energy to thereby avoid wicking between dispenses and to advantageously reduce achievable particle size when dispensing. Some versions feature enhanced snap-fit assembly and other manufacturability advantages. One of the unique features of the EHD nozzles is achieved high dose rate (microliters/minute) with low wetting and small particle size (1.0-5 microns), although these properties tend to be mutually exclusive. Furthermore, these attributes are incorporated into a conveniently small, handheld device.

Nozzle for handheld pulmonary aerosol delivery device

L'invention concerne une buse electrohydrodynamique (EHD) amelioree (20a) qui est particulierement adaptee a un inhalateur pulmonaire manuel et qui augmente la consistance et l'efficacite de la distribution de liquides therapeutiques en reduisant ou en eliminant l'humidification grâce a la protection des electrodes de decharge (26). Certaines versions eliminent egalement l'humidification tout en renforcant la neutralisation de l'aerosol grâce un vent corona d'ions qui entourent l'aerosol en formant un anneau. L'amelioration de la distribution de liquide, laquelle presente des pertes de pression consistantes a chaque bec de la buse electrohydrodynamique (32), permet d'obtenir une distribution horizontale et, grâce a l'utilisation de becs de buse dielectriques (32) ayant une faible energie tension superficielle, d'eviter l'effet de meche entre les distributions afin de reduire avantageusement la taille de particule realisable pendant la distribution. Certaines versions comprennent un assemblage encliquetable ameliore ainsi que d'autres avantages d'aptitude a la fabrication. L'une des caracteristiques uniques des buses electrohydrodynamiques (32) est acquis en obtenant un debit de dose eleve (microlitres/minute) associe a une faible humidification et a une petite taille de particule (1,0-5 microns), bien que ces proprietes tendent a etre mutuellement exclusives. De plus, ces caracteristiques sont incorporees dans un dispositif manuel qui presente l'avantage d'etre petit.

Daniel Duane Meek

Papers

Pulmonary dosing system and method

Improved nozzle for handheld pulmonary aerosol delivery device

Nozzle for handheld pulmonary aerosol delivery device

Buse amelioree pour pulverisateur pulmonaire manuel

Pulmonary System with a Plenum-chamber