A breathing assistance apparatus and method of controlling a breathing assistance apparatus is disclosed. Particularly, the breathing assistance apparatus is controlled such that it has a drying cycle to enable drying of the tubing that supplies gases to a user and prevent the harbouring of pathogens within the tube. The drying cycle is preferably operated automatically by internal controllers in the apparatus. However, it may be manually activated by pressing a button on the apparatus. The drying cycle is preferably activated at the end of a user's treatment session.

The present invention provides for an improved method of determining a water out condition in a humidified gases supply apparatus. The method includes a two step process including a primary determination of a water out condition and a secondary determination of a water out condition. This primary determination is made during observation of the normal operation of the apparatus. During the secondary determination the method takes temporary control over the humidifying part of the apparatus. The secondary determination confirms or contradicts the primary determination.

A gas humidifier can have a gas channel comprising an inlet and an outlet. A portion of the gas channel can have a region having a reduction in cross-sectional area relative to the portions of the gas channel outside of the region. A water conduit can extend from the region to a water reservoir. A heating element can heat water entering the region from the water conduit. Water vaporized using the heating element can join the flow of gases passing through the gas channel in use.

A respiratory therapy (RT) system including one or more acoustic generators (8500) to produce an inaudible acoustic signal. The acoustic generator(s), such as when coupled to a patient interface or air circuit of a respiratory therapy device, may provide inaudible acoustic signals indicative of one or more parameters, such as a flow rate or a pressure of the flow of air, or a type of or useable life of a component (e.g. patient interface). The system may have an acoustic receiver that may detect one or more acoustic signals from the acoustic generator, the RT system, the patient or the environment.

An additive gas delivery apparatus for delivery of additive gas to inspirational gas can be set to deliver the additive gas according to a dosing setting in normal therapy, and can be set to deliver according to a backup dosing setting in response disruption of signals representing data for controlling the delivery of additive gas according to the dosing setting in normal therapy. An additive gas delivery apparatus has an inlet for the additive gas and an integrated inlet for gas for oxygenating the patient that are connected to a backup line to mix the additive gas and gas for oxygenating the patient to a set concentration of additive gas in the gas mixture at an integrated backup outlet of the additive gas delivery apparatus.

A mobile newborn care bed is configured to be positioned at a delivery location of an infant includes a bassinet containing a mattress for receiving the infant and a frame that supports the bassinet. At least two capacitive sensors are incorporated in the mattress that record cardiac signals, and an on-bed computing system is configured to receive the cardiac signals and determine a heart rate for the infant. A battery supported by the frame powers the on-bed computing system, and a digital display is communicatively connected to the on-bed computing system and displays the heart rate.

A respiratory therapy system can have a flow generator adapted to provide gases to a patient. A gas passageway can be located in-line with the flow generator. The gas passageway can have a first portion adapted to receive a first gas and a second portion adapted to receive a second gas. The gas passageway can have a static mixer downstream of the first and second portions.

Methods and apparatus infer or indicate sleep stage(s) of a patient from a respiratory flow rate signal of the patient. The method may include applying a plurality of detection pathways to a signal representing a respiratory flow rate of the patient, wherein each detection pathway is configured to generate start events and end events indicating start times and end times of episodes respectively of a corresponding sleep stage, wherein each start event and each end event has a priority; and combining the start events and end events based on their priorities to produce an indication of the sleep stage of the patient. The apparatus may include a sensor configured to generate a signal representing a property of a flow of air within a patient interface; and a processor configured to implement a method of inferring a sleep stage of the patient from the signal.

Devices for altering the flow of air in a respiratory cavity such as the nostrils of the nose. These methods and devices may be useful for affecting a physiologic benefit in patients suffering from a variety of medical disorders, including snoring and sleep apnea. The devices are typically removable devices that may be placed in both nostrils to increase resistance to airflow within the respiratory cavity. Resistance to expiration may be selectively increased relative to inspiration. The nasal devices may also increases patency of the nares. Any of these devices may be configured to achieve positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in a subject wearing the device.

An inhalation system comprising an inhalation device and a flowmeter (12) that comprises a flow chamber (15), a resistor body (20) and a flow indicator (21), wherein said flow chamber (15) comprises an inlet opening (17) that can be connected to the surroundings, an outlet opening (18) that can be connected to an interior of the inhalation device, and a flow resistance device, said inhalation system being configured to guide supply air through the inlet opening (17) into the flow chamber (15), through the outlet opening (18) out of the flow chamber (15) and into the interior of the inhalation device, said resistor body (20) being configured to be able to assume different positions in the flow chamber (15), and said flow indicator (21) being configured to indicate a position of the resistor body (20) in the flow chamber (15).