A breathing assistance apparatus includes an inner volumetric member pressurizable from a first pressure to a second pressure and an outer volumetric member surrounding at least a portion of the inner expandable volumetric member. The inner volumetric member pressurizes the outer volumetric member as the inner volumetric member is pressurized from the first pressure to the second pressure. In another embodiment, a breathing assistance apparatus includes exhalation and inhalation chambers with respective biasing members providing for the exhalation chamber to apply a pressure to the inhalation chamber and thereby provide assisted inhalation. Methods for assisting breathing are also provided.

A breathing system for an anesthesia machine is provided, which comprises an operation mode switch, a CO.sub.2 canister, a bellows, a patient inspiratory branch and a patient expiratory branch. The operation mode switch comprises a vent communicating with the patient inspiratory branch, a vent communicating with the patient expiratory branch, a vent communicating with the bellows, and a vent communicating with the CO.sub.2 canister. The CO.sub.2 canister is positioned below the operation mode switch, so as to collect the water flowing through the operation mode switch.

A device and method for adjusting a tidal breath delivered to a patient. The device includes a moving frame which is configured to move over a stationary frame that is nested within the moving frame itself. Disposed between the moving frame and the stationary frame is a compressible bellows which delivers a tidal breath to the patient each time the moving frame is passed over the stationary frame. The specific volume of the tidal breath that is delivered may adjusted according to the estimated weight of the patient, thereby preventing over inflation of the patient's lungs while undergoing treatment. To adjust the tidal breath volume, the user quickly changes the relative position of a slide adjuster which dictates the range of possible movement between the moving frame and the stationary frame, thereby limiting the volume of air/oxygen which may be drawn into the bellows.

An airway support storage platform. The airway support storage platform includes a plate having a front side opposite a rear side, wherein a fastener is disposed on the rear side that can removably secure the plate to a support surface. A first adapter is affixed to the front side, wherein the first adapter includes an endotracheal tube connector. A second adapter is affixed to the front side, wherein the second adapter can frictionally engage an interior wall of a suction tubing thereon.

A ventilation system includes an electrochemical filter for depleting alkyl phenols, especially 2,6-diisopropyl phenol, in breathing gas. A method uses the filter for removing alkyl phenols, especially 2,6-diisopropyl phenol, from breathing gas.

A patient ventilation system includes a ventilator configured to deliver ventilation gas to patient, a CO.sub.2 concentration sensor configured to provide EtCO.sub.2 measurements for the patient, and an SpO.sub.2 monitor configured to determine an SpO.sub.2 value for the patient. A ventilation control module is executable on a processor and configured to compare the SpO.sub.2 value to a threshold SpO.sub.2 and determine from this comparison that the SpO.sub.2 value indicates inadequate oxygenation. A minimum ventilation amount is then set, and the ventilator is then controlled based on the EtCO.sub.2 measurements and the minimum ventilation amount so as to deliver at the least the minimum ventilation amount to the patient while the SpO.sub.2 value indicates inadequate oxygenation.

A system for controlling patient sedation and spontaneous breathing intensity includes a ventilator system that delivers ventilation to the patient. The system further includes a spontaneous breathing control module configured to determine a first spontaneous breathing intensity at a first sedative status of the patient, and a second spontaneous breathing intensity at a second sedative status of the patient. A sedation/breathing relationship is then defined between spontaneous breathing intensity and sedative status for the patient based on the first and second sedative statuses and the first and second spontaneous breathing intensities. The spontaneous breathing control module then receives a desired spontaneous breathing intensity for the patient and determines a desired sedative status that achieves that desired spontaneous breathing intensity based on the sedation/breathing relationship.

A patient transfer device is configured for use with at least one host device which is capable of providing respiratory support to a patient. The patient transfer device includes an inspiratory port and an expiratory port which are configured to pneumatically connect to the host. An inspiratory connection is pneumatically connected to the inspiratory port and an expiratory connection is pneumatically connected to the expiratory port. An inspiratory valve is coupled between the inspiratory port and the inspiratory connection and expiratory valve is coupled between the expiratory port and the expiratory connection. The inspiratory valve and the expiratory valve are operable between first configurations that permit flow there though and second configurations that occlude flow through the valves. The inspiratory valve and the expiratory valve are configured to operate in the second configuration when the patient transfer device is disconnected from the at least one host device.

A patient treatment system includes a ventilation bag, and a monitoring device which is configured so as to be connectable to the ventilation bag. The monitoring device measures the pulse rate derived from the heart rate of a neonate, from signals of ECG electrodes which are connected to the monitoring device. In a case where an abnormality of measurement information of the pulse rate is detected, the monitoring device notifies of first information prompting ventilation by the ventilation bag.

The invention relates to a method for anaesthetizing animals before slaughter, by the anesthetic action of gases or gas mixtures, operated in batch mode, in which the live animals, preferably put together in one or more cages, are placed in a lock chamber for treatment where the animals are brought into contact with anesthetic gas, following a cycle comprising several steps characterized by different contents of anesthetic gas, characterized in that at least one of the steps is carried out using gas recovered from the lock chamber and stored in at least one capacity (2, No. 1, No. 2 etc.) for temporary storage having a variable volume.