A breathing assistance system for delivering a stream of heated, humidified gases to a user, comprising a humidifier unit which holds and heats a volume of water, and which in use receives a flow of gases from a gases source via an inlet port, the flow of gases passing through the humidifier and exiting via an exit port, the system further having a temperature sensor which measures the temperature of the gases exiting the humidifier unit, an ambient temperature sensor which measures the temperature of gases before they enter the humidifier unit, and a flow sensor which measures the flow rate of the gases stream, the system also having a controller which receives data from the temperature and flow sensors, and which determines a control output in response, the control output adjusting the power to the humidifier unit to achieve a desired output at the humidifier unit exit port.

The present invention relates to a tracheal coupling comprising a patient port 33, an outlet port 36, an inlet port 31 between the patient port and the outlet port, such that flow 34 from the inlet port can go to the patient port or direct to the outlet port, and a flow restriction e.g. 32 between the inlet port and the outlet port, or at the outlet port.

A breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person is disclosed. The breathing protector includes a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) arranged within and enclosed by said housing, and a closing member arranged in a traversal plane to a central axis of the housing at a distal open end of said housing and arranged distally of said HME. Said closing member is adapted to closingly engage with said housing in a closed position and said closing member is provided with at least one inlet, such that an airflow in use will pass from surroundings of said person through said inlets, pass through said HME and further to said at least one outlet, into a trachea of said person.

The present invention describes methods for obtaining functionalized polymeric surfaces (MPn-PSm) from polymers or copolymers with appropriate functionalizations (X), which can be a halogen of a leaving group, such as polyvinyl chloride (MP1) and (chloromethyl)polystyrene-Merrifield (MP2), and curcumin photosensitizers (PS1), meso-tetra(aryl)porphyrins, chlorins or bacteriochlorins halogenated and functionalized with nucleophilic groups (PS2), in particular including P2 of the type meso-imidazoyl-porphyrins, chlorins or bacteriochlorins (PS3). The structures of all the photosensitizers in the present application incorporate a functional group (Y), which is a OH, SH or NH.sub.2nucleophile. The application also describes the covalent bonding process of the photosensitizers PS1-PS3 to the functional polymeric materials MP1-MP2 by means of a nucleophilic substitution reaction to prepare the MPn-Psm products. The formed products prevent microbial proliferation, which can cause the serious infections that are one of the main causes of death in patients using these devices.

The disclosure relates to an airway maintenance device, such as an endotracheal tube, tracheostomy tube, or supraglottic airway device, and in particular to an airway maintenance device having a sensor for measuring capillary blood flow and/or pressure. The device includes an airway maintenance device with an airway lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, a distal end portion incorporating an optical sensor configured to measure capillary blood flow in tissue surrounding the distal end when in position within a patient's airway. The optical sensor may include a portion of an optical fibre extending to the distal end portion along the lumen.

A paediatric tracheostomy tube (1) has a protector (50) covering the cuff inflation indicator (37) to prevent damage to the inflation indicator caused by the patient chewing or biting it. The protector is in two parts: a base (52) extending around the open machine end (40) of the indicator and through which the inflation valve can be accessed, and a transparent sleeve (60) extending around the inflation balloon (38) and through which the balloon is visible. The sleeve has a small opening (65) at its patient end opening to a longitudinal slot (66) along one side so that the sleeve can be assembled on the inflation line (31) by threading the inflation line sideway through the slot.

An aerosol delivery system that includes an aerosol generator that aerosolizes a fluid for delivery to a patient. The aerosol generator includes a housing with a fluid chamber that fluidly communicates with a housing inlet and a housing outlet. Within the housing, the aerosol generator includes a support plate with an aperture that fluidly communicates with the housing outlet. A vibratable member couples to the support plate across the aperture. A piezoelectric actuator also couples to the support plate, and in operation expands and contracts to vibrate the vibratable member, which aerosolizes a fluid. The aerosol generator receives fluid through a fluid conduit that couples to the housing.

An interactive restraint system for securing catheters in position following installation in a human or animal patient and preventing movement or unplanned removal thereof in response to the application of significant forces in any direction thereto, be they longitudinal, torsional/rotational or bending. The system includes a retention collar which can be secured to any catheter and releasably interacts with a securing device attached to a patient to ensure proper positioning of the catheter. The restraint system includes a unique universal, after-market applied retention collar readily adapted for use in hospital and field emergency situations to engage any catheter and facilitate ease of application and positioning under all conditions.

A tracheal tube (e.g., an endotracheal tube) includes an inserting cannula (that may be able to swivel), and wherein the inserting cannula is connected to an elbow adaptor through a Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connection. The BNC connection may provide more secure connection of the corresponding components and may be able to withstand greater amounts of force exerted on them without becoming detached from each other. The elbow adapter may further be coupled to a pressure release valve that will alleviate pressure buildup within the tracheal tube.

This document relates to a stabilizer for use with a tracheostomy tube assembly that includes a base configured to couple to a patient and a connector coupled to the base, where the connector defines a lumen configured to receive a portion of the tracheostomy tube assembly.