A liquid ventilation system includes a reservoir holding a perfluorochemical (“PFC”) fluid, and a suction pump connected to the reservoir to reduce pressure within the reservoir. A sensor is configured to measure an intra-lung pressure. An appliance is configured to be disposed within a patient. The appliance carries an injector to supply the PFC fluid through the appliance. An extraction valve is disposed on an extraction line between the appliance and the reservoir. The extraction valve is arrangeable between a first position enabling fluid communication from the appliance to the reservoir and a second position disabling fluid communication from the appliance to the reservoir.

A modularized respiratory treatment apparatus provides various respiratory pressure treatments. The apparatus may be formed by discrete connectable modules such as a flow generator module, alarm module and/or humidifier module. Each module may include its own external casing or housing to independently retain or enclose the respective components that serve the function of the module. Different modules may be adapted with different components and functionalities and may be readily coupled using standardized gas and electrical connection configurations that have flow and communication paths that extend through the modules. When coupled, operation of the respiratory treatment apparatus may be controlled by detection of different modules, such as the alarm module that generates visual and/or audible alarms based on detected conditions, so as to selectively enable or disable different respiratory treatments. The discrete modules of the medical treatment apparatus may include tamper resistant locking mechanisms to impede unauthorized separation of some modules.

A respiratory delivery system providing a bi-level pressure airflow. The system includes respiratory and pneumatic circuits. The respiratory circuit includes a respiratory gas supply, a patient interface, and a bi-level pressure regulator. The respiratory gas supply supplies a respiratory gas to the patient interface via a first conduit. The bi-level pressure regulator is coupled to the patient interface via a second conduit and is configured to cyclically alternate the respiratory gas passing through the bi-level pressure regulator between a low-pressure level and a high-pressure level. The pneumatic circuit includes a pneumatic gas supply and a pneumatic cycler configured to output a cycling pressure level. The cycler is coupled to the bi-level pressure regulator via a third conduit. The bi-level pressure regulator cyclically alternates the pressure level of the respiratory gas between the low-pressure level and the high-pressure level with the timing defined by the cycling of the pneumatic gas.

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.

A PAP system for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a flow generator to generate a supply of breathable gas to be delivered to the patient; a humidifier including a heating plate to vaporize water and deliver water vapor to humidify the supply of breathable gas; a heated tube configured to heat and deliver the humidified supply of breathable gas to the patient; a power supply configured to supply power to the heating plate and the heated tube; and a controller configured to control the power supply to prevent overheating of the heating plate and the heated tube.

A system for delivering a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide can include a reservoir containing a nitrogen dioxide source. A heating element can be configured to heat the reservoir, causing nitrogen dioxide vapor to exit the reservoir through a restrictor into a conduit. The nitrogen dioxide vapor can mix with gas from a gas supply, which can then flow to a cartridge that includes a surface-activated material saturated with an aqueous solution of a reducing agent. The cartridge can convert the nitrogen dioxide into nitric oxide.

Various systems, devices, NO.sub.2 absorbents, NO.sub.2 scavengers and NO.sub.2 recuperator for generating nitric oxide are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide can include a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.

A heating apparatus includes a heating element which converts electrical power to heat energy, a heatable element having a first surface and a second surface, and a dielectric laminate layer between the heating element and the first surface of the heatable element, wherein the dielectric laminate layer is thermally conductive to transfer heat energy from the heating element to the heatable element, and wherein the second surface of the heatable element is configured heat a liquid in a container.

Disclosed herein is a cannula and/or medical instrument accessory configured for providing localized insufflation or venting of gases with respect to a surgical cavity of a patient (such as the pneumoperitoneum) and allowing insertion of medical instruments into the surgical cavity through the cannula. A medical instrument accessory such as a cannula and/or medical instrument accessory can be used for localizing insufflation or venting of gas or fluid near operating end of a medical instrument. The medical instrument accessory can comprise a body mountable over at least a portion of a medical instrument shaft, the body having an inner lumen, proximal end and distal end, the distal end comprising an opening, wherein the distal end is arranged in use at or adjacent an operating end of the medical instrument. An outer wall of the medical instrument shaft and lumen can define a gas flow path, wherein as or fluid is released or introduced into the gas flow path at the distal end and adjacent the end of the medical instrument shaft.

A breathing assistance apparatus is disclosed, for use with delivery of respiratory gases to a patient. The breathing assistance apparatus includes a patient interface, having a body section adapted to cover the nose, or nose and mouth of a patient and a sealing interface. The sealing interface includes at least an outer sealing member. The outer sealing member is adapted to attach to the body section in a sealing manner and has a substantially thin section in at least its nasal bridge region. The thin section is substantially thinner than the rest of the outer sealing member. The patient interface comprises a mask body and a seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a flexible seal, and a rigid seal clip, the seal assembly being removably attached to the mask body via the rigid seal clip. The mask body and rigid seal clip are profiled to match the contours of a user's face so that the seal has a substantially constant wall depth.