Various venting attachments or leak devices can be removably or permanently coupled to a surgical cannula to allow a user to vent gases, in particular smoke, from a surgical cavity. The venting attachment can be configured to vent the smoke at a predetermined rate and filter out the smoke prior to venting to atmosphere. The substantially constant venting flow rate can promote clearing of the smoke in the surgical cavity while helping to maintain a substantially constant pressure, and thus stability, in the surgical cavity.

A moisture or hydrating liquid activatable solid formulation for nitric oxide (NO) generation includes a nitrite source; a copper (I) or copper (II) catalyst; an NO generation accelerant; and a solid pH buffer. The nitrite source is to generate NO when exposed to an effective amount of moisture or a hydrating liquid. The pH buffer is present in an amount sufficient to render a pH of the moisture or hydrating liquid activatable solid formulation from greater than 4 to about 9.0.

A device and method of generating an enriched gas within a nasal vestibule of a patient includes a housing, a chamber, a chamber inlet, a pump, a molecular sieve bed, a release outlet, and a breath duct. The chamber is configured to be received within the nasal vestibule. The pump is configured to direct an ambient air from an ambient environment into the chamber. The molecular sieve bed is positioned within the chamber and configured to collect a predetermined molecule from the ambient air thereby generating the enriched gas. The release outlet is configured to discharge the enriched gas from the chamber into the nasal vestibule. The breath duct longitudinally extends through the housing such that the breath duct is configured to fluidly communicate a fluid flow through the housing for nasal breathing by the patient while the chamber is positioned within the nasal vestibule.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus for manipulating one or more characteristics of air to be inhaled. The apparatus includes an outer housing including an outer surface, a hollow interior, and at least one opening formed in the outer housing and extending between the outer surface and the hollow interior. The apparatus includes a manipulation enclosure disposed within the hollow interior of the outer housing, the manipulation enclosure capable of receiving therein an air characteristic manipulation component. A substantially continuous channel is formed between the manipulation enclosure and the outer housing.

Systems and methods for isolating and/or desiccating a portion of a drug delivery tract of a drug delivery apparatus to reduce water vapor content therein are provided. For example, there is provided a metered dose inhaler for delivering aerosolized medicament or other matter to a user. The aerosolized medicament or other matter may be discharged from a discharge passageway within the inhaler into an inhalation passageway for inhalation by a user, and the inhaler may comprise a seal member operative to selectively isolate the discharge passageway from the inhalation passageway and external environment during inactivity. The inhaler may further comprise a desiccant material arranged to withdraw moisture from the isolated discharge passageway. In other instances, desiccant material may be arranged to withdraw moisture from the discharge passageway of the inhaler without isolating the discharge passage during inactivity.

A novel method and device for the destruction of nitrous oxide in gases such as those resulting from exhaled breath during dental, medical, and veterinary procedures are described. The method employs processing steps including the collection of gases containing constituents such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and nitrous oxide from exhaled breath or from ambient room air, optional removal of moisture from the collected gas, catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide gas to nitrogen and oxygen, heat exchange to reduce high temperatures in gases exiting the reactor, and sorbents to remove traces of reaction byproducts. Instrumentation and controls are employed to monitor and regulate temperatures, pressures, gas compositions, and flow rates while also providing measures to automatically shut down in the event of off-nominal conditions. The method and device are capable of operating with variable anesthetic or patient exhaled breath flow rates while inducing no significant pressure or vacuum on the patient as they exhale. The method is carried out in a compact device suitable for operation in dental offices, hospitals, and other locations where nitrous oxide is administered as an anesthetic.

A flap (20) for an inhalation actuated mechanism (18) of a powder inhaler (1) comprises a base member (29), a skirt structure (24) projecting from a surface of the base member (29), and a coupling portion (21) to be coupled to a resilient member (40) of the inhalation actuated mechanism (18).

An inhaler for facilitating inhalation of dry powder includes a body defining an interior space and a mouth piece. At least one annular member is positioned within the interior space and is rotatable with respect to the mouth piece. The at least one annular member includes a plurality of compartments. Each compartment defines a cavity configured to hold dry powder. Each compartment includes at least one flap and an opening configured to release the dry powder when the at least one flap is reconfigured from a closed position to an open position. The at least one flap covers the opening and inhibits the dry powder from being released from the cavity in the closed position.

A dose ring for a dry powder inhaler (DPI) device includes an aluminum foil member covering particulate medication cavities and through holes. The device includes hinged flaps formed by a cut so that one radial side is uncut and forms a hinge. Each flap can cover both a cavity for particulate medication and a through hole located between that cavity and the circular inside edge of the dose ring.

Systems and methods for isolating and/or desiccating a portion of a drug delivery tract of a drug delivery apparatus to reduce water vapor content therein are provided. For example, there is provided a metered dose inhaler for delivering aerosolized medicament or other matter to a user. The aerosolized medicament or other matter may be discharged from a discharge passageway within the inhaler into an inhalation passageway for inhalation by a user, and the inhaler may comprise a seal member operative to selectively isolate the discharge passageway from the inhalation passageway and external environment during inactivity. The inhaler may further comprise a desiccant material arranged to withdraw moisture from the isolated discharge passageway. In other instances, desiccant material may be arranged to withdraw moisture from the discharge passageway of the inhaler without isolating the discharge passage during inactivity.