A breathing apparatus includes a first air pathway for receiving ambient air and channeling the air through a portion of the breathing apparatus, a heating section operatively coupled to the first air pathway and configured to elevate a temperature of the ambient air in the first air pathway to a first prescribed temperature, and a cooling section operatively coupled to the first air pathway and configured to reduce the temperature of the ambient air heated by the heating section to a second prescribed temperature, the second prescribed temperature lower than the first prescribed temperature. A breathing circuit is coupled to the first air pathway and configured to provide the cooled air to a user.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for photoeradication of microorganisms from a target. The method includes the step of obtaining test data for a plurality of experiments each of which comprises irradiating test microorganisms with a plurality of light pulses having a wavelength that ranges from 380 nm to 500 nm. The light pulses have a plurality of pulse parameters (peak irradiance, pulse duration, and off time between adjacent light pulses) and are provided at a radiant exposure that ranges from 0.5 J/cm.sup.2 to 60 J/cm.sup.2 during each of a plurality of irradiation sessions. The test data comprises a survival rate for the test microorganisms after irradiation with the light pulses. The method also includes the step of analyzing the test data to identify the pulse parameters for the light pulses and the radiant exposure for each of the irradiation sessions that result in a desired survival rate for the test microorganisms. The method further includes the step of irradiating the microorganisms of the target with light pulses having the identified pulse parameters at the identified radiant exposure for each of the irradiation sessions so as to photoeradicate all or a portion of the microorganisms.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for photoeradication of microorganisms from a target. The method includes the step of obtaining test data for a plurality of experiments each of which comprises irradiating test microorganisms with a plurality of light pulses having a wavelength that ranges from 380 nm to 500 nm. The light pulses have a plurality of pulse parameters (peak irradiance, pulse duration, and off time between adjacent light pulses) and are provided at a radiant exposure that ranges from 0.5 J/cm.sup.2 to 60 J/cm.sup.2 during each of a plurality of irradiation sessions. The test data comprises a survival rate for the test microorganisms after irradiation with the light pulses. The method also includes the step of analyzing the test data to identify the pulse parameters for the light pulses and the radiant exposure for each of the irradiation sessions that result in a desired survival rate for the test microorganisms. The method further includes the step of irradiating the microorganisms of the target with light pulses having the identified pulse parameters at the identified radiant exposure for each of the irradiation sessions so as to photoeradicate all or a portion of the microorganisms.

Nasal respiratory assembly includes a pair of sheets. Each sheet defines an opening sized and shaped to fit over a nostril of a patient, with a ferromagnetic dome-shaped ring positioned at an underside of the sheet, with an upper side of the sheet configured for sealable engagement with the nostril. The assembly also includes a pair of posts. Each post includes a magnetic ring positioned at a first end and a ball shaped receptacle positioned at a second end. The magnetic ring is removably attachable to the dome-shaped ring. The assembly further includes a pair of conduit adapters with openings therethrough for fluid flow. A post end of each conduit adapter includes a socket, each socket shaped to receive the ball shaped receptacle in a ball and socket arrangement to form a substantially airtight connection therewith.

The present invention relates to a device for the treatment of blood comprising a solid phase on which a polypeptide is immobilized which is suitable for the inactivation of free nucleic acids. Suitable polypeptides are, for example, deoxyribonucleases, ribonucleases, DNA methyltransferases or cytosine deaminases. The invention further comprises the use of such devices for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, cancer or lupus erythematosus, as well as methods and systems for the treatment of blood, wherein free nucleic acids are inactivated outside the body.

A system for treating and/or preventing a viral, bacterial and/or fungal infection in the oral cavity and/or along the respiratory tract, in particular the interior of the nose, throat, trachea and/or lungs, of a patient by reactive species generated by plasma as well as a plasma for such use is disclosed. The system comprises a plasma source generating reactive species in a gas, the plasma source being configured to be located outside a body of the patient, and a species directing member forming at least one duct for guiding at least a part of the reactive species generated by the plasma source into the oral cavity and/or the respiratory tract.

A cryo formulation-based microneedle device for ocular delivery of bioactive therapeutic agents. The microneedle device includes: one or more microneedle patches each including an array of miniaturized needles, wherein each miniaturized needle defining a base end and a tip; and a substrate to which the base end of the array of miniaturized needles is attached or integrated thereto; wherein the microneedle patch is in a cryo status; wherein each of the one or more microneedle patch is adapted to be applied on cornea of an eye, in which the miniaturized needles penetrates into the eye; and wherein the miniaturized needles is further arranged to melt so as to release one or more bioactive therapeutic agents into the eye to achieve a targeted therapeutic effect.

A system and method of removing pathogens and particulates in a breathable air supply includes supplying pressurized air from a portable pressurized air source, flowing the pressurized air through a filter media including capturing multiple pathogens and particulate contaminates from the pressurized air, outputting filtered, pressurized air and delivering the filtered, pressurized air to a mask.

An endotracheal tube apparatus to treat a patient comprising an endotracheal tube and a hub connection fitting; the endotracheal tube insertable into a trachea of the patient; the hub connection fitting connectable to the endotracheal tube; a ventilation passageway extending through the hub connection fitting and a ventilation lumen of the endotracheal tube; a plurality of ports joined with the hub connection fitting, the plurality of ports comprising at least a first port and a second port; a first passageway extending within the hub connection fitting, the first passageway in fluid communication with the first port; a second passageway extending within the hub connection fitting, the second passageway in fluid communication with the second port; a third passageway extending within the hub connection fitting and a secondary lumen of the endotracheal tube.

An all-in-one, sterile, waste- and mess-free device for cleaning two-sided bodily punctures is described. The device may be a hand-held device that encloses around both sides of a two-sided bodily puncture and provides targeted cleaning fluid soaking, fully or partially submerged, without the user ever needing to touch or disturb jewelry in the two-sided bodily puncture. Cleaning fluid soaking involves cleaning fluid, without elevated pressure, soakingly contacting a two-sided bodily puncture to: (1) kill microorganisms in the area surrounding the two-sided bodily puncture (e.g., skin surrounding openings of the two-sided bodily puncture); and/or (2) remove cellular debris and/or microorganisms from the area surrounding the two-sided bodily puncture.