The invention relates to a pumping device including a pump (1) comprising—a pumping chamber (11) having a variable volume, —an inlet (2) communicating with the pumping chamber (11) and comprising a valve, —an outlet (5) communicating with the pumping chamber and comprising a valve, —an actuator adapted to change the volume of the pumping chamber, —a fluidic pathway comprising said inlet (2), said pumping chamber (11), said outlet (5) and a downstream line (7) situated downstream of the outlet valve, —a pressure sensor (4) for measuring the pressure between the valves of said pathway, —processing means for processing the received pressure data from the pressure sensor (4). The invention also covers a method for detecting a dysfunction in a pumping device as defined above.

A medication delivery device (MDD) (e.g., injection pen, wearable pump) is paired with an external device (e.g., smart phone, iPad, computer) via wireless link or wireline connection. The MDD provides to the external device captured data from the flow sensor relating to medicine delivery to a patient to ensure complete delivery and minimize MDD misuse or malfunction or inaccuracies in dosing. The MDD can have Bluetooth™ and/or near field communication (NFC) communication circuits for proximity-based pairing and connectivity with the external device for real-time or deferred transfer of captured data to the external device, depending on memory and power availability at the MDD. The MDD or external device can use captured data and corresponding time stamps to determine flow infomatics such as flow rate, total dose delivered, and dose completion status. An LED on the MDD indicates states such as powered on, paired, delivery in progress and delivery completion.

A headgear for securing a mask to a user's face is described. The headgear requires a first load force to elongate the headgear and, when fitted to a user, applies a balanced fit force that substantially equals a load force applied to the headgear during respiratory therapy. In some embodiments, the headgear includes an elastic portion configured to provide a retraction force, a non-elastic portion configured to be inelastic in comparison to the elastic portion, and a restriction mechanism connected to the non-elastic portion and to the elastic portion. The restriction mechanism is configured to apply a first resistance force to the user's head on elongation of the headgear and a second resistance force to the user's head on retraction of the headgear.

Systems and methods for sealing a plurality of reservoirs of a microchip element with a sealing grid are provided. For example, in one embodiment, a microchip element comprises a primary substrate having a plurality of reservoirs defined therein. The microchip element also includes a single continuous sealing groove defined in the primary substrate that extends around each of the plurality of reservoirs. In addition, the microchip element includes a sealing substrate comprising a single continuous sealing protrusion extending therefrom. The single continuous sealing protrusion corresponds to and is configured to mate with the single continuous sealing groove to form a hermetic bond between the primary substrate and the sealing substrate. In this manner, the single continuous sealing groove and the single continuous sealing protrusion form a sealing grid about the plurality of reservoirs.

Embodiments of the present invention disclose micro-lipo needle device and methods of making and using the same.

A system for humidifying respiratory gases has a humidification apparatus, a humidification chamber, a heating apparatus and a sensor. The sensor is configured to determine a characteristic of the gases flow and communicate this to a controller which controls the power supplied to the heating apparatus with respect to information regarding the characteristic of the gases flow. A structure partially encloses the humidification chamber and allows energy loss through a wall of the humidification chamber. The humidification chamber may have features to promote heat loss through the wall of the chamber.

Various embodiments provide novel tools and techniques for behind-the-car biosignal sensing and stimulation. A system includes a behind-the-car wearable device further including an ear piece, one or more sensors coupled to a patient behind the ears of the patient and a host machine coupled to the behind-the-car wearable device. The host machine includes a second processor, and a second computer readable medium in communication with the second processor, the second computer readable medium having encoded thereon a second set of instructions executable by the second processor to obtain the first signal, separate the first signal into one or more individual biosignals, and determine, based on one or more features extracted from the one or more individual biosignals, awakefulness classification of the patient.

An electronic aerosol safety system including at least one aerosol safety sensor for measuring or sensing parameters of a target in an aerosol stream and a warning device in communication with the sensor, wherein the warning device can provide a user with safety and efficacy information. There is also provided a method of increasing the safety of an aerosol delivery device by attaching or integrating the electronic aerosol safety system into an aerosol delivery system, monitoring the aerosol produced by the aerosol delivery device by detecting preset parameters using the electronic aerosol safety system and triggering a notification to a user of the aerosol delivery device, wherein the triggering occurs upon detection of a deviation from the preset parameters.

A system for humidifying respiratory gases has a humidification apparatus, a humidification chamber, a heating apparatus and a sensor. The sensor is configured to determine a characteristic of the gases flow and communicate this to a controller which controls the power supplied to the heating apparatus with respect to information regarding the characteristic of the gases flow. A structure partially encloses the humidification chamber and allows energy loss through a wall of the humidification chamber. The humidification chamber may have features to promote heat loss through the wall of the chamber.

Some embodiments are directed to a needle assembly that includes a needle having a textured portion and non-textured portion adjacent to the textured portion, and a hub arranged over at least a part of the textured portion of the needle. The textured portion includes laser etched grooves formed on an outer surface of the needle and oriented in a circumferential direction of the needle. Each of the laser etched grooves has two protruded portions and a dented portion interposed between the two protruded portions. Each of the two protruded portions has a top surface located above an outer surface of non-textured portion, and the dented portion has a bottom surface located below the outer surface of non-textured portion.