Oxygen concentrator apparatus provides variation in therapy gas during a breathing cycle such as by varying flow rate and/or oxygen purity of enriched air. The apparatus may include a compressor and a valve set that operates sieve bed(s) for the enriching air and to vent exhaust gas from the bed(s). The therapy gas may include released enriched air and exhaust gas. The apparatus has a supply valve to selectively release enriched air from an accumulator via a primary path to a delivery conduit. The apparatus may include a secondary path, such as with a valve, to release a portion of exhaust gas to the delivery conduit. A controller actuates the valve set to produce the enriched air, and the supply valve to release enriched air to the delivery conduit. The controller may actuate the secondary valve in anti-sync with the supply valve to release exhaust gas to the delivery conduit.

The present invention relates to a humidifier (10) for a system for providing a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, wherein the humidifier (10) comprises: a casing (12) configured to contain a liquid reservoir (20); an air inlet (14) which is arranged at the casing (12); an air outlet (16) which is arranged at the casing (12); and a flow passage (18) connecting the air inlet (14) with the air outlet (16), wherein the flow passage (18) is in fluidic communication with the liquid reservoir (20), and wherein the humidifier (10) comprises a heat pipe (24) having a hot end (26) and a cold end (28), wherein the hot end (26) of the heat pipe (24) is arranged outside the casing (12) and the cold end (28) of the heat pipe (24) is arranged in the liquid reservoir (20).

A method, system and apparatus for a vibration-masking device for use in the bed emits sufficient vibration to mask ambient vibrations and aid in sleep and relaxation. Low frequency vibrations also help reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis, also referred to as DVT. The apparatus is designed to be cooled so as to avoid overheating when used in the bed or in upholstered furniture.

A ventilation system including a ventilator having a cooling fan configured reduce an internal temperature of the ventilator. The ventilator also includes a controller configured to control operation of the ventilator. A detector is configured to generate a detection signal when the ventilator is connected to a cold passover humidification (CPH) device. In response to the detection signal, the ventilator reduces or eliminates operation of the cooling fan in comparison to a default mode of operation. A method of providing increasing a temperature of a flow of air to a CPH device is also included.

A breathing assistance apparatus has a pressurised gases source featuring a lightweight impeller with a plastic shaft. The impeller is shroudless. The plastic shaft is supported within the stator by a bearing structure. A resilient motor mount couples the statos and the housing and provide compliance and/or damping for the motor.

A system includes a converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and to a heating element of a vaporizer atomizer. The converter can be further configured to receive a first voltage from the power source and provide a second voltage to the heating element. The converter can be a direct-current to direct-current converter. A power monitor configured to electrically couple to the heating element, measure a current through the heating element, measure a voltage over the heating element, calculate a power and/or resistance, and output a control signal to the converter. The converter can be configured to be controlled by the control signal to vary the second voltage to maintain a target power or a target temperature over the heating element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Methods and apparatus may implement controlled generation of oxygen enriched air in an oxygen concentrator while implementing control that reduces pneumatic imbalance between the concentrator's canisters, such as dynamic pressure imbalance or other pneumatic characteristic. One or more controllers may regulate operation of a compressor that feeds a pressurised air stream to the concentrator's canisters. This may regulate speed of the compressor to a speed set point for generating the pressurised stream. The regulating may involve generating a compressor control signal having a characteristic parameter such as a power parameter. The controller(s) may operate valve(s) in a cyclic pattern so as to produce oxygen enriched air in an accumulator. A cycle of the cyclic pattern may include a plurality of phases, where each of the plurality of phases has a duration. The controller(s) may then generate a dynamic adjustment to the duration(s) based on an evaluation of the characteristic parameter.

A battery retaining system for a portable oxygen concentrator includes a first rail configured to receive a first slide of a battery, a second rail configured to receive a second slide of the battery, the second rail being spaced apart from the first rail so as to form a channel configured to receive the battery, and a flexible stiffening mechanism configured to impart a biasing force on a surface of the battery when the battery is received within the channel. The flexible stiffening mechanism includes a protrusion projecting from the first rail at least partially towards the second rail and a slit positioned behind the protrusion and configured to facilitate travel of the protrusion fore and aft.

A portable device for treatment of migraine having a desktop unit defining an airpath through a desiccant, a heat sink, an air mover and an air outlet, and a tubeset including a tube having one end for connecting to the desktop air outlet and a second end connected to a handheld unit, the handheld unit including a water compartment, and a nebulizer/transducer for introducing water droplets into the air stream. A nasal pillow is provided at the end of the handheld unit for placing against a user's nose.

A hand-held or wearable device for cooling tissue of an eye of a patient is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a reservoir having fluid therein and a support connected to the reservoir and configured to be positioned on a face of the patient. The device also includes a nozzle positioned proximate to the support and fluidically connected to the reservoir, the nozzle configured to pass the fluid from the reservoir onto a surface of the eye. The device further includes a cooling element configured to cool the fluid from the reservoir such that it exits the nozzle at a temperature of between −100° C. and 15° C. The device further includes an ultrasonic vibrator positioned near the nozzle and configured to generate mist from at least part of the fluid.