A bypass system for respiratory therapy and anaesthesia having a first bypass conduit for receiving a gas flow and for receiving a filtration device. The bypass system also has an activation device for redirecting the gas flow within the first bypass conduit. A second bypass conduit is also present in the bypass system which has a passive control valve to redirect air flow within the second bypass conduit. A conduit interconnects the first and second bypass conduit for providing a passage of gases between the first and second bypass conduits.

A humidifier is for an airway pressure support system for delivering a humidified flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient. The humidifier includes a water chamber, a conduit, a nozzle, a heater plate, and a number of heating elements. The nozzle is fluidly connected to the water chamber and has an outlet configured to produce a water droplet from water received from the water chamber. The heater plate is coupled to a wall portion of the conduit and is exposed to an interior pathway of the conduit. The heater plate has a first side facing the nozzle and an opposite second side facing away from the nozzle. The first side is positioned to receive the water droplet from the nozzle. The number of heating elements are coupled to the second side of the heater plate.

A pump arrangement for powering a pump in providing a controlled volume of water to a drip nozzle in a drip-feed humidifier. The pump arrangement includes: a pump having a solenoid; a processing unit; and a power supply electrically connected to the solenoid via a switch which is controlled by the processing unit. The power supply is structured to supply power to the solenoid via the switch. The processing unit is programmed to modulate the power provided to the solenoid via the switch such that the power is supplied to the solenoid according to a power profile for each actuation of the solenoid. The power profile includes: an initial portion which increases at a first overall rate, an intermediate portion which increases at a second overall rate different than the first overall rate, and a final portion which decreases at a third overall rate.

A method for operating a humidifier coupled to a gas flow generator. The humidifier has a pump providing a supply of water to a heater plate. The method includes: providing power to the gas flow generator; raising the temperature of the heater plate from an ambient temperature to about a first predetermined temperature; powering the pump at about a predetermined first duty cycle; monitoring the temperature of the heater plate until one of: a drop in temperature is detected, or a predetermined period of time has elapsed; and one of: increasing the duty cycle of the pump if the drop in temperature is detected, or turning off the pump if the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

A humidifier is for an airway pressure support system for delivering a humidified flow of breathing gas to a patient. The humidifier includes a water chamber, a conduit, a nozzle, a heater plate, and a separator feature. The conduit includes first and second ends, and a wall portion defining an interior pathway between the first and second ends and structured to convey the flow of breathing gas between the first and second ends. The nozzle is fluidly connected to the water chamber and configured to produce a water droplet from water received from the water chamber. The heater plate is coupled to the wall portion, exposed to the interior pathway, and positioned to receive the water droplet from the nozzle. The separator feature is coupled to the wall portion and configured to shield the water droplet from the flow of breathing gas.

Disclosed is a respirator mask management system. The respirator mask management system comprises a database storage, a data processing unit operatively coupled to the database storage, a user mobile device communicatively coupled with the data processing unit over a communication network, and a respirator mask including a filter configured to prevent inhalation of pollutants by a user, an exhalation valve, a sensor configured to determine a state of the exhalation valve, and a microprocessor operatively coupled with the sensor and having a wireless connectivity to the user mobile device for transmitting the sensed states of the exhalation valve to a respirator mask manager of the user mobile device.

A nebulizer assembly for a respiratory device is provided having a housing defining a chamber. The housing also has a nebulizer port configured to receive a nebulizer to discharge atomized medication into the chamber. An outlet of a handle is coupled to the inlet of the housing. A hose is coupled to an inlet of the handle. A patient interface is coupled to the outlet of the housing. Air flows from the hose to the patient interface via the handle and the housing. The air mixes with the atomized medication within the chamber.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to stabilized insulin compositions suitable for use in implantable artificial pancreatic devices. In embodiments, purified insulin may be made more stable by introducing an insulin analog that will form a heterodimer with the purified insulin. For example, a quantity of between to 10% of one of A21 desamido insulin or Lispro may be added to a purified insulin preparation, resulting in a more stable insulin. Various other methods and preparations of stable insulins, and various catheters for delivering insulins from an implantable device to a body are also presented.

A bioartificial liver device including a bioreaction chamber having a plurality of semi-permeable membranes and a plurality of filter spaces each confined by two adjacent semi-permeable membranes; a plurality of liver cell perfusion ports each communicating with one of the filter spaces for introducing the liver cells into the filter spaces, and a positive peristaltic pump. In the device, the semi-permeable membranes are disposed substantially horizontal with respect to the ground, and the positive peristaltic pump is adapted to drive the plasma flow from the bottom wall of the device to the top wall. The device of the invention improves the cell loading and the area for substance exchange between the blood and the liver cells.

A method for capturing halocarbon from a gas, the method comprising processing gas containing halocarbon with material which is undamaged by exposure to supercritical fluid. A method for reclaiming halocarbon from a material, the method comprising exposing the material to a supercritical fluid.A module for processing a gas containing halocarbon, the module comprising material for capturing halocarbon from a gas, wherein the module is arranged to withstand supercritical fluid.