A surgical instrument for irrigating a frontal sinus target site of a patient including a handle, an introducer, an irrigation channel, a nozzle, and an actuator assembly. The introducer extends from the handle and defines a proximal segment and a distal segment. At least a portion of the proximal segment is linear and at least a portion of the distal segment is relatively curved. The nozzle is fluidly connected to the irrigation channel, and is rotatably maintained at a distal end of the introducer. The actuator assembly includes an actuator maintained by the handle and connected to the nozzle. Movement of the actuator causes the nozzle to rotate relative to the introducer. The introducer can be sized and shaped in accordance with a size and a shape of a nasal passageway/frontal sinus of a human adult.

The present invention relates to an inhaler device for delivering a dose of medicament in dry powder form from a container to a patient in need thereof. The inhaler comprises a swirl chamber in which particles of the medicament entrained in an airflow swirl upon inhalation thereby breaking up the agglomerates into finest dispersed powder.

A method of detecting hypertension in a patient having an implantable blood pump, the method includes operating the implantable blood pump at a first pump set speed during a first period of time. A first flow rate minimum during a cardiac cycle of the patient is measured during the first period of time. The first pump set speed is reduced by at least 200 rpm during a second period of time after the first period of time to a second pump set speed, the second period of time being less than the first period of time. A second flow rate minimum is measured during a cardiac cycle during the second period of time. If the second flow rate minimum decreases during the second period of time at the second pump set speed by more than a predetermined amount, an alert is generated indicating a presence of hypertension.

An inhaler article includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end and a capsule cavity defined within the body. The capsule cavity has a length extending along the longitudinal axis. A mouthpiece air channel extends from the capsule cavity to the mouthpiece end. An end cap is disposed within the distal end and extends to the capsule cavity. The end cap includes an air channel extending from the end cap distal end to the end cap inner end. A capsule is disposed within the capsule cavity and has a capsule length. The capsule length is in a range from about 25% to about 99% of the cavity length, or about 50% to about 95% of the cavity length, or about 70% to about 90% of the cavity length, or from about 75% to about 85% of the cavity length, or about 80% of the cavity length.

A heart support device for circulatory assistance is disclosed. The device comprises a chamber body defining a chamber having an internal volume configured to be filled with blood. The chamber body has a first opening and the chamber is dimensioned such that the first opening and the chamber are fully disposed within a chamber of the human heart. A dynamic volume body is provided and configured to be inflated or deflated to alternately increase or decrease the interior volume of the chamber. A catheter comprising at least one lumen in fluid communication with the dynamic volume body is configured to deliver fluid to the dynamic volume body to inflate the dynamic volume body. A directional flow structure is configured to direct a flow of blood out of the chamber in a direction substantially aligned with a direction in which the catheter extends.

A pulmonary drug delivery system is disclosed, including a breath-powered, dry powder inhaler, with or without a cartridge for delivering a dry powder formulation. The inhaler and cartridge can be provided with a drug delivery formulation comprising, for example, a diketopiperazine and an active ingredient, including, small organic molecules, peptides and proteins, including, hormones such as insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 for the treatment of disease and disorders, for example, diseases and disorders, including endocrine disease such as diabetes and/or obesity.

A delivery device is provided which comprises a container containing a dose of a powder and having at least one exit orifice for dispensing the dose from the container and a chamber adapted to receive the container in an operative configuration. The device further comprises at least one gas inlet by which gas may enter the chamber and at least one gas outlet by which gas and entrained powder may exit the chamber. The delivery device is operable to generate a gas flow through the chamber between the at least one gas inlet and the at least one gas outlet, which brings about orbital motion of the container within the chamber in that at least a central region of the container orbits a central axis of the chamber. The volume occupied by the container is at least 25% of the volume of the chamber.

The present invention relates to an inhaler which is appropriate for delivery of medicament in dry powder form used in respiratory diseases, particularly in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the present invention relates to an inhaler which includes a blister package appropriate for carrying the medicament in dry powder form and used to realize an effective inhalation.

A system for conducting inhalation studies includes an inhalation exposure chamber and an aerosol delivery line connected to the inhalation exposure chamber. The aerosol delivery line is configured to produce a bi-directional and symmetrical presentation of aerosol to the inhalation exposure chamber. A laminar flow element is configured to create an ante-chamber where complete and turbulent mixing of the aerosol occurs. A radial exhaust and the laminar flow element enable laminar flow of the aerosol through the inhalation exposure chamber.

A dry powder inhaler with a blister folding device can include a housing to receive a single blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, and a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user and a blister opening device. The blister opening device can include a blister support element for supporting a blister containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, and a blister folding element co-operable with the blister support element. The blister folding element and the blister support element can be movable relative to each other between a first position, for insertion of the blister into or onto the blister support element, and a second, burst, position in which the blister folding element has co-operated with the blister support element.