A compound membrane breathing tube for use in spirometric applications is provided. The compound membrane comprises a first sheet and a second sheet of flexible sheeting connected together along the periphery thereof, and each of the sheets has an opening cut therethrough to create a flap. The flap of the first sheet overlaps the flap of the second sheet so as to present a higher relative resistance to airflow through the breathing tube at lower airflows.

A flow sensor system for ventilation treatment comprises a flow conduit configured to allow gas flow between a first region and a second region, the flow conduit defining a lumen for the gas flow; a flow restrictor disposed within the lumen of the flow conduit between the first region and the second region; a first absolute pressure sensor disposed adjacent to the first region of the flow conduit and configured to measure a pressure of the gas flow at the first region of the flow conduit; and a second absolute pressure sensor disposed adjacent to the second region of the flow conduit and configured to measure pressure of the gas flow at the second region of the flow conduit.

Disclosed are biofeedback methods and devices suitable for providing biofeedback useful for helping a user control an own breathing, for example, to help in inducing deep breathing, and such biofeedback devices further comprising a dispenser for dispensing an inhalable substance.

A flow regulation vent for use in controlling a vent flow of washout gas in a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized to within a therapeutic pressure range above atmospheric pressure to a patient in the treatment of a sleep disordered breathing condition is disclosed. The flow regulation vent may include a housing having at least one vent orifice and at least one fixed bleed orifice; and a flap configured to regulate the vent flow of washout gas through the at least one vent orifice, wherein the at least one fixed bleed orifice is not covered by the flap in any position and the flow regulation vent provides a minimum vent flow independent of the position of the flap.

A bi-directional flow sensor may be adapted for reducing pneumatic noise during pressure sensing with a flow passing through the flow sensor. The flow sensor may include a hollow, tubular member having a throat section disposed between a ventilator end and a patient end. A flow restrictor may be disposed in the throat section and may be adapted to measure differential pressure in the flow. A baffle may be mounted at the ventilator end and may be adapted to minimize non-axial flow at pressure taps located on opposing ends of the flow restrictor. The patient end may include a flow obstruction configured to promote uniform velocity across the flow at the pressure taps during exhalation flow from the patient end to the ventilator end. The flow sensor can minimize pneumatic noise to less than 0.1 LPM to allow accurate patient flow measurement and triggering of inhalation and exhalation phases at flow rates of 0.2 LPM.

An entirely disposable combined antimicrobial filter and flowmeter device for spirometry applications comprises a tubular body, with an inlet end portion, an outlet end portion, and an intermediate portion of enlarged diameter in the form of a discoidal shell. In the discoidal shell both an antimicrobial filtering membrane and a discoidal net of plastic material generating a pressure differential are arranged, it has an outer peripheral edge fixed to an inner annular lip of one of said bell-shaped portions of the discoidal shell, said annular lip being coaxial to said cylindrical wall. One of the filtering membrane and the pressure differential generating network has an outer peripheral edge fixed to the cylindrical wall of the discoidal shell, while the other of the filtering membrane and the pressure differential generating network has an outer peripheral edge fixed to an inner annular lip of one of the bell-shaped portions defining the discoidal shell.

A flow regulation vent for use in controlling a vent flow of washout gas in a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized to within a therapeutic pressure range above atmospheric pressure to a patient in the treatment of a sleep disordered breathing condition is disclosed. The flow regulation vent may include a housing having at least one vent orifice and at least one fixed bleed orifice; and a flap configured to regulate the vent flow of washout gas through the at least one vent orifice, wherein the at least one fixed bleed orifice is not covered by the flap in any position and the flow regulation vent provides a minimum vent flow independent of the position of the flap.

A liquid separator removing a liquid from a sample of a breathing gas flowing through an airway adapter having a channel surrounded by a wall is disclosed herein. The separator includes a chamber receiving the sample, and a membrane having an outer surface exposed to the gas flow, the membrane at least partially surrounding the chamber, which membrane separates the liquid received by the chamber. The separator also includes a supporting structure for supporting the membrane, and a connector operationally attached to the supporting structure, the connector being connectable to the adapter. The connector comprises a cavity providing a flow path for the sample from the chamber through an opening of the cavity to a sample tube. The membrane branches from a central part of the channel into at least two different branches extending to different directions.

A device for training and monitoring the respiratory system comprises a main body, which defines an inhalation chamber and an exhalation chamber communicating with the external environment by means of respective external seats and interconnected by a central chamber. A mouthpiece can be further placed in fluid communication alternatively with the inhalation chamber or with the exhalation chamber by means of respective one-way valves. A measurement sensor is coupled to the main body so as to measure a value representative of the breathing process, independently monitoring the contribution of inhalation and exhalation. Such a representative value is acquired by a control unit. Lastly, an adjustable load is interposed between the mouthpiece and the central chamber.

Disclosed are biofeedback methods and devices suitable for providing biofeedback useful 1 for helping a user control an own breathing, for example, to help in inducing deep breathing, and such biofeedback devices further comprising a dispenser for dispensing an inhalable substance.