Embodiments of the innovation relate to a ventilator, comprising: a positive displacement pump having a drive motor and configured to output a predetermined volume of inspiratory gas for each rotation of an output shaft of the drive motor; at least one pressure sensor configured to measure inspiratory pressure; and a control unit having a controller comprising a memory and a processor, the control unit disposed in electrical communication with the drive motor and with the at least one pressure sensor. The controller is configured to: receive at least one of an operation signal and a pressure sensor signal, and transmit a drive motor control signal to the drive motor to adjust at least one of a rotational speed of the output shaft and a number of rotations of the output shaft based upon the at least one of the operation signal and the pressure sensor signal.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for treating a subject suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In one embodiment, the method of the present invention is configured to deliver negative airway pressure to a subject's airway to strengthen the airway muscle tone.

Monitors for evaluating airway procedures, particularly in a pre-hospital environment, are described herein. In an example method, an airway parameter of an individual receiving assisted ventilation is detected by an airway sensor. A monitor determines a metric based on the airway sensor. Further, the monitor performs an action based on the metric.

A vaporizer cartridge of an inhaler has a liquid storage tank and a hollow body with a continuous air flow channel. The storage tank has an access opening to the air flow channel. A vaporizer unit extends over the entire access opening and is arranged in the region of the access opening. The vaporizer unit has a wick member towards the storage tank and a heating member towards the air flow channel. The vaporizer unit is liquid-permeable such that liquid is conveyed at least initially from the tank through the vaporizer unit to the channel in a capillary manner. The interior of the tank is structurally divided into fluidically coupled main and auxiliary volume. Only the auxiliary volume is in direct contact with the vaporizer unit, such that the liquid from the main volume contacts the wick member solely via the auxiliary volume. An inhaler may include the vaporizer cartridge.

Methods and apparatus provide controlled operations in an oxygen concentrator (100) such as by adjusting valve opening time to regulate amount of oxygen enriched air released to a user. The apparatus may generate, with a sensor configured to sense pressure at a location associated with accumulation of enriched air produced by the concentrator, a signal representing measured pressure of the accumulated enriched air. The apparatus may generate, with a sensor, a signal indicative of respiration of a user of the concentrator. The apparatus may include a controller configured to receive the measured pressure and respiration signals. The controller may control, responsive to the respiration indication and according to a target duration, actuation of a valve adapted to release a bolus of accumulated oxygen enriched air. The controller may dynamically determine the target duration during the release of the bolus according to a function of a value of the measured pressure.

A high flow therapy system for delivering heated and humidified respiratory gas to an airway of a patient includes a respiratory gas flow pathway for delivering the respiratory gas to the airway of the patient by way of a non-sealing respiratory interface; wherein flow rate of the respiratory gas is controlled by a microprocessor, a mixing area for mixing a first gas and a second gas in the respiratory gas flow pathway, a humidification area downstream of the mixing area and configured for humidifying respiratory gas in the respiratory gas flow pathway, and a heated delivery conduit for minimizing condensation of humidified respiratory gas.

Devices and methods for allowing for improved assisted ventilation of a patient. The methods and devices provide a number of benefits over conventional approaches for assisted ventilation. For example, the methods and devices described herein permit blind insertion of a device that can allow ventilation regardless of whether the device is positioned within a trachea or an esophagus. In addition, the methods and device allow for timed delivery of ventilations based on a condition of a thoracic cavity to increase the amount and efficiency of blood flow during a resuscitation procedure.

One variation of a method for video conferencing includes, during a setup period: accessing a test video feed; and generating a face model, representing facial characteristics of a first user depicted in the test video feed, based on features detected in the test video feed. The method also includes, during an operating period: accessing a video feed; representing constellations of facial landmarks, detected in frames in the video feed, in a feed of facial landmark containers; representing sets of facial muscle actions, detected in frames in the video feed, in a feed of facial expression containers; and transforming the feed of facial landmark containers, the feed of facial expression containers, and the face model into a feed of synthetic face images according to the synthetic face generator.

Devices and methods for allowing for improved assisted ventilation of a patient. The methods and devices provide a number of benefits over conventional approaches for assisted ventilation. For example, the methods and devices described herein permit blind insertion of a device that can allow ventilation regardless of whether the device is positioned within a trachea or an esophagus. In addition, the methods and device allow for timed delivery of ventilations based on a condition of a thoracic cavity to increase the amount and efficiency of blood flow during a resuscitation procedure.

An electronic smoking article includes an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner tube within the outer tube and including a pair of opposing slots, a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, a coil heater, a wick and a mouth end insert. The coil heater is located in the inner tube. The coil heater is formed of an iron-free, nickel-chromium alloy and has substantially uniformly spaced windings. The wick is surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube.