Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. A nitric oxide delivery system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid.

The disclosure relates to methods of producing nitric oxide (NO) gas that is administrable without specialized equipment and does not provide nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2) gas. The methods comprise combining a nitrate and/or nitrite anion and an elemental metal in an acidic solution in a vessel capable of housing liquid and gas constituents, wherein NO gas is produced by the reaction of the nitrate and/or nitrite anion and the elemental metal in the acidic solution. The method further comprises administering the NO gas produced to the subject via inhalation. Also described are compositions and kits for improved delivery of NO gas.

Apparatus, systems and methods are described, such as for providing, or controlling mechanical ventilation provided to, a patient. A controller may control a gas delivery system to deliver gas to the patient according to a FiO2 setting and a PEEP setting. The controller may adjust the FiO2 setting to an updated FiO2 setting based at least in part on a determined oxygen concentration of the patient's blood and may update the PEEP setting based at least in part on the updated FiO2 setting. Furthermore, the controller may update the PEEP setting based at least in part on the updated FiO2 setting and the current PEEP setting. An updated PEEP setting may be based at least in part on PEEP change eligibility rules and PEEP selection rules. The FiO2 setting may be adjusted so as to relatively rapidly increase the FiO2 setting in response to a rapidly decreasing patient SpO2.

Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. A nitric oxide delivery system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid.

Therapy gas delivery systems that provide run-time-to-empty information to a user of the system and methods for administering therapeutic gas to a patient. The therapeutic gas delivery system may include a gas pressure sensor attachable to a therapeutic gas source that communicates therapeutic gas pressure data to a therapeutic gas delivery system controller, a gas temperature sensor positioned to measure gas temperature in the therapeutic gas source that communicates therapeutic gas temperature data to the therapeutic gas delivery system controller, at least one flow controller that communicates therapeutic gas flow rate data to the therapeutic gas delivery system controller, at least one flow sensor that communicates flow rate data to the therapeutic gas delivery system controller, and at least one display that communicates run-time-to-empty to a user of the therapeutic gas delivery system. The therapeutic gas delivery system controller of the system includes a processor that executes an algorithm to calculate the run-time-to-empty from the data received from the gas pressure sensor, temperature sensor, flow controller and flow sensor, and directs the result to the display.

The present disclosure pertains to a system configured to amplify the pressure and/or flow rate of a pressurized flow of breathable gas by entraining oxygen gas and/or ambient air with an air amplifier and a venturi valve at or near a blending gas source, distally (e.g., remotely) from an interface appliance of a subject interface (e.g., away from the face of the subject) to reduce noise from the system heard by the subject. The system is configured to provide this pressure support and/or ventilation with oxygen therapy. The system is configured to deliver ventilatory and/or pressure support with oxygen therapy while decreasing output requirements of the blending gas source and/or pressure generator.

A system for monitoring inspirable gas for delivery to a patient includes a branched breathing circuit having a first branch conduit and a second branch conduit. The first branch conduit is fluidly connected to a first gas source and the second branch conduit is fluidly connected to a second gas source, and the first and second branch conduits merge into a patient delivery conduit. The system includes a first flow sensor in the first branch conduit, a second flow sensor in the second branch conduit, and a third flow sensor in the patient delivery conduit. A control unit is electrically coupled to the first, second and third flow sensors. The control unit is configured to determine a blend of gas in the patient delivery circuit based on a measured flow from the third flow sensor and a measured flow from at least one of the first and second flow sensors.

This invention relates to a breath indicator for providing an indication of an inhalation and/or exhalation state of a user. Said breath indicator comprising a body comprising a gas sampling portion configured for receipt of a user's inhalation and/or exhalation gases, and an indicator portion. Said gas sampling portion in fluid communication with said indicator portion. Said indicator portion comprising at least a first region and at least a second region, the first region comprising a gas parameter detecting material capable of changing between an initial visual state and a subsequent visual state indicative of detection of a gas parameter of inhalation and/or exhalation gases of said user; and wherein said initial visual state and/or said subsequent visual state of the first region visually contrasts with a visual state of at least said second region.

Gas delivery devices include different examples of nitric oxide (NO) generating systems. Each example of the NO generating system includes a solid, light sensitive NO donor, and a light source that is operatively positioned to selectively expose the solid, light sensitive NO donor to light in order to generate NO gas.

An anesthetic breathing apparatus and system, having a patient circle system for re-breathing exhaled gases by a patient a volume reflector, a fresh gas delivery line, and a gas sensor unit arranged to measure a gas stream upstream a fresh gas connection and downstream said reflector unit. The gas sensor unit provides a signal for detection of a reflector driving gas (RDG) crossing over the volume reflector during inspiration based on at least one property of the gas stream measured by the gas sensor unit. Appropriate action may be taken based on this measurement, for instance in disclosed methods.