A reusable apparatus, such as a medical instrument or tool, is decontaminated by applying pressure waves with direct contact of the pressure wave applicator to the reusable apparatus in an open bath in a sufficient dosage to remove contamination but without adversely affecting the ability to reuse the apparatus.

An apparatus for providing a humidified flow of pressurized breathable gas includes a humidification chamber having a heatable base surface and a humidification tub configured to contain a supply of water. The humidification tub includes a thermally conductive base and is removably positionable at least partially within the humidification chamber and onto the heatable base surface in order to allow for heating of the water in the humidification tub. The humidification chamber is configured to receive the flow of pressurized breathable gas and output the flow of pressurized breathable gas with increased humidity. The flow of pressurized breathable gas is pre-heated before entering the humidification tub by being configured to, after entering the humidification chamber and before entering the humidification tub, flow along at least a portion of the perimeter of the humidification tub.

A method of determining a duration of safe apnoea. Information is obtained relating to a respiratory indicator, and a duration of safe apnoea is determined from the obtained information. A respiratory therapy system has one or more patient interfaces. A processor is configured to determine a duration of safe apnoea based on obtained information relating to a respiratory indicator.

A breathing assistance apparatus is configured with features that improve serviceability of the apparatus. The apparatus can include animations to provide instruction regarding correcting easily-identified fault conditions and to provide instruction regarding routine maintenance routines. The apparatus also can be configured with top level control menus that are obscured in a manner to limit manipulation of the top level control elements by unauthorized users.

A patient interface for supplying a flow of breathable gas to the airways of a patient may comprise a heat and moisture exchanger (HME). The HME may be positioned in a flow path of the flow of breathable gas. The HME may absorb heat and moisture from gas exhaled by the patient and the incoming flow of breathable gas to be supplied to the patient's airways may be heated and moisturized by the heat and moisture held in the HME.

This invention relates to a surgical smoke evacuation system for use in removing gases and smoke created in surgical procedures form within an insufflated surgical cavity. Such a system comprises a discharge assembly adapted to form a gases path, and having an end which in use is located within said surgical cavity so that gases and/or surgical smoke inside said cavity can pass out of said cavity and through said discharge assembly along said gases path, a flexible discharge limb having an operational site end and an outlet end, and a self-supporting wall defining a gases flow passage between said operational site end and said outlet end, in use said open operational site end sealingly connected to said discharge assembly so that said gases and/or surgical smoke can pass out of said discharge assembly and into said discharge limb, a filter connected in use to the outlet end of the discharge limb, at least part of said wall of the discharge limb formed from a breathable material, said breathable material allowing the passage of water vapour through the wall of the discharge limb without allowing the passage of liquid water or surgical smoke or other gases.

Methods and apparatus provide communications among respiratory therapy device (“TD”), server and intermediary (e.g., a control device (“CTLD”) for the therapy device) to improve security. More secure communication channel(s) may be established using shared secrets derived with different channels. The communications may include transmitting therapy data from TD to server for authentication. The CTLD may receive the data and a nonce from a server. The CTLD receives from the TD a signing key dependent on the nonce and a secret shared by TD and server. The CTLD generates an authorisation code with received therapy data and the key for authentication of the data by the server upon its receipt of the code and data. The server computes (1) a key from the nonce and the secret known to TD, and (2) another authorisation code from received therapy data and the key. Data authentication may involve comparing received and computed codes.

Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a sump configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent; an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a bottom of the sump and at least partially disposed within the sump; a vaporizing chamber fluidically coupled to the sump; and a heating element coupled to the vaporizing chamber and configured to increase a temperature of a surface disposed within the vaporizing chamber.

An improved system and method of monitoring the operation of a respiratory or surgical humidifier system. A controllable load can be connected across output terminals to a tube heating element to test the operation of a tube heating element supply circuit. A range of tests may be performed by controlling the state of one or more components and monitoring one or more sensors. Tests may be performed either during or not during therapy and either with a gas supply tube connected or not. Transient currents may also be detected and the power supply to a tube heating element can be stopped where transient currents outside a permitted range are detected.

Systems and methods producing a customised patient respiratory interface are disclosed. Data representative of one or more landmark features of a head of a human is obtained. One or more landmark feature locations of the landmark features are identified based on the data. A set of manufacturing specifications for production of the patient respiratory interface component is determined based on the one or more landmark feature locations. The patient respiratory interface component is produced based on the set of manufacturing specifications.