A gas conduit for respiratory apparatus includes a lumen for passage of a breathable gas to a patient and a flexible conduit wall surrounding the lumen. The flexible conduit wall has a humidification apparatus for delivering water vapour into the gas passing through the lumen.

A nebulizer device aerosolizes (or vaporizes) liquid drawn from a liquid reservoir via a fluid flow path into a nebulization chamber. An inlet port is coupled to an external air supply and leads through a check valve and Venturi nozzle (e.g. a duckbill valve) into the chamber to direct an air stream across an opening of the fluid flow path. A discharge port leads from the chamber to a user mask, mouthpiece or canula, where the aerosol or vapor mixture can be inhaled. A filtered outlet port isolates exhaled material from the external environment. Multiple discrete heating elements may be placed around the fluid flow path to preheat the liquid. If the liquid is sufficiently volatile, heating may vaporize the material which can condense back into an aerosol after mixing with the air stream. A set of check valves direct one-way fluid flow and prevent leakage or spillage of material from the device.

Systems and methods are disclosed for delivering medication to a patient. One such system has an aerosol generator for aerosolizing medication. The generator is located outside the airway of a patient. A chamber is provided for receiving aerosolized medication from the generator. The system has a carrier gas supply tube for delivering carrier gas to the chamber, and an aerosol delivery tube for receiving the aerosolized medication and the carrier gas from the chamber. The aerosol delivery tube delivers the aerosolized medication to the patient. A distal end of the aerosol delivery tube is positioned inside the airway of the patient in order to discharge the aerosolized medication within the patient's airway.

A device is provided that humidifies breathing gas. The device has a chamber with an inlet and an outlet. A chemical heater is positioned within the chamber and a trigger activates the heater. The chamber can be a conduit with an inner wall and an outer wall with a reservoir defined therebetween. The chemical heater can be positioned within the reservoir.

A conduit for a breathing circuit includes a heater associated, at least in part, with a hydrophilic layer. The purpose of the heater is to evaporate any condensed liquid collecting in the conduit, which is first sucked up by the hydrophilic layer. The heated wick reduces the risk of collected water being passed to the patient and causing choking fits or discomfit. It is preferred that the heated wick lies freely in the conduit to settle at low points in the conduit where condensation may collect.

Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a vaporizing chamber configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent; a grid disposed within the vaporizing chamber; and a heating element positioned relative to the vaporizing chamber and configured to increase the temperature of the grid.

A device is provided that humidifies breathing gas. The device has a chamber with an inlet and an outlet. A chemical heater is positioned within the chamber and a trigger activates the heater. The chamber can be a conduit with an inner wall and an outer wall with a reservoir defined therebetween. The chemical heater can be positioned within the reservoir.

An electronic cigarette (10), comprising an atomizing assembly (100) and a power source assembly (300) connected in a detachable mode; the atomizing assembly (100) comprises a housing (120) and an atomizer (140) located in the housing (120); the housing (120) is provided with a pressing portion (160) therein; the atomizer (140) comprises a liquid storage container (142) and an atomizing element connected to the liquid storage container (142); the power source assembly (300) comprises a first connecting portion (320) facing the atomizer (140); one end of the housing (120) facing the power source assembly (300) is provided with a second connecting portion (180) connected to the first connecting portion (320) in a detachable mode; one end of the atomizer (140) facing the power source assembly (300) is provided with a third connecting portion (144); and when the first connecting portion (320) is connected to and fixed with the second connecting portion (180), the pressing portion (160) presses the atomizer (140) to enable the third connecting portion (144) to press against the first connecting portion (320).

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the generation of directed vapor from a liquid source. Vaporization takes place within a device capable of confining boiling to a geometrically small volume, and expelling it as heated vapor via capillary vaporization. The foregoing is accomplished through the use of a lightweight, compact and portable personal vaporization device that generates heated vapor by the flash boiling of small volumes of aqueous liquid in a safe and energy-efficient manner. Further, the production of vapor absent microbes in aqueous systems is accomplished through the combination of microporous componentry and flash vaporization. The apparatus and methods are directed toward personal humidification for comfort and therapeutic purposes in the case of aqueous liquids, but may also be used with other, non-aqueous liquids.

A gas delivery conduit adapted for fluidly connecting to a respiratory gases delivery system in a high flow therapy system, the gas delivery conduit includes a first connector adapted for connecting to the respiratory gases delivery system, a second connector adapted for connecting to a fitting of a patient interface, tubing fluidly connecting the first connector to the second connector where the first connector has a gas inlet adapted to receive the supplied respiratory gas, one of electrical contacts and temperature contacts integrated into the first connector. The gas delivery conduit further can include a sensing conduit integrated into the gas delivery conduit, where the first connector of the gas delivery conduit is adapted to allow the user to couple the first connector with the respiratory gases delivery system in a single motion.