A processor acquires a first radiographic image and a second radiographic image obtained by irradiating a subject, into which a tracheal tube has been inserted, with radiation in different directions, derives a three-dimensional position of a distal end of the tracheal tube in the subject on the basis of a position of the distal end of the tracheal tube in each of the first radiographic image and the second radiographic image, derives a three-dimensional position of a bronchial bifurcation in the subject on the basis of a bronchial bifurcation position in each of the first radiographic image and the second radiographic image, and determines insertion of the tracheal tube into an esophagus on the basis of the three-dimensional position of the distal end of the tracheal tube and the three-dimensional position of the bronchial bifurcation.

An infusion apparatus includes a housing and a chamber configured to be connected to the housing. The apparatus further includes a weight sensor coupled to a load connector connected to the housing and an optical sensor disposed in the housing. The weight sensor is configured to generate a first signal based on a measured weight of the fluid container attached to the housing in a weight-bearing configuration. The optical sensor is configured to generate a second signal based on detecting drops of the fluid traversing the chamber. The apparatus also includes a flow control mechanism to control a flow rate of the fluid into an outlet channel. The apparatus includes one or more processing devices configured to perform operations including transmitting a control signal to the flow control mechanism to adjust the flow rate.

A dispensing device for dispensing anesthetic in a breathing gas stream includes a flow duct (42) for an anesthetic-containing breathing gas stream, a control unit (5) and a first temperature sensor (54). An anesthetic feed device (45) has an evaporation surface (46) arranged in the flow duct (42). The first temperature sensor (54) detects the temperature of the evaporation surface (46) and sends a first temperature signal (T1) to the control unit (5). A second temperature sensor (53) detects the temperature of the breathing gas stream in the flow duct (42) and sends a second temperature signal (T2) to the control unit (5). The control unit (5) is configured to determine an anesthetic concentration based on the first and second temperature signals (T1, T2).

A method for determining an aerosol dose rate of an aerosol stream by a sensor module includes providing the aerosol stream to a patient by an inhalation device. The sensor module and the method allow an accurate determination of the aerosol dose rate actually received by the patient from the aerosol stream when using the inhalation device, the inhaled dose per breath, and the total inhaled dose per application. The sensor module can be used with existing or new inhalation devices which benefit from the determination of the actually received aerosol dose rate while the patient can maintain using the familiar inhalation device.

A medical photometer includes a signal producing section that produces a first control signal to emit a first light having a first wavelength, a second control signal to emit a second light having a second wavelength, a third control signal to emit a third light having a third wavelength, and a fourth control signal to emit a fourth light having a fourth wavelength, a signal acquiring section that acquires a first to fourth intensity signals, a processor, and a memory that stores instructions. In the medical photometer, the first wavelength and the second wavelength are selected as two wavelengths at each of which an extinction coefficient of blood is a first value. The third wavelength and the fourth wavelength are selected as two wavelengths at each of which the extinction coefficient of the blood is a second value which is different from the first value.

Apparatus and methods for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient are provided. The apparatus includes a humidification system configured to deliver humidified breathing gas to a patient. The humidification system includes a vapor transfer unit and a base unit. The vapor transfer unit includes a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, and a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage. The base unit includes a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit. The liquid passage is not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow therebetween when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit.

A method and a detection device for detecting blood in a dialysate flow of a dialysis machine during extracorporeal blood treatment.

A drug delivery device includes a container for storing a drug, the container having a stopper for expelling the drug; an injection drive comprising an energy source for directly or indirectly acting on the stopper to expel the drug; a sensor for detecting contact between the drug delivery device and a body of a patient; and a user interface (UI) for activating or causing the activation of the injection drive. The device is operative for drawing attention to the UI, if the sensor detects contact between the drug delivery device and the body of the patient, to thereby indicate that the injection drive is ready to be activated, which activation is the next step in the drug administration process.

An optical blood monitoring system and corresponding method avoid the need to obtain a precise intensity value of the light impinging upon the measured blood layer during the analysis. The system is operated to determine at least two optical measurements through blood layers of different thickness but otherwise substantially identical systems. Due to the equivalence of the systems, the two measurements can be compared so that the bulk extinction coefficient of the blood can be calculated based only on the known blood layer thicknesses and the two measurements. Reliable measurements of various blood parameters can thereby be determined without certain calibration steps.

An inhaler comprises a housing, an air channel extending between at least one air inlet opening and a suction opening in the housing, a dispensing element for vaporizing or nebulizing liquid supplied to the dispensing element for admixing with air flowing in the air channel, an electronic control device, an electronic data memory, and a sensor system comprising a flow measuring device for measuring the volumetric and/or mass flow of air flowing through the air channel. The electronic control device is adapted to capture a plurality of airflow measurement values over at least a portion of the duration of an inhalation puff by means of the flow measurement device, compare the plurality of airflow measurement values to a puff profile stored in the data memory, and output a control signal based on the comparison of the plurality of airflow measurement values to the stored puff profile.