The present invention relates to a flow sensor for measuring a flow difference having at least two measurement chambers through which fluid is conductible; at least one means for producing a magnetic field for charge separation in a fluid flowing through the at least two measurement chambers; and at least one means for measuring an electric potential in the fluid flowing through the at least two measurement chambers, with the at least two measurement chambers being arranged such that they are run through by the same magnetic field line of the magnetic field for charge separation.

A method and device are used for administering a humidified aerosol to a patient interface by providing and guiding a first gas flow having a humidified aerosol, a second gas flow having humidified respiratory gases, and a liquid flow of a thermally balancing liquid, thermally balancing the first and second gas flow by parallel guiding the first and second gas flow such that the first and second gas flow are guided in a manner that they are at least partially surrounded by the liquid flow of the thermally balancing liquid, mixing the first and second gas flow to obtain enriched respiratory gases having the humidified aerosol, and administering the enriched respiratory gases to the patient interface. The method and the device avoid the administration of dry or re-dried powdered aerosols and unwanted accumulation of and blockage by powdered material. The device is useful in respiratory support of preterm infants.

A system and method for tracking and administering liquid intravenous medications in a hospital, clinic, or patient residence, including recording information onto a short range communication device affixed to a liquid container in a hospital pharmaceutical filling or compounding center, the information including drug information, patient information, and IV administration information, transferring the liquid container to a patient's bedside, programming an infusion course into a bedside IV infusion pump by enabling the pump to read the encoded information on the communication device, and disposing of the liquid container and any residual drug in a smart disposal bin that reads the communication device and weighs the container. The disposal bin may confirm the chemical contents of the container.

An inhaler includes a mouthpiece cover, a pressure sensor, a first indicator and a second indicator. The first indicator may be configured to indicate based on a state of the cover, and the second indicator may be configured to indicate based on an output of the pressure sensor. For example, when the mouthpiece cover opens, the first indicator may illuminate and a dose of medication may be transferred from a reservoir to a dosing cup. The second indicator may illuminate if an amount of inhaled medication reaches a predetermined threshold for successful inhalation.

A medical device system. The system includes a first medical device, a first remote interface, and a second remote interface in communication with the first remote interface and the first medical device, wherein the first medical device sends a command to the first medical device through the second remote interface, and wherein when the second remote interface receives the command, the command must be confirmed by the second remote interface before the command is send by the second remote interface to the first medical device.

Introduced here is a self-contained face mask system with an automated liquid-droplet dispensing mechanism (ADM) for humidification. The enclosure of the self-contained mask system can be comprised of one or more layers of breathable fabric adapted to flexibly conform to the face of a user when worn to form a cavity that is adjacent the nostrils and mouth. The ADM of the face mask system can be comprised of a reservoir in which liquid is stored, a respiratory cycle detector, a timer and controller, and a droplet dispenser that controllably dispenses droplets of the liquid from the reservoir into the cavity for inhalation by the user. The ADM can be contained entirely within the face mask enclosure or supported on the surface of the face mask enclosure such that the self-contained mask system, when worn by a user, can be supported entirely by the head and neck of the user.

A humidification device that includes a case containing a humidification space in which water vapor is introduced to a feed gas to be fed to a user. heating unit configured to acquire electric energy using an electromagnetic induction phenomenon to generate heat is disposed in the humidification space. The humidification device further includes a coil configured to transfer energy to the heating unit by the electromagnetic induction phenomenon, an insulating unit configured to spatially separate the heating unit and the coil to prevent electrical contact therebetween and a liquid supply unit configured to supply, to the heating unit, a liquid to be vaporized into the water vapor. This provides a humidification device that can be made smaller in size and lighter in weight, and that can quickly and sufficiently humidify a gas without heating an entire body of water to be stored, as well as a respiratory assistance device.

A ventilation system including a ventilator having a cooling fan configured reduce an internal temperature of the ventilator. The ventilator also includes a controller configured to control operation of the ventilator. A detector is configured to generate a detection signal when the ventilator is connected to a cold passover humidification (CPH) device. In response to the detection signal, the ventilator reduces or eliminates operation of the cooling fan in comparison to a default mode of operation. A method of providing increasing a temperature of a flow of air to a CPH device is also included.

A patient's body temperature measurement may be made by varying the heat transfer dynamics of a fluid exiting the patient's body and fitting parameters of heat transfer configuration to measurements under the varied conditions. Then the input temperature of the patient core can be extracted from the model and a current temperature measurement remote from the patient core and optionally other measurements such as fluid flow rate.

Disclosed is an autoCPAP respirator which comprises a control unit, a respiration blower and a pressure sensor. The control unit comprises a controller for generating a first control signal, which induces the speed of the blower to generate a pressurized breathing gas flow, a controller for generating a periodically variable control signal, which activates the blower such that the speed of the blower varies in an oscillating manner at a frequency in the range of 1-20 Hz, and a sensor device, which ascertains one or more of instantaneous speed, instantaneous electrical current and instantaneous electrical power of the blower to determine the breathing gas flow and/or breathing gas volume generated by the blower while using characteristic data of the blower stored in a memory.