Methods and breast pump devices for simultaneous pumping and feeding breastmilk in the nursing position and quantification of breastmilk consumption are provided. A breast pump device includes a nipple shield for receiving a nipple, a housing having a throughput aperture and a fluid path, the fluid path extending from the nipple shield to the throughput aperture, and a negative pressure source. In some embodiments, the housing further includes a gate to control the quantity of breastmilk displaced to a baby. In some embodiments, the gate operates to respond to the amount of breastmilk displaced to the baby, and thereby allows for quantification. In some embodiments, the quantity of breastmilk displaced is also recorded.

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.

A tub is configured to contain a supply of water and be inserted into a chamber of a humidifier. The tub includes a tub base configured to contain a supply of water and a tub lid connected to the tub base. The tub lid includes an inlet configured to receive a flow of breathable gas to be humidified and an outlet for the humidified flow of breathable gas. The tub further includes a water level indicator configured to indicate a level of the supply of water in the tub base. The water level indicator includes an inclined portion configured to direct the flow of breathable gas from the inlet away from the outlet. The water level indicator may be visible through the inlet.

A method of detecting intravascular volume depletion in a patient during a hemodialysis session includes measuring venous drip pressure for the patient. With a computer-driven analyzer, the method further includes analyzing the venous drip pressure and automatically and continuously determining a venous access pressure in proximity to a location of needle insertion into a vascular access site of the patient, wherein changes in venous access pressure are representative of changes in intravascular blood pressure. Using the analyzer, the method further includes comparing the venous access pressure to a standard and, if the venous access pressure is outside of a defined range of the standard, determining with the analyzer that the patient is experiencing intravascular volume depletion during the hemodialysis session.

The present disclosure provides for an improved method of determining a water out condition in a humidified gases supply apparatus. The method includes a two-step process including a primary determination of a water out condition and a secondary determination of a water out condition. This primary determination is made during observation of the normal operation of the apparatus. During the secondary determination the method takes temporary control over the humidifying part of the apparatus. The secondary determination confirms or contradicts the primary determination.

The present invention relates to a dialysis machine having an extracorporeal blood system; a dialysis fluid system having a dialyzer; having a control unit, wherein the dialysis machine furthermore comprises a balancing chamber having two balancing chamber halves for a balanced infeed and draining of dialysis fluid to and from the dialyzer, wherein a line is provided through which the dialysis fluid is conducted to the balancing chamber, and wherein a mixing chamber is provided in which the fresh dialysis fluid or a component thereof is located and which is directly or indirectly connected to a de-airing line closable by a valve; wherein the dialysis machine has a control unit that is configured such that the control unit opens and closes the valve once, or a number of times, in the operating state of the special air separation of the dialysis machine when the balancing chamber half of the balancing chamber in fluid communication with the named line is in its high-pressure phase.

A method for removing bodily fluid includes drawing bodily fluid that has accumulated in excess, converting the drawn fluid from bulk liquid form to aerosol form, and disposing of the aerosol via evaporation of liquid droplets and absorption and/or diffusion of vapor. Conversion from bulk liquid to aerosol may include collecting the bulk liquid fluid in a reservoir, conveying the bulk liquid bodily fluid to an atomizer, converting the bulk liquid fluid into an aerosol having ultrafine droplets, and ejecting the aerosol into a subcutaneous space for disposal via evaporation of liquid droplets and absorption and/or diffusion of vapors. The method may be performed with a subcutaneous atomizer that may be controlled locally or by an external transmitter for effecting a conversion and mist rate to keep pace with the accumulation of excess bodily fluid.

Disclosed is a method for scheduling a refilling of a secondary reservoir of an ambulatory infusion system out of a primary reservoir storing a liquid drug. The method includes repeatedly and automatically carrying out a filling volume assessment routine. The filling volume assessment routine includes: determining, at a present point in time, an estimated filling volume of the secondary reservoir at a future estimation point in time, the future point in time being an estimation time interval after the present point in time, and determining in dependence of the estimated filling volume, if the secondary reservoir shall be refilled at the present point in time.

A vaporizing device for consuming a stimulant or a pharmaceutical substance by inhaling a vapour comprise a housing having an exit opening provided at one end of said housing, a vaporizer connected to said exit opening via a vapour conduit, said vaporizer having an electrically driven heating unit and a liquid exposure section that is heated by the heating unit to vaporize a liquid in said liquid exposure section, a liquid reservoir connected to said liquid exposure section via a liquid conduit, and an electrical energy storage unit electrically connected to said heating unit, wherein an electrical fluid level sensor is associated with said liquid reservoir, said fluid level sensor being arranged and adapted to produce a low-level-signal if the liquid level within said liquid reservoir is below a predetermined threshold.

A system for managing liquid waste includes a first liquid container that receives waste liquid, a liquid transfer pump fluidly connected to the first liquid container; and a second liquid container fluidly connectable to the liquid transfer pump. The liquid transfer pump is can be selectively activated to transfer liquid waste from the first liquid container to the second liquid container when the second liquid container is fluidly connected to the liquid transfer pump. A method for managing liquid waste includes the steps of receiving waste liquid into a first liquid container, monitoring the amount of liquid in the first container, connecting a second liquid container to a liquid transfer pump that is connected to the first liquid container, after the amount of liquid received into the first liquid container reaches a predefined level, transferring liquid from the first liquid container into the second liquid container with the liquid transfer pump, and removing liquid transferred to the second liquid container.