The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for physiological modulation, including neural, gastrointestinal, renal, respiratory, and other modulation, for the purposes of treating several disorders, including obesity, depression, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and other disorders. This includes implanted, percutaneous, hybrid implanted and nonimplanted, nonimplanted, noninvasive neural and neuromuscular modulators, used to deliver autonomic vector modulation to deliver optimal therapy via coordinated multi-nodal modulation at least one of the afferent and efferent neurons of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and other nervous system pathways.

The present invention regards a composition in powder form for oral inhalation, preferably for oral aspiration, comprising a mucolytic agent, preferably N-acetylcysteine. Furthermore, the present invention regards said composition for use in a method for the treatment of a mucus hypersecretion and of diseases, symptoms or disorders associated with it in a needy subject. Lastly, the present invention regards a device for administration, through inhalation route by means of oral aspiration, to said needy subject.

Disposable ampoule for use in an aerosol generating device, comprising: a medicament container that contains a medicament and is formed of a container body and a container bottom, and a predetermined break point that at least partly surrounds the container bottom, characterised by a collar that surrounds the predetermined break point at its outside and extends the container body over and beyond the container bottom.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating strictures in body lumens and methods of using the same. A drug-coated balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site of a body lumen stricture includes an elongated balloon having a main diameter. The balloon catheter includes a coating layer overlying an exterior surface of the balloon. The coating layer includes one or more water-soluble additives and an initial drug load of a therapeutic agent.

A method for operating a ventilator for artificial ventilation of a patient, comprising: initial recording of at least one patient-specific physiological parameter, initial setting of at least one technical respiration parameter, and ventilation of the patient based on the technical respiration parameter. The technical respiration parameter corresponds to at least one of respiratory minute volume (VE), tidal volume (V.sub.T), respiratory rate (RR), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), or inspiratory oxygen concentration (FiO.sub.2) made available by the ventilator. A repeating measurement of the parameter is carried out by the ventilator at time intervals, and an adaptation of the parameter is effected by the ventilator based on said repeating measurement. A ventilator for artificial ventilation of a patient is also proposed.

This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

A method for treating the lung during an acute episode of reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as an asthma attack. The method comprises transferring energy to an airway wall of an airway such that a diameter of the airway is increased. The energy may be transferred to the airway wall prior to, during or after an asthma attack. The energy may be transferred in an amount sufficient to temporarily or permanently increase the diameter of the airway. The method may be performed while the airway is open, closed or partially closed.

A pump device, tube device and method for the aspiration, peristaltic movement and collection of fluid. A rigid tube for drawing fluid connected to a primary flexible tube. The primary flexible tube inserted through a peristaltic pump.

A system for delivering a flow of gas to an airway of a patient respiratory system includes a gas flow generator, a sensor, and a loop gain controller. The loop gain controller selectively controls the flow of gas to the airway according to a positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy mode. The loop gain controller comprises (a) a stability metric module, (b) a condition monitoring module that monitors ventilation characteristics of the flow of gas in the patient respiratory system and provides an output indicative of monitored ventilation characteristics, (c) a loop gain decision module that determines a future ventilation characteristic target and plant gain target, (d) a therapy prescription decision module that determines a therapy command pressure or delivery characteristic, and (e) a pressure delivery module that controls the gas flow generator to deliver the flow of gas at the determined therapy command pressure or delivery characteristic for a future breath.

Devices, systems for localized delivery of a chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or targeted drug/biologic therapy to a target tissue area of an internal body organ of a patient. A catheter 10 forms a sealed treatment chamber in a natural lumen extending through the target tissue area. Air is purged from the chamber, which is then filled with a liquid drug solution for an adequate treatment session time, solution volume and drug concentration to saturate the target tissue area, thereby providing the treatment. The liquid drug solution may be circulated or recirculated through the chamber or maintained stationary therewithin. The drug may saturate the target tissue area and pass therethrough into the lymphatic system or interstitial space, which may serve as a reservoir of the drug for continued therapeutic treatment after withdrawal of the catheter. The chamber is evacuated at the end of the treatment session.