A method of estimating a parameter indicative of respiratory flow of a patient being administered flow therapy, comprising: optionally administering a gas at a flow rate to the patient using a flow therapy apparatus with a patient interface, determin—-ing a terminal pressure in, at or proximate the outlet of the patient interface or in, at or proximate the nares of the patient, determin -ing nasal RTF, determining a nasal flow parameter being or indicative of nasal flow based on the pressure and a nasal RTF, and optionally outputting the nasal flow parameter or parameter derived therefrom.

A system for preventing cross-contamination in single-limb ventilators is described. In one embodiment, the system includes an airflow generator connected in-line to a humidifier, a first check valve and a patient interface by a gas flow circuit. A controller is electrically coupled to the airflow generator, and a cartridge is connected to the gas flow circuit between a first point downstream of the humidifier and a second point upstream of the patient interface. The cartridge includes a bacteria filter and the first check valve. A method for preventing cross-contamination in single-limb ventilators and a method for providing gaseous flow through a single-limb ventilator are also described.

The present invention provides new devices, systems, and methods for delivering enriched oxygen to recipients (e.g., chronically ill patients, such as COPD patients). One aspect is a more efficient portable oxygen concentrator that is configured to deliver an enriched oxygen airflow having a significantly lower overall oxygen concentration and greater overall volume administered as compared to currently marketed or known portable oxygen concentrators. Administering the lower oxygen concentration at higher volumes allows for the present portable oxygen concentrators to deliver an equivalent number of moles of oxygen as administered by traditional portable concentrators while increasing the efficiency of the system and the ability of the system to maintain the therapeutic level of oxygen concentration for a longer period.

A process adjusts a ventilation parameter (40) for a ventilation process (90) of a patient (110), which is carried out by a ventilator (20). Electrical impedance tomographic (EIT) data (70) of the lungs (111) of the patient (110), concerning the ventilation process (90), are collected by an EIT device (30). An adjusting device (1), adjusting a ventilation parameter (40) for the ventilation process (90), has an analysis unit (2) with a memory (3), a data input unit (5) data-communicatingly connected to the analysis unit (2) for receiving data and a data output unit (7) data-communicatingly connected to the analysis unit (2) for outputting data. A medical system (100), includes a ventilator (20), an EIT device (30) as well as the adjusting device (1) for adjusting a ventilation parameter (40) for the ventilation process (90) of a patient (100).

There is provided a method of detecting a fault in a breathing system. The method comprises the steps of (a) taking a series of measurements of a first parameter of the breathing system; and (b) setting a fault boundary for the first parameter, the fault boundary being dependent on a plurality of the measurements of the first parameter. The method further includes at least one update procedure comprising the steps of (c) taking one or more further measurements of the first parameter; and (d) updating the fault boundary, the updated fault boundary being dependent on an updated set of measurements of the first parameter, the updated set of measurements of the first parameter including at least one of the further measurements of the first parameter.

A respiratory therapy apparatus is operable to deliver multiple types of therapy to a patient. The apparatus includes a main housing and a nebulizer tray that selectively attaches to a bottom of the main housing. The apparatus also includes a filter housing unit having an antenna surrounding a pneumatic passage and a transponder chip coupled to the antenna. The main housing has also has an antenna that surrounds a respective pneumatic passage of a main outlet port of the apparatus. The main housing includes a reader that controls communication between the antennae. The main housing of the apparatus also has a pivotable hose support plate, a firmware upgrade port underneath part of the top wall of the housing, and a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays various user inputs for control of the apparatus and that displays various alert conditions that are detected.

Secretions that have accumulated at or near an airway of a subject as the subject is being mechanically ventilated are removed by suctioning. Before, during, and/or after the removal of the secretions, steps are taken to mitigated the impact of the suctioning used for secretion removal on the subject. As such, the timing of suction used to remove secretions may be influenced or controlled, ventilation of the subject during suction may be adjusted, ventilation of the subject prior to secretion removal may be adjusted to prepare the lungs of the subject for secretion removal, ventilation of the subject subsequent to suction for secretion removal may be adjusted, and/or other techniques for reducing the impact of suctioning for secretion removal on the subject may be implemented.

A conduit for communicating a flow of breathing gas from a pressure generating device to the airway of a patient. The conduit includes a first end which is structured to be coupled to the pressure generating device for receiving the flow of breathing gas and an opposite second end which is structured to be coupled to a patient interface device. The conduit further includes an active control element positioned at or near the second end; a first heating wire connected between the active control element and a first connection terminal positioned at or about the first end; and a second heating wire connected between the active control element and a second connection terminal positioned at or about the first end. Each of the first and second connection terminals are structured to be connected to a tube power supply.

Provided is an exacerbation prediction device equipped with a respiration sensing means of continuously sensing respiration data of a patient, a calculation means of calculating stable respiration data that are respiration data during a condition in which a respiratory rate is lowered and stable for a certain period of time from the sensed continuous respiration data of the patient, and a prediction means of predicting occurrence of an acute exacerbation in the patient in accordance with the stable respiration data calculated during a certain period of time.

A device for determining a patient component of an exchange of gas of a patient being ventilated, a measuring device or ventilation device with such a device for determining a patient component of an exchange of gas of a patient being ventilated, a process as well as to a computer program determine a patient component of an airway flow of a ventilation gas of a patient being ventilated. A determination of a patient component of an airway flow of a ventilation gas of a patient being ventilated are described. The determination includes an implementation with a signal processor, of forms a high-pass characteristic.