Devices disclosed herein relate to humidification systems for making humidified ventilator air. The humidification system provides an elongated air path that increases both the surface area and time for air-water interaction, and thus increases efficiency of humidification. The humidification system also enables even distribution of heat and inhibition of bacterial growth within the system, thus improves comfort and safety for patients receiving respiratory therapy. Device disclosed herein also relates to tubing for delivering humidified ventilator air. The tubing includes an air passage and a heat blanket that envelops and warms up the air passage. The tubing thus prevents or decreases water condensation and loss of humidity of humidified air.

Introduced are a bed device system and methods for: gathering human biological signals, such as heart rate, breathing rate, or temperature; analyzing the gathered human biological signals; and controlling the bed device system, e.g., a temperature of the bed device, based on the analysis.

A humidifier and humidity sensor is disclosed for use with a breathing assistance apparatus. The humidity sensor preferably includes means to sense absolute humidity, relative humidity and/or temperature at both the patient end and humidifier end. The humidifier may also include provision to both control independently the humidity and temperature of the gases. Further, a chamber manifold is disclosed to facilitate easy connection of the humidifier to various outlets, inlets and sensors. A heated conduit is described which provides a more effective temperature profile along its length.

Introduced are a bed device system and methods for: gathering human biological signals, such as heart rate, breathing rate, or temperature; analyzing the gathered human biological signals; and controlling the bed device system, e.g., a temperature of the bed device, based on the analysis.

An expiratory limb is provided that is configured to remove humidified gases from a patient and configured to provide improved drying performance by providing a tailored temperature profile along the limb. Limbs for providing humidified gases to and/or removing humidified gases from a patient are also provided, the limbs having improved gas residence time at constant volumetric flow rate. The improved residence time can be achieved by providing a limb comprising multiple lumens.

A ventilator (10) that pressurizes gas from a body of gas to provide a flow of gas to an airway of a subject (14) such that the gas flow mechanically facilitates the respiration of the subject (14). In order to enhance the comfort of the subject (14) during ventilation by the ventilator (10), the ventilator (10) enables the subject (14) to make unsupervised adjustments to one or more of the properties of the gas flow, within predetermined limits.

The system described comprises a respiratory therapy flow device, a respiratory circuit, and an exhalation valve. The device includes an exhalation pressure control port. The exhalation valve is removably engaged with the exhalation pressure control port and the respiratory circuit. The valve comprises a lid, a diaphragm, and a housing body. The housing body comprises a ramped lock configured to engage the respiratory therapy flow device at the exhalation pressure control port. Responsive to an engagement between the valve and the exhalation pressure control port, the lid forms a compression seal with the exhalation pressure control port, the diaphragm forms a compression seal with the lid, and the diaphragm is selectively controlled via gas pressure received through the exhalation pressure control port such that gas in the respiratory circuit flows to the ambient atmosphere during exhalation by the subject.

Systems and methods for classifying breathing disorders of subjects are based on the respiratory response to a change in a pressure level of a pressurized flow of breathable gas. The change presents a breathing challenge to a subject. The challenge may be limited to the inspiratory breathing phase. The inspiratory pressure level may be lower than the expiratory pressure level during challenges.

A gas humidification system can have a conduit defining a gas passageway. A mass of a first absorbent material can be located in the conduit. A mass of a second absorbent material can cover at least a part of the surface of the conduit. An orifice can be located on the conduit to allow communication between the first and second absorbent materials. A heating element can be placed within, on, around, or near the first absorbent material. The heating element can heat up moisture in or on the first absorbent material such that the moisture is encouraged to join gases passing through the gas humidification system.

A nasal ventilation mask having one or more attachment ports located adjacent to and overlying an upper lip of a patient when worn.