An apparatus such as a fluid mixer, suitable for use with a respirator, including a venturi nozzle for flow of a pressure-controlled fluid; an ambient fluid aperture in fluid communication with the venturi nozzle; a fluid port; a pressure force multiplier in fluid communication with the fluid port; and a valve moveable relative to the venturi nozzle between a start flow position and a stop flow position; where the pressure force multiplier is configured such that fluid forced into the fluid port actuates the valve relative to the venturi nozzle; and where the pressure force multiplier is configured such that fluid withdrawn from the fluid port actuates the valve relative to the venturi nozzle, further comprising an active filter that comprises an energy harvesting system and at least one filter medium, wherein the energy harvesting system generates electricity to induce a static charge in the at least one filter medium.

A heat plate for a humidifier contains a thermally conductive plate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. A temperature sensor is affixed to the bottom surface and a thermally conductive layer is directly-affixed to the bottom surface. A ceramic heating element is directly affixed to the thermally conductive layer. A humidifier and medical device may also contain such a heater plate.

Various exemplary drug delivery devices with on-board drug destruction, drug products utilizing the same, and methods of using drug delivery devices with on-board drug destruction are provided. In general, a nasal drug delivery device configured to dispense a drug therefrom into a nose includes a destruction mechanism configured to destroy drug contained in the drug delivery device. The destruction mechanism can be configured to destroy the drug before a first actuation of the drug delivery device to deliver the drug therefrom such that the destruction mechanism destroys substantially all of the drug contained in the drug delivery device. Alternatively or in addition, the destruction mechanism can be configured to destroy the drug after a first actuation of the drug delivery device to deliver the drug therefrom such that the destruction mechanism destroys substantially all of the drug remaining in the drug delivery device.

Systems and methods are provided for portable and compact nitric oxide (NO) generation that can be embedded into other therapeutic devices or used alone. In some embodiments, an ambulatory NO generation system can be comprised of a controller and disposable cartridge. The cartridge can contain filters and scavengers for preparing the gas used for NO generation and for scrubbing output gases prior to patient inhalation. The system can utilize an oxygen concentrator to increase nitric oxide production and compliment oxygen generator activity as an independent device. The system can also include a high voltage electrode assembly that is easily assembled and installed. Various nitric oxide delivery methods are provided, including the use of a nasal cannula.

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

Some embodiments of an inhalation exposure system can deliver a gas, such as an aerosol, through a manifold to a set of exposure chambers in a controlled manner so as to achieve improved consistency for all of the test subjects.

Some embodiments of an inhalation exposure system can deliver a gas, such as an aerosol, to a set of exposure chambers in a controlled manner and can monitor one or more characteristics of the gas at a variety of aerosol delivery rates for output to a user interface. In some implementations, the improved user interface of the system may alert the user to a fitting range of aerosol delivery rates.

The nebulizer gas scavenging system includes a condenser positioned in the expiratory pathway of the breathing circuit for extracting liquid from expiratory gases and redirecting the extracting liquid to the input of the nebulizer. The system is further configured to detect the actual consumption of inhaled medication by measuring the concentration of medication in the expiratory pathway and comparing it to the initial content of medication in the aerosol of the inspiratory pathway. A more accurate determination of the amount of inhaled medication is advantageous in certain critical situations involving application of medication by inhalation.

An apparatus for the supply of humidified gases to a patient is disclosed that comprises a gases supply passage downstream of a humidified gases supply, and upstream of a patient in use, where at least one sensor is embedded in or located on the outside of the wall of the passage. In preferred forms the wall of the passage divides the sensor(s) from a flow of gases in the passage. In use, a controller receives an output of the sensor(s) and derives from the output of the sensor(s) an estimation of a property of gases flowing through the passage or provides a control output to the humidified gases supply according to the output of the sensor(s).

An apparatus to maintain an environment over an anterior surface of a patient eye can include an enclosure sized and shaped to be seated about the patient eye to form a cavity within the enclosure. The enclosure can be configured to contain a fluid other than ambient air in contact with the patient eye. The apparatus can include a fluid regulator in communication with the enclosure, where the fluid regulator can be configured to regulate the composition of the fluid contained within the enclosure.