A pump arrangement for powering a pump in providing a controlled volume of water to a drip nozzle in a drip-feed humidifier. The pump arrangement includes: a pump having a solenoid; a processing unit; and a power supply electrically connected to the solenoid via a switch which is controlled by the processing unit. The power supply is structured to supply power to the solenoid via the switch. The processing unit is programmed to modulate the power provided to the solenoid via the switch such that the power is supplied to the solenoid according to a power profile for each actuation of the solenoid. The power profile includes: an initial portion which increases at a first overall rate, an intermediate portion which increases at a second overall rate different than the first overall rate, and a final portion which decreases at a third overall rate.

In an embodiment, a connector or connector assembly for attaching a nasal cannula with a gas delivery hose includes a sensor port for a sensor probe positioned near an end of a nasal cannula, which can allow the sensor probe to be placed closer to the patient's nostrils than previous connector parts allowed. The connector can be configured to advantageously allow the nasal cannula to rotate relative to the gas delivery hose, thereby allowing a patient or healthcare provider to untangle or otherwise straighten the hose or the cannula. The connector assembly can be configured to automatically align locking protrusions on a first component with locking recesses on a second component, where insertion of the second component within the first component causes the second component to rotate relative to the first component, thereby aligning the locking protrusions with associated locking recesses.

A system and method to in-exsufflate a subject is described. The system provides an effective non-invasive alternative to invasive treatments such as a tracheostomy for ALS patients. The system detects airway collapse during exsufflation and adjusts in-exsufflation therapy settings to minimize airway collapse, thus maximizing the efficacy of the in-exsufflation therapy. In some embodiments, tidal volume, tidal flow rate, and/or other parameters are monitored during in-exsufflation. Exsufflation pressure is adjusted based on the monitored parameters to maintain an open airway during exhalation of the subject. Exsufflation pressure is adjusted based on a comparison of an actual exhalation tidal volume to a target exhalation tidal volume, an actual exhalation flow rate to a target exhalation flow rate, an actual inhalation tidal volume to a target inhalation volume, and/or other comparisons.

Condensation or rain-out is a problem in breathing circuits and especially neonatal breathing circuits. The subject patent provides an improved breathing tube component for managing rain-out particularly in neonatal applications. In particular the breathing tube has a smooth inner bore, and an outer insulating layer containing stagnant gas and a heater wire.

Apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient, the apparatus comprising: a respiratory pressure therapy device configured to generate a flow of air for treating the respiratory disorder, said flow of air being at a positive pressure with respect to ambient pressure; an air circuit adapted to transport said flow of air generated by said respiratory pressure therapy device to a patient interface, said air circuit having a proximal end connectable to said respiratory pressure therapy device and a distal end connectable to said patient interface; a nebuliser module located at or adjacent to said proximal end of said air circuit, said nebuliser module adapted to nebulise a liquid to form a nebula of said liquid, and to admit said nebula into said flow of air generated by said respiratory pressure therapy device; and a vaporiser located at said distal end of said air circuit, said vaporiser adapted to receive said nebula and further adapted to vaporise said nebula to form a humidified flow of air. Also, a method for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient, the method comprising the steps of: generating a flow of air for treating the respiratory disorder in a respiratory pressure therapy device, said flow of air being at a positive pressure with respect to ambient pressure; nebulising a liquid retained in a water reservoir to form a nebula of said liquid, and admitting said nebula to said flow of air; transporting said flow of air and said nebula over an air circuit; receiving said flow of air and said nebula in a vaporiser module; vaporising said nebula to form a vapour of said liquid; mixing said air flow with said vapour in said vaporiser module to form a humidified flow of air; receiving said humidified flow of air in a patient interface; and delivering said humidified flow of air to said patient for treatment of said respiratory disorder.

An environment control system utilizes oxygen and humidity control devices that are coupled with an enclosure to independently control the oxygen concentration and the humidity level within the enclosure. An oxygen depletion device may be an oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell that reacts with oxygen within the cell and produces water through electrochemical reactions. A desiccatting device may be g, a dehumidification electrolyzer cell, a desiccator, a membrane desiccator or a condenser. A controller may control the amount of voltage and/or current provided to the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of oxygen reduction and may control the amount voltage and or current provided to the dehumidification electrolyzer cell and therefore the rate of humidity reduction. The oxygen level may be determined by the measurement of voltage and a limiting current of the oxygen depletion electrolyzer cell. The enclosure may be a food or artifact enclosure.

A vaporizer for delivery of a volatile medium to a gas flow, the vaporizer comprising: a gas delivery unit (3) which receives a flow of gas and provides a flow of gas containing a metered amount of a vaporized medium; a reservoir unit (5) which contains a volatile medium and maintains a supply of the vaporized medium, wherein the reservoir unit is selectively fluidly connected to the gas delivery unit; a gas sensing unit (7) for sensing a flow rate and/or composition of the gas flow; a vaporized medium sensing unit (9) for sensing a flow rate of the vaporized medium; a manifold (10) which includes flow paths for the vaporized medium and fluidly connects the reservoir unit and the vaporized medium sensing unit; and a control unit (11) for controlling a flow rate of the gas flow and an amount of the vaporized medium which is metered into the gas flow.

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 pressure support system for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient includes a base unit structured to generate the flow of breathing gas and including a heating control unit, a conduit coupled to the base unit and structured to carry the flow of breathing gas, a thermistor disposed in the conduit, and first and second resistive wires extending along the conduit from the base unit to the thermistor. The heating control unit is structured to selectively operate in a first mode to heat the conduit using the first and second resistive wires and a second mode to sense a temperature of airflow in the conduit with the thermistor via the first and second resistive wires.

A humidifier assembly (100, 100-1) includes a reservoir (120), an inlet structure (112, 112-1) leading into the reservoir and an outlet structure (114, 114-1) leading out of the reservoir, and a conduit element (130, 130-1) having a first end (131, 131-1), a body portion (132, 132-1), and a second end (133, 133-1). The first end is fluidly coupled to at least one of the inlet structure and the outlet structure The humidifier assembly additionally includes a float assembly (140, 140-1) coupled to the second end of the conduit element. The float assembly is structured to float on water held by the reservoir. The float assembly has a number of apertures (153, 153-1) structured to be in fluid communication with the outlet structure.