Systems and methods for generating nitric oxide are disclosed. A nitic oxide (NO) generation system includes at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate a product gas containing NO from a flow of a reactant gas; and a controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas produced by the at least one pair of electrodes by utilizing duty cycle values of plasma pulses selected from a plurality of discrete duty cycles to produce a target rate of NO production based on an average of discrete production rates associated with each of the plurality of discrete duty cycles.

A modular ventilator according to the present disclosure may include a ventilator core and a ventilator service module. The ventilator core provides the basic functionality necessary for delivering suitably oxygenated air to a patient without most or all typical patient monitoring functions except a basic alarm or safety alert triggered by loss of pressure at the output. Additional patient monitoring functions are embodiment in the removable ventilator service module, which may be powered by its own power source and/or by the power source of the ventilator core when coupled thereto. The ventilator core is configured for low cost manufacture and ease of operation and may be portable so as to be easily deployable in a non-hospital setting. The ventilator core may employ a venture-based O.sub.2 regulator for adjusting the oxygen-air mixture at the output, which may facilitate the manufacture of the ventilator core at lower cost than conventional ventilators.

A diagnostic tool can include a face mask, a casing, a plurality of sensors, and processing circuitry. The face mask can include an air-intake port, a first check valve integrated into the air-intake port, an air-exhaust port, and a second check valve integrated into the air-exhaust port. The casing can be coupled to the face mask having an air-intake chamber coupled to the air-intake port and an air-exhaust chamber coupled to the air-exhaust port. The processing circuitry can be communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The processing circuitry can include computing logic for handling information detected by the plurality of sensors.

A therapeutic gas delivery system with at least one gas supply subsystem is disclosed. The at least one gas supply subsystem may include a gas source coupling configured to receive a therapeutic gas source and form a fluid flow connection with the therapeutic gas source, a therapeutic gas delivery system controller, and one or more display(s) configured to be in communication over a communication path with the therapeutic gas delivery system controller. The display may be configured to display a graphical, illustrative, or numerical indicator of one or more flow or system parameters.

Systems and methods for lung-protective ventilation are disclosed. In examples, volume-targeted, pressure-controlled ventilation may deliver mandatory breaths to a patient without a rise time setting. Inputs into the ventilation may include a peak inspiratory flow value (Q.sub.peak) and a target tidal volume (V.sub.T,set). Respiratory parameters of the patient may be determined based on test breaths. The inputs and the respiratory parameters may be used to calculate a target inspiratory pressure (P.sub.i) and target rise time constant (τ). Breaths may then be delivered based on the calculated target inspiratory pressure and target rise time constant. Mechanical power delivered to the patient may also be monitored as an additional measure for patient lung protection.

The invention provides a positive airway pressure therapy system comprising a positive pressure generation unit, adapted to generate a positive pressure airflow for provision to a subject, and an oscillatory pressure generation unit adapted to modulate the positive pressure airflow at a modulation frequency thereby imparting a frequency component to the positive pressure air flow. The oscillatory pressure generation unit is adapted to modulate the airflow during an exhalation phase of a breathing cycle of the subject.

A method of, or system for, ventilating lungs in breathing and non-breathing patients—including applications for anesthesia—may comprise maintaining an inspiratory flow rate at an inspiratory setpoint at a low flow setting. Lung pressure in a patient may be regulated between a high pressure setpoint and a low pressure setpoint with periodic expiratory flows and continuous inspiratory flow. An expiratory control valve may be adjusted to an open position when a lung pressure is at or above a high pressure setpoint. An expiratory control valve may be adjusted to a closed position when a lung pressure is at or below a low pressure setpoint. Concurrent venting outflow and CO.sub.2 offloading through flow within the lungs may be facilitated by providing an intermittent expiratory flow to the patient while providing the continuous inspiratory flow.

Oxygen concentrator methods and apparatus estimate sieve bed effective capacity. Estimation applies function(s) to a parameter of a measured pressure-time characteristic of the bed, characteristic of a phase of an adsorption cycle of the concentrator at a predetermined motor speed of its compression system. Estimation may involve operating the concentrator at a predetermined bed pressure and measuring a mass flow of gas entering or exiting the bed, and may use the measured mass flow and one or more functions. Estimation may involve a measured bed exhaust mass flow for a purge phase when bed pressure is regulated to maintain a predetermined target pressure using motor speed adjustment. The estimation may apply exhaust mass flow function(s) to the measured exhaust mass flow. Estimation of the effective capacity may involve applying motor speed function(s) to measured motor speed, such as an adjusted one for regulating canister pressure to achieve a target pressure.

A pathogen detection system includes a pathogen sensing adaptor that detect pathogens present in the breathing circuit associated with a ventilated patient. A pathogen sensing adaptor may include a conduit, removable cartridges with testing strips, an optical sensor, and communication circuitry. Upon detecting a colorimetric change on the testing strip, the optical sensor generates a signal indicative of the presence and/or level of pathogens.

A fluid delivery system provides fluid, such as supplement oxygen, to a patient in response to inhalation. The fluid delivery system includes a valve assembly that is triggered by sensing onset of inspiration by measuring a change in temperature or fluid flow of air flow in a nasal or oral cannula, mask or helmet.