A check valve can include a pressure actuator or an electromagnetic actuator. The check valve includes a valve inlet, a valve outlet, and flap disposed between the valve inlet and the valve outlet. The pressure actuator in fluid communication with the valve inlet. The check valve has an open state and a closed state. The check valve is configured to allow an input gas to flow from the valve inlet to the valve outlet when the check valve is in the open state. The check valve is configured to preclude the input gas from flowing from the valve inlet to the valve outlet when the check valve is in the closed state. Upon actuation of the pressure actuator or the electromagnetic actuator, the flap moves away from the valve inlet to allow the inlet gas to move from the valve inlet to the valve outlet.

A respiratory humidification system includes a humidifier that is capable of electronic communication with one or more other components of the system thereby permitting transfer of data or control signals between the humidifier and other components of the system. In some systems, a flow generator, such as a ventilator, is provided to supply a flow of breathing gas. The humidifier and the flow generator are capable of electronic communication with one another. In some arrangements, an operating mode or parameter of the humidifier to be set or confirmed by the flow generator, either automatically or manually through a user interface of the flow generator. The humidifier can also utilize data provided by the flow generator or other system component, such as an incubator, to set or confirm an operating mode or parameter of the humidifier. In some arrangements, a user interface of the humidifier can display data from another system component, such as a nebulizer or pulse oximeter.

A breathable gas inlet control device permits flow regulation at the inlet of a flow generator for a respiratory treatment apparatus such as a ventilator or continuous positive airway pressure device. The device may implement a variable inlet aperture size based on flow conditions. In one embodiment, an inlet flow seal opens or closes the inlet to a blower in accordance with changes in pressure within a seal activation chamber near the seal. The seal may be formed by a flexible membrane. A controller selectively changes the pressure of the seal activation chamber by controlling a set of one or more flow control valves to selectively stop forward flow, prevent back flow or lock open the seal to permit either back flow or forward flow. The controller may set the flow control valves as a function of detected respiratory conditions based on data from pressure and/or flow sensors.

A self-administered oxygenation apparatus for increasing pressure within a non-intubated patient's lungs and thereby increasing an amount of oxygen in the non-intubated patient's blood when operated by the patient includes a mouthpiece, a vent member, a resistance member, and a plurality of medical sensors. The medical sensors are configured to receive a portion of the exhalation and to transmit generated medical data to a remote location, such as to a software application via the internet. The mouthpiece includes an external portion through which the patient inhales and exhales. The resistance member is a PEEP valve configured to open upon inhalation so as to allow ambient air inhaled by the patient to pass thereby without resistance and to close upon exhalation, exhalation causing an end shield to pivot outwardly from the vent member under a bias of external elastic members.

A ventilator for respiration gas supply, comprising a respiration gas source, a control unit, a memory, a pressure sensor and/or a flow sensor, an exchangeable respiration gas tube, at least one connection stub for the respiration gas tube, a patient interface and a valve. The control unit is set up to use signals from the pressure sensor and/or flow sensor to ascertain the patient's respiration phase and to ascertain the patient's current tidal volume during successive inhalations and exhalations and to compare a first set volume threshold for the tidal volume with the current tidal volume and to determine whether the latter is below the former and if so, to react by driving the respiration gas source to set a second pressure for the respiration gas for inhalation and driving the respiration gas source to set the CPAP pressure for the respiration gas for exhalation.

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.

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.