In one embodiment, a nasal cannula is shaped to fit within a user's nares, where the nasal cannula includes at least one prong allowing high flow delivery of humidified gases and creates positive airway pressure in the patient's airway. The prongs have angled ends such that, in use, gases flowing through the prongs are directed to the user's nasal passages. The nasal cannula body is partially swivelling and preferably has a ball joint connector. In another embodiment the nasal cannula may have at least one flared end prong that preferably seals within a patient's nare.

A mask cushion or a mask assembly therewith provides a comfortable and effective seal for provision of a gas therapy by a respiratory treatment apparatus. The mask cushion may be integrated with or coupled to a mask frame. The mask cushion typically includes an inner cushion component. The mask cushion also includes a patient facial-contact side portion with a chamber and a barrier to form the chamber that may be flexible. The chamber may serve as an outer layer with respect to the inner cushion component. The chamber may be partially or completely filled with a gas, fluid or gel. The inner cushion may be formed with a soft flexible material such as an elastomer or foam, etc. The barrier may be a membrane and may also be soft flexible material.

A shroud for a mask system includes a retaining portion structured to retain a frame, a pair of upper headgear connectors each including an elongated arm and a slot at the free end of the arm adapted to receive a headgear strap, and a pair of lower headgear connectors each adapted to attach to a headgear strap. The retaining portion, the upper headgear connectors, and the lower headgear connectors are integrally formed as a one piece structure.

An air delivery tube for a CPAP system includes a first end configured to connect to a flow generator of the CPAP system and a second end configured to connect to a patient interface of the CPAP system. The air delivery tube also includes a central lumen that is formed by an inner wall of the air delivery tube and is configured to convey pressurized breathable gas from the first end to the second end. In addition, a circumferential chamber surrounds the central lumen and is configured to retain a supply of water. A wick is located within the central lumen and is connected to the inner wall.

A patient interface assembly includes a frame with a central aperture by which a flow of pressurized breathable gas is introduced in use. The frame includes a wall on a central portion of the frame that surrounds the central aperture. A cushion is removably secured to the frame at the wall surrounding the central aperture and is made of a material that is relatively softer than the frame. A headgear assembly includes a pair of strap portions constructed of a flexible fabric material. A pair of yoke portions is positioned between the strap portions and the frame. Each yoke portion has a proximal end adjacent the frame and a distal end having a connector slot that connects to the respective strap portion of the headgear assembly. The yoke portions have a multilayer construction with one layer being a fabric layer. The yoke portions have a degree of flexibility in one direction and are more resistant to bending in another direction generally orthogonal to the one direction to resist vertical rotation of the patient interface assembly.

Methods and systems for delivery of pulsated air to a user using a device including a flow generator to generate a continuous air flow, a first actuator comprising a pulsated flow delivery mechanism configured to generate a pulsated air flow from the continuous air flow based on a pre-determined duty cycle to vary a frequency of the pulsated air flow, a user interface configured to generate and deliver vortices of pulsated air to the user at the frequency of the pulsated air flow, and a set of tubing to couple the flow generator, the first actuator, and the user interface.

A humidifier is for an airway pressure support system for delivering a humidified flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient. The humidifier includes a water chamber, a filter, a filtration meter, a conduit, a nozzle, and a heater plate. The filter has a housing structured to house a filtration medium therein and having an inlet fluidly connected with the water chamber and an outlet. The filtration meter includes an inlet fluidly connected to the outlet of the filter, an outlet, a body portion extending between the inlet and the outlet which is structured to convey water from the inlet of the filtration meter to the outlet of the filtration meter, and a mechanism located in the body portion which is structured to measure filtration data of the water conveyed through the body portion.

In one embodiment, a nasal cannula is shaped to fit within a user's nares, where the nasal cannula includes at least one prong allowing high flow delivery of humidified gases and creates positive airway pressure in the patient's airway. The prongs have angled ends such that, in use, gases flowing through the prongs are directed to the user's nasal passages. The nasal cannula body is partially swivelling and preferably has a ball joint connector. In another embodiment the nasal cannula may have at least one flared end prong that preferably seals within a patient's nare.

Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. A nitric oxide delivery system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid.

A pulmonary secretion clearing airway structure and related airway management system is disclosed that has a double lumen portion which each lumen of the double lumen portion operably secured to an airway management system so that inspiratory fluid (air/oxygen mixtures, with or without added water vapor) is delivered to the distal end of the ventilation catheter through one of the two lumens and expired inspiratory fluid, pulmonary secretions, and pulmonary fluids are removed from the patient through the other lumen. The expiratory fluid pathway preferably includes a secretion collection system for removing the pulmonary secretions and the like from the pathway, thereby improving operation and safety of the system. The airway structure can be a ventilation catheter or a supraglottic airway system such as laryngeal mask and the like.