A gas flow reversing element is disclosed that includes a main piece comprising an inflow region, a nozzle region and a mixing region, and further includes a branching piece. The inflow region connects a pressure connector to a closable outlet opening in the mixing region, the branching piece connecting the nozzle region to a line connector. With the outlet opening opened, gas flow flowing along a first flow path from the pressure connector through the nozzle to the outlet opening, generates a gas flow in the branching piece flowing along a second flow path from the line connector to the outlet opening. The reversing element further includes a bypass, closable by at least one closing element, connecting the pressure connector and the line connector so that a gas flow can flow along a third flow path via the inflow region, and bypass the nozzle via the bypass.

The invention concerns a gas delivery system (1, 2) for providing gaseous Nitric Oxide (NO) to a patient comprising a medical ventilator (2) providing a respiratory gas, such as air, to a patient breathing circuit (3) having an inspiratory limb (31) with a flow sensor (100) and an NO injection module (110), and a NO-delivery device (1) for providing a NO-containing gas to the NO injection module (110) of the inspiratory limb (31), said NO delivery device (1) including a control unit (130) and a differential pressure sensor (104). The medical ventilator (2) can be a High Frequency Oscillatory (HFO) ventilator.

Oscillatory ventilator configured for oscillating at a plurality of specifically tuned sinusoidal frequencies simultaneously a ventilation gas for delivery to a lung region of a patient and a ventilator control system, in communication with the oscillatory ventilator, to control a sinusoidal waveform input for the oscillatory ventilator, wherein the sinusoidal waveform input comprises the plurality of specifically tuned sinusoidal frequencies each of which sinusoidal frequencies are below the acoustic range.

A system for reducing airway obstructions of a patient may include a ventilator, a control unit, a gas delivery circuit with a proximal end in fluid communication with the ventilator and a distal end in fluid communication with a nasal interface, and a nasal interface. The nasal interface may include at least one jet nozzle, and at least one spontaneous respiration sensor in communication with the control unit for detecting a respiration effort pattern and a need for supporting airway patency. The system may be open to ambient. The control unit may determine more than one gas output velocities. The more than one gas output velocities may be synchronized with different parts of a spontaneous breath effort cycle, and a gas output velocity may be determined by a need for supporting airway patency.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an adaptor or attachment which is suitable for integration into the patient circuit of a ventilation system, such as a non-invasive open ventilation system, is configured for attachment to any standard ventilation mask, and is outfitted with a jet pump which creates pressure and flow by facilitating the entrainment of ambient air. The adaptor comprises a base element and a nozzle element which are operatively coupled to each other. The base element further defines a throat and at least one entrainment port facilitating a path of fluid communication between the throat and ambient air. The nozzle element includes a jet nozzle, and a connector which is adapted to facilitate the fluid coupling of the nozzle element to a bi-lumen tube of the patient circuit. The connector includes both a delivery port and a sensing port. The jet nozzle and the delivery port collectively define a delivery line or lumen which fluidly communicates with the throat of the base element, and is placeable into fluid communication with the delivery lumen of the bi-lumen tube.

The present invention relates to a catheter for ventilating a patient, with a ventilation channel for alternately delivering and removing air and/or oxygen to and from the patient's airways, the catheter having a maximum external diameter of at most 6 mm, mm, and the ventilation channel having an open end, and a connector end for connection to a gas flow reversing element. According to the invention, the catheter is provided with means or elements for measuring the pressure outside the ventilation channel near the open end. The catheter preferably has a pressure measurement channel, with an open measurement end near the open end of the ventilation channel, and a measurement connector piece for connecting a pressure display device. Of particular advantage is a catheter with an expansion body (cuff) that is fluidically connected to a supply channel through which the expansion body can be increased or reduced in size by means of a fluid. The jet ventilation catheter according to the invention permits a novel ventilation principle that can be regarded as a bridge between classical jet ventilation and conventional controlled ventilation and that opens up possibilities for new and improved interventions in the airways.

Provided herein is a method for assisting breathing in a subject, the method including passing a pressurized airflow through a fluidic diverter, wherein the fluidic diverter converts the airflow into pulses of pressurized air that are diverted alternately to provide a first and a second train of pulses of pressurized air; and directing the first and second trains of pulses of pressurized air into a nasal passageway of a subject to assist breathing. Also provided herein is a device for assisting breathing, including an airflow source coupled to a fluidic diverter. The devices and methods provided herein generate positive airway pressure in the form of pulsatile vortex airflow for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in a subject, without the need for a sealed interface between the subject and the device.

Disclosed are methods of treatment that permit a reduction of risk of mortality in infants who are candidates for treatment with inhaled nitric oxide, by identifying a subset of such infants who are at an increased risk of mortality upon treatment with inhaled nitric oxide; also disclosed are related systems for use in administering inhaled nitric oxide and methods of distributing a pharmaceutical product.

Several methods of supporting respiratory function of a patient before, during and/or after a medical procedure are disclosed. In certain arrangements, supporting respiratory function while a patient is under general anaesthesia can include providing a high gas flow a high gas flow that is greater than 15 L/min while the patient is under general anaesthesia. In certain arrangements, a method of providing ventilation while a patient is under general anaesthesia involves providing only a gas flow delivered through a nasal interface that is greater than 15 L/min while the patient is under general anaesthesia.

A gases flow rate sensing system may be configured to operate in at least two different target temperature modes, based upon a measured temperature of the gases flow. In some embodiments, the gases flow sensing system may have a voltage divider containing a thermistor. The gases flow rate may be determined based upon a voltage output indicating an amount of power needed to maintain the thermistor at a target temperature as specified by the target temperature mode, and a measured temperature of the gases flow.