A pulsed oxygen delivery system is disclosed for a closed breathing environment, which includes a source of gaseous oxygen, a phase dilution type oronasal dispensing mask worn by a user in a closed breathing environment defined by a pressure suit, and a pulse control module for delivering a timed and metered bolus of oxygen from the source of gaseous oxygen to the oronasal dispensing mask upon inhalation by the user.

Provided is a high frequency oscillating ventilator comprising a housing assembly, a linear actuator, a linear coil, a piston mounted on a pushrod, a diaphragm dividing a housing into a first and second side and having an opening formed on the second side that is fluidly connected to the patient's airway for delivering gas thereto. The linear actuator is fixedly mounted to the housing assembly and has a linear coil coaxially disposed therewithin. A pushrod supports the linear coil on the linear actuator to allow relative axially sliding therebetween. The piston is directly mounted to the diaphragm such that reciprocation thereof as effectuated by the linear coil cooperating with the linear actuator alternately produces positive and negative pressure waves in the gas in the patient's airway.

A system and method for performing a bronchoscopy. The system may include a bronchoscope, a multi-fluid conduit apparatus, and a switching apparatus. The bronchoscope may include an insertion tube having a distal end, a control section, and a working channel. The multi-fluid conduit apparatus may include a first conduit section operably coupled to a vacuum source, a second conduit section operably coupled to an oxygen source, and a third conduit section operably coupled to the working channel, each of the first and second conduit sections being fluidly coupled to the third conduit section. The switching apparatus may include a valve apparatus operably coupled to each of the first and second conduit sections and an actuator apparatus operably coupled to the valve apparatus. The actuator apparatus may alter the valve apparatus between: (1) a suction supply state; and (2) an oxygen supply state.

A method of providing high frequency ventilation to a patient, comprises delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient, the flow of breathing gas having a first positive pressure level and a second positive pressure level, the first and second positive pressure levels alternating with one another in a plurality of cycles in the flow of breathing gas to have a frequency and an amplitude, the flow of breathing gas to the patient generating a mean airway pressure; determining whether the patient is breathing spontaneously or is trying to breath spontaneously; and, in response to the determination that the patient is breathing spontaneously or trying to breath spontaneously or according to the user settings for HFV and user intervention for non-spontaneous breathing patient, adjusting the mean airway pressure, modulating the frequency and duty cycle of the flow of breathing gas, or modulating the level of flow and pressure amplitude of the breathing gas, or two or more thereof.

A system and method for relief of negative lung pressure during acute laryngospasm or upper airway obstruction, providing a non-toxic gas cartridge capable of supplying between 0.5-5 liters of gas during a procedure, a valve adapted to commence and stop gas release, and a trans-cricothyroid cartilage inflation needle for acutely relieving the negative pressure in the chest. The needle may also be used to insert a guidewire to assist in endotracheal tube insertion.

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, preferably 2 to 5 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.

A portable liquid oxygen system may provide an average flow rate of oxygen gas at approximately 6-approximately 20 lpm using a rapid gas conversion mode. The rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a Stirling engine that harnesses the heat differential between the ambient temperature and the liquid oxygen store to drive a fan. The fan operates to blow ambient air across a heat exchanger, which allows the heat exchanger to more rapidly evaporate liquid oxygen into oxygen gas.

Pulmonary ventilator methods and systems are provided winch include a housing having a user interface control panel; a pneumatic circuit for delivering a high frequency pressure wave from the housing to a patient lung; a variable volume disposed within the housing including a stationary plate secured to the housing and a reciprocating plate pivotably mounted with respect to the stationary plate; and a magnet assembly disposed within the housing and configured to pivot the reciprocating plate. The variable volume may also include a resiliently contractible section extending between and joining a portion of the stationary plate and a portion of the reciprocating plate, wherein the resiliently contractible section may be in the form of a bellows and/or a pleated material.

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 bronchoscope for insertion into a patient's airways for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The bronchoscope includes a bronchoscope head configured to be releasably secured and sealed to one tube of a set of interchangeable bronchial and/or tracheal tubes.