A breathing assistance device with improved pressure characteristics provides a high level of CPAP per unit of supplementary respirable gas consumed while maintaining low CPAP fluctuations throughout the breath cycle utilizing a frustrum-shaped air channel that has no unblocked openings to accelerate air flow. In some embodiments, a manometer is provided for monitoring pressure and/or a pressure relief valve is provided as a safety measure against overpressure delivered to a patient. In some embodiments, the device is disposable for one-time or single patient use.

Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for manufacturing a vapor transfer cartridge with a constant inner diameter to maximize the area available for fibers required for heating and humidifying a breathing gas. In one aspect, a vapor transfer cartridge includes a center tube extending along a first axis from a first to a second end, having a continuous inner diameter, a first header piece configured as a cap and including a channel about an inner circumference of the header piece coupled to the first end of the center tube, a second header piece coupled to the second end of the center tube, and a plurality of fibers arranged along the axis of the center tube from the first end to the second end. The first header piece further includes a first port, and a baffle.

Systems, methods, and devices for humidifying a breathing gas are presented. The system includes a base unit, a vapor transfer unit, a nasal cannula, and a liquid container. The base unit includes a blower. The vapor transfer unit is external to the base unit and includes a gas passage, a liquid passage, a gas outlet, and a membrane separating the gas passage and the liquid passage. The membrane permits transfer of vapor into the gas passage from liquid in the liquid passage. The nasal cannula is coupled to the gas outlet. The liquid container is configured to reversibly mate with the base unit.

Described is an apparatus for oxygenation and/or CO2 clearance of a patient, comprising: a flow source or a connection for a flow source for providing a gas flow, a gas flow modulator, a controller to control the gas flow, wherein the controller is operable to: receive input relating to heart activity and/or trachea gas flow of the patient, and control the gas flow modulator to provide a varying gas flow with one or more oscillating components with a frequency or frequencies based on the heart activity and/or trachea flow of the patient.

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

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.

A method of estimating the upper airway resistance of a patient using a gas delivery system includes delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient through the patient circuit of the gas delivery system, superimposing an oscillatory pressure on the flow of breathing gas during an expiratory phase of the patient, determining a first amplitude of an oscillatory component of a gas pressure provided to the patient at an end of the expiratory phase, determining a second amplitude of an oscillatory component of a gas flow provided to the patient at the end of the expiratory phase, determining a first resistance value based on the ratio of the first amplitude to the second amplitude, and determining an upper airway resistance value based on the first resistance value.

A multifunctional ventilator interface for selectively providing ventilation and continuous oxygen therapy to a patient includes tubing defining a high-pressure gas lumen, a low-pressure gas lumen, and a pressure sensing lumen, a manifold housing defining a gas pathway, a jet pump housing coupled to the manifold housing and defining an entrainment port, a sleeve rotatably engaged to the jet pump housing, and a jet nozzle defining high- and low-pressure jet nozzle outlet ports operative to introduce gas from the high- and low-pressure gas lumens into the gas pathway. The sleeve includes first and second windows selectively alignable with the entrainment port by rotation of the sleeve, the first window configured to allow ambient air to flow into the entrainment port when at least partially aligned therewith, the second window being covered by a one-way valve configured to prevent ambient air from flowing into the entrainment port but to allow exhalation out of the entrainment port when the second window is at least partially aligned therewith.

A non-invasive ventilation system may include a nasal interface. The nasal interface may include a left outer tube with a distal end adapted to impinge a left nostril, at least one left opening in the left distal end in pneumatic communication with the left nostril, and a left proximal end of the left outer tube in fluid communication with ambient air. The left proximal end of the left outer tube may curve laterally away from a midline of a face. A right outer tube may be similarly provided. One or more left jet nozzles may direct ventilation gas into the left outer tube, and one or more right jet nozzles may direct ventilation gas into the right outer tube. The jet nozzles may be in fluid communication with the pressurized gas supply.

Condensation or rain-out is a problem in breathing circuits and especially neonatal breathing circuits. The subject patent provides an improved breathing tube component for managing rain-out particularly in neonatal applications. In particular the breathing tube has a smooth inner bore, and an outer insulating layer containing stagnant gas and a heater wire.