An oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus and a method of performing oscillating positive respiratory pressure therapy. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior chamber, a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet, an exhalation flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet, and a restrictor member rotatably mounted within the interior chamber. The restrictor member has an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the flow path at the inlet, and includes at least one blocking segment. Rotation of the restrictor member moves the at least one blocking segment between an open position and a closed position. Respiratory pressure at the chamber inlet oscillates between a minimum when the at least one blocking segment is in the open position and a maximum when the at least one blocking segment is in the closed position. By exhaling into the apparatus, oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy is administered.

An oscillating positive respiratory pressure apparatus and a method of performing oscillating positive respiratory pressure therapy. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior chamber, a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet, an exhalation flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet, and a restrictor member rotatably mounted within the interior chamber. The restrictor member has an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the flow path at the inlet, and includes at least one blocking segment. Rotation of the restrictor member moves the at least one blocking segment between an open position and a closed position. Respiratory pressure at the chamber inlet oscillates between a minimum when the at least one blocking segment is in the open position and a maximum when the at least one blocking segment is in the closed position. By exhaling into the apparatus, oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy is administered.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for providing non-invasive, high frequency ventilation to a neonate or an infant in need thereof. The system can include a tubing array, a vibration device, and a bifurcated cannula. The tubing array can be adapted to receive a flow of pressurized gas therethrough. The vibration device can be fluidly coupled to the tubing array and configured to generate and apply a jet of air to the flow of pressurized gas. The bifurcated cannula can be fluidly coupled to the tubing array and have independently movable first and second prongs that are sized and dimensioned for insertion into first and second nostrils, respectively, of the neonate or the infant.

A method of providing decision support in connection with a care recipient and a suite of care delivery devices which includes at least one adjustable system includes the steps of 1) receiving a command to effect a change to a parameter of the adjustable system, 2) assessing whether or not carrying out the command will result in one or more ramifications, and 3) if a ramification is identified, a) issuing a report related to the identified ramification, and b) complying with the command only if a confirmation is received subsequent to the assessing step.

Methods are provided for protecting against ventilation-induced lung injury by promoting equitable liquid distribution in a lung with alveolar flooding, in which flooded and aerated alveoli are interspersed. Since ventilation injuriously over-expands aerated alveoli adjacent to flooded alveoli and a pressure barrier is responsible for trapping liquid in discrete alveoli, the present invention provides various means for overcoming the pressure barrier to, in turn, promote equitable redistribution of flooding liquid amongst alveoli, reduce the number of aerated alveoli located adjacent to flooded alveoli and reduce ventilation injury of the lung. These means of overcoming the pressure barrier include: (i) use of accelerated deflation during mechanical ventilation; and ii) high frequency (>50 Hz) vibration of the lung.

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.

A personal exhaled air removal (PEAR) system for removing/evacuating exhaled air from a vicinity of a patient is designed to remove the exhaled air during an exhalation cycle of a patient. The system is synchronized with a patient's breathing cycle for activating suction of exhaled air via at least one suction inlet, and the suction inlet is adjacent to the patient, possibly attached to the patient via an interface.

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.

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.

A patient circuit of a ventilation system, such as a non-invasive open ventilation system, wherein the patient circuit comprises a nasal pillows style patient interface that incorporates at least one Venturi effect jet pump proximal to the patient. The patient circuit further comprises a pair of uniquely configured 3-way connectors which, in cooperation with several uniquely configured tri-lumen tubing segments, facilitate the cooperative engagement of the patient interface to a ventilator of the ventilation system.