A diaphragm vacuum pump has a pump chamber, a vacuum diaphragm for generating an underpressure in the pump chamber, an electric motor (1) with a motor shaft, a gear and a connecting element. The gear converts a rotational movement of the motor shaft into a cyclical, approximately linear forward and rearward movement of the connecting element, as a result of which the connecting element effects a cyclical movement of the vacuum diaphragm. The rearward movement of the connecting element per cycle is effected by a first rotation angle of the motor shaft which, on account of the gear, is not of the same magnitude as a second rotation angle of the motor shaft, wherein the second rotation angle effects the forward movement of the connecting element per cycle. The diaphragm vacuum pump according to the invention can be designed such that it is small and quiet and yet provides optimal power.

An extension assembly for a catheter comprises an extension tube, an extension connector, and an indicator assembly. The extension tube has a proximal end and a distal end. The extension tube further has an inner bore and an opening placing an interior of the extension tube in fluid communication with an exterior of the extension tube. The extension connector is coupled to the proximal end of the extension tube. The indicator assembly is comprised of a sealing member, a wicking member, and an indicator. The sealing member including a first side and a second side. The wicking member includes a wicking tab to be disposed within the opening of the extension tube. The indicator is in fluid communication with the wicking member. The sealing member is at least partially clear to allow visual inspection of the indicator once the indicator assembly is coupled to the extension tube.

A therapy system configured to wash out or flush out the oral and/or nasal cavity to reduce the effective dead space and reduce the work of breathing. The system may displace the expired air in the oral and/or nasal cavity with atmospheric air, or air with altered concentrations, for example, increased humidity, or oxygen levels. A sealed oral interface is provided to the mouth of a patient to supply a volume of pressurized gas. A control system to synchronize the supply of pressurized gas with the patients respiratory cycle. The supply of respiratory gas may be provided during only a portion of the respiratory cycle.

A filter cartridge for surgical gas delivery systems includes a filter housing configured to be seated in a filter cartridge interface of a surgical gas delivery system, with a plurality of flow paths defined through the filter housing including at least one evacuation/return flow path and at least one insufflation/sensing flow path. A humidity filter element is included in the evacuation/return flow path for removing humidity from an evacuation/return lumen of a tube set. The humidity filter element can include a sintered polymer material configured to provide tortuous flow paths therethrough to condense humidity out of a flow through the humidity filter element.

A filter cartridge for surgical gas delivery systems includes a filter housing configured to be seated in a filter cartridge interface of a surgical gas delivery system, with a plurality of flow paths defined through the filter housing including at least one evacuation/return flow path and at least one insufflation/sensing flow path. A humidity filter element is included in the evacuation/return flow path for removing humidity from an evacuation/return lumen of a tube set. The humidity filter element can include a sintered polymer material configured to provide tortuous flow paths therethrough to condense humidity out of a flow through the humidity filter element.

The present disclosure relates to a hemodialysis membrane for the treatment of vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients, especially in chronic hemodialysis patients. The present disclosure further relates to methods of treating vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients, wherein the hemodialysis membrane is characterized in that it comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer and in that it has a MWRO of between 15 and 20 kD and a MWCO of between 170-320 kD or that the hemodialysis membrane comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer and has a MWRO of between 8.5 kD and 14.0 kD and a MWCO of between 55 kD and 130 kD.

An oxygen mask configured for CO.sub.2 sampling and oxygen delivery, the oxygen mask having an oxygen inlet, a nasal breath-sampling element and a breath sampling port configured to receive breath samples, sampled by the breath-sampling element, wherein the breath-sampling element is configured to reduce dilution of exhaled breath by the delivered oxygen.

An oxygen mask configured for CO.sub.2 sampling and oxygen delivery, the oxygen mask having an oxygen inlet, a nasal breath-sampling element and a breath sampling port configured to receive breath samples, sampled by the breath-sampling element, wherein the breath-sampling element is configured to reduce dilution of exhaled breath by the delivered oxygen.

A system for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient that includes a multi-lumen tube set including a dual lumen portion having a pressurized gas line and a return gas line for facilitating gas recirculation relative to the surgical cavity of the patient, and a single lumen portion having a gas supply and sensing line for delivering insufflation gas to the surgical cavity of the patient and for periodically sensing pressure within the surgical cavity of the patient, a first gas sealed single lumen access port communicating with the dual lumen portion of the tube set and a second valve sealed single lumen access port communicating with the single lumen portion of the tube set.

A system for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient that includes a multi-lumen tube set including a dual lumen portion having a pressurized gas line and a return gas line for facilitating gas recirculation relative to the surgical cavity of the patient, and a single lumen portion having a gas supply and sensing line for delivering insufflation gas to the surgical cavity of the patient and for periodically sensing pressure within the surgical cavity of the patient, a first gas sealed single lumen access port communicating with the dual lumen portion of the tube set and a second valve sealed single lumen access port communicating with the single lumen portion of the tube set.