A respiratory assistance apparatus is configured to provide a heated and humidified glow of gases and has a control system that is configured to detect a fault in the flow path. A flow path is provided for a gases stream through the apparatus from a gas inlet through a blower unit and humidification unit to a gases outlet. A flow rate sensor is provided in the flow path and is configured to sense the flow rate and generate an flow rate signal and/or a motor speed sensor is provided that is configured to sense the motor speed of the blower unit and generate an indicative motor speed signal.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for delivery of therapeutic gas to patients, in need thereof, receiving breathing gas from a high frequency ventilator using at least enhanced therapeutic gas (e.g., nitric oxide, NO, etc.) flow measurement. At least some of these enhanced therapeutic gas flow measurements can be used to address some surprising phenomenon that may, at times, occur when wild stream blending therapeutic gas into breathing gas a patient receives from a breathing circuit affiliated with a high frequency ventilator. Utilizing at least some of these enhanced therapeutic gas flow measurements the dose of therapeutic gas wild stream blended into breathing gas that the patient receives can at least be more accurate and/or under delivery of therapeutic gas into the breathing gas can be avoided and/or reduced.

Systems and methods for controlling a pump system for use in negative pressure wound therapy are described herein. In some embodiments, a method for controlling a pump system includes applying a drive signal to a pump assembly of the pump system, the drive signal alternating between a positive amplitude and a negative amplitude and the drive signal having an offset, and sampling a pressure within a fluid flow path configured to connect the pump system to a wound dressing configured to be placed over a wound during one or more time intervals. Each of the one or more time intervals can occur when the drive signal is approximately at an amplitude equal to one or more sampling amplitudes.

Detection of unintentional air leaks in a user interface (e.g., mask) of a respiratory therapy system (e.g., a positive air pressure device) is disclosed. One or more sensors (e.g., within a computing device, such as a smartphone) can be moved around relative to the user interface to determine a location and/or intensity of an air leak. The computing device can provide feedback regarding the location and/or intensity of the air leak to facilitate the user locating the air leak, and thus correcting the air leak. In some cases, augmented reality annotations can be overlaid on an image (e.g., live image) of the user wearing the user interface to identify the location of the air leak. The system can automatically detect the type of user interface being used and can provide tailored guidance for reducing the air leaks.

The present invention relates to a method for protecting a ventilation device of a ventilator against backflowing exhaled air, and to a ventilator. A respiratory gas flow is generated by a blower device and is guided via a flow connection to a breathing interface. The respiratory gas flow is adjusted with the aid of a control device to a first ventilation pressure during an inhalation phase of the patient and to a second ventilation pressure during an exhalation phase. A characteristic variable for a flow within the flow connection is detected in this case by means of a monitoring device for monitoring backflowing exhaled air. And, in this case, a back pressure with respect to the backflowing expiratory flow is adjusted by means of a specific increase of the ventilation pressure with consideration for the characteristic variable, whereby an undesirable rebreathing into the ventilation device is counteracted by means of the back pressure.

A method of determining the status of a fluid cooled microwave ablation system is provided including providing an electrical current to a pump to pump fluid through an ablation system along a fluid path to cool the ablation system, measuring an electrical current drawn by the pump, and determining a status of the ablation system based on the measured electrical current. In another aspect of the disclosure, an ablation system is provided including an ablation probe defining a fluid path for circulation of fluid therethrough, a generator configured to supply energy to the ablation probe for treating tissue, a pump configured to pump fluid through the fluid path of the ablation probe to cool the ablation probe, a sensor configured to measure an electrical current drawn by the pump, and a computing device configured to determine a status of the ablation system based on the measured electrical current.

A respiratory assistance component is disclosed that changes shape when an electrical charge is provided. The amount of electrical charge that is applied may be based on values, characteristics, or user controlled parameters of the respiratory assistance system. The component may be all or part of a patient interface, a tube, a flow generator, and/or a sleep mat.

An aerosol-generating device includes a housing having a first end defining a mouthpiece, a second end, and a cavity defined between the first end and the second end. The device also includes a reservoir within the cavity. The reservoir is configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The device also includes an atomizer and a valve within the mouthpiece of the housing. The valve has a first side and an second side. The second side of the valve includes a hydrophilic coating, a hydrophobic coating, or both a hydrophilic coating and a hydrophobic coating.

Devices and systems with methods for detecting a sealing condition between a patient interface and a patient, and adjusting the patient interface to maintain the patient interface in sealing contact with the patient. The patient interface may include a sealing structure to form a seal on the patient, and a positioning structure to secure the sealing structure to the patient. The patient interface may include a sensor coupled to the sealing structure. A processor determines the sealing condition between the sealing structure and the patient based on a signal from the sensor, and adjusts at least one of the sealing structure and the positioning structure to maintain the sealing structure in sealing contact with the patient. A prediction system predicts a leak between the sealing structure and the patient based on the sensor signal. A learning system learns how to fit the sealing structure to the patient to form a seal.

Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods for operating the systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system includes a pump assembly and a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound. The pump assembly and the wound dressing can be fluidically connected to facilitate delivery of negative pressure to a wound via a fluid flow path. The system can be configured to efficiently deliver negative pressure and to detect and indicate presence of conditions, such as a blockage in a fluid flow path. Monitoring of the conditions can be performed by detecting a level of activity of a pump of the pump assembly.