A device is designed to put the inhaler into a triggering-ready state by adding energy to a stored energy source of the inhaler. The inhaler can be inserted into the device and/or mechanically coupled to the device in order to put the inhaler into the triggering-ready state.

An inspection machine checks and inspects whether an infusion pump is accurately operated and does not require maintenance in a closed system without drainage. This inspection machine includes a syringe and a plunger and moves the plunger backward when an infusion flows into the syringe through a communication hole by the driving of an infusion pump to measure a flow rate by the backward movement amount. An outer peripheral surface of the plunger has an annular recess and a seal ring is fitted thereto. The seal ring is expanded by receiving a liquid pressure of the infusion to be sealed and the plunger is coaxially centered on the syringe. The flow rate of the infusion is accurately reflected to the plunger movement amount. Further, since the infusion is stored in the syringe and does not drip, drainage equipment is not required and an inspection operation can be performed anywhere.

Architectures for production of nitric oxide (NO) include systems and methods for generating NO having one or more plasma chambers configured to ionize a reactant gas to generate a plasma for producing a product gas containing NO using a flow of the reactant gas through one or more plasma chambers; a controller configured to regulate the amount of nitric oxide in the product gas using one or more parameters as an input to the controller, one or more parameters including information from a plurality of sensors configured to collect information relating to at least one of the reactant gas, the product gas, and a medical gas into which product gas flows; and a flow divider configured to divide a product gas flow from the plasma chamber into a first product gas flow to provide a variable flow to a patient inspiratory flow and a second product gas flow.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for evaluating dialyzers used in different medical applications (e.g., hemodialysis). Red blood cell volume lost in a dialyzer is monitored by obtaining blood flowrate measurements and hematocrit measurements at input ports and output ports of the dialyzer. The flowrate and hematocrit measurements are used to determine an accumulation of red cell blood volume in the dialyzer. The measurements may be obtained in a lab environment with an in-vitro blood source or may be obtained in a clinical setting with an in-vivo blood source from a patient.

This invention relates to a medical tube comprises an elongate conduit having a first opening, a second opening, a longitudinal axis, a lumen extending between the first opening and the second opening along the longitudinal axis, and a corrugated wall, formed from an extruded material, extending between the first opening and the second opening and surrounding the lumen. The wall is stiffer in a first length of the conduit adjacent the first opening than in a second length of the conduit adjacent the second opening. The variable stiffness of the tube wall can improve the thermal profile of the tube as well as improve drain-back of condensation into a humidifier providing humidified gas to the tube.

An electronic smoking article includes an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner tube within the outer tube and including a pair of opposing slots, a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, a coil heater, a wick and a mouth end insert. The coil heater is located in the inner tube. The coil heater is formed of an iron-free, nickel-chromium alloy and has substantially uniformly spaced windings. The wick is surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube.

A device for unblocking and removing secretions from airways, including small airways, by applying oscillated air flow and acoustic vibrations, illustratively according to preprogrammed protocol that defines at least one of frequency, waveform, pressure amplitude, and oscillation duration. In an illustrative embodiment, the device applies a combination of air flow oscillations and acoustic waves to facilitate detachment of mucus from airway walls by matching the resonance of specific airway sections and mucus, amplifying the effect. For optimization, an algorithm illustratively matches the required frequencies, amplitudes, duty cycle, and/or relative phases to specific patient and secretion characteristics.

Embodiments disclosed herein include a positive pressure inhaler for delivery of aerosolized/vaporized medication to a patient's lungs under positive pressure and in a known volume of air, and methods of using the positive pressure inhaler for such delivery.

A system for testing the proper functioning of an atomiser for dispensing a fluid in the form of an aerosol is proposed, wherein the system comprises the atomiser and a test apparatus, wherein the atomiser comprises a container holding the fluid, and a housing part for inserting and/or replacing the container, wherein the container is movable relative to the housing part in order to dispense the fluid and the test apparatus comprises a measuring device for measuring the movement of the container when the fluid is dispensed. In addition, a method for testing the proper functioning of an atomiser for dispensing a fluid in the form of an aerosol is proposed, wherein the atomiser comprises a container holding the fluid, and a housing part for inserting and/or replacing the container, wherein the container is moved relative to the housing part in order to dispense the fluid and the movement of the container is measured and/or analysed when the fluid is dispensed.

The invention relates to a method of delivering an agent to the pulmonary system of a compromised patient, in a single breath-activated step, comprising administering a particle mass comprising an agent from an inhaler containing less than 5 milligrams of the mass, wherein at least about 50% of the mass in the receptacle is delivered to the pulmonary system of a patient. The invention also relates to receptacles containing the particle mass and the inhaler for use therein.