A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining status of a canister of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system. The method includes the steps of monitoring pressure provided by a pump element of the TNP system, determining at least one characteristic associated with the monitored pressure and determining status of at least one parameter associated with a canister of the TNP system responsive to the determined characteristics.

An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, and at least one air inlet operable to establish a predetermined resistance to draw under a prescribed test of said smoking article.

This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising a pump configured to deliver a fluid, a wireless communication port and a controller. The controller is configured to communicate with a separate device via the communication port to receive information relating to a calendar event stored on an interactive calendar of the separate device. The controller can alter operation of the apparatus based on the calendar event.

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.

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 centrifugation approach used to accelerate current empirical methods used to investigate silicone drainage in syringes is disclosed. A siliconized syringe is placed into a holder of a centrifuge in a predefined orientation. Centrifugation of the syringe is activated at a predetermined G rate and for a period of intended simulation time and is ended as that time elapses. The time can be a function of intended simulation time, acceleration due to gravity, square of centrifuge revolution rate, and distance from center of rotor hub to matching point on the syringe barrel. One or more injection functionality parameters of the syringe is assessed after the elapsed period of time. A bucket fixture for retaining one or more syringes in the predefined orientation is also disclosed.

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.

A vaporization device allow users to consume removable cartridges filled with vaporizable material. The vaporizer devices defines a receptacle shaped to receive a cartridge in a snug and compact nesting arrangement. The vaporizer device ensures that the installed cartridges are secured and provide a sealed fluid path. The cartridges have wider fluid conduits facilitating user inhalation. The cartridges also facilitate dose control and a way of calibrating for providing an indication of a measured dose to an end user.

A respiratory flow therapy apparatus including a sensing chamber which measures a flow of gases provided to a patient. The sensing chamber can be located after a blower and/or mixer. The sensing chamber can include an ultrasonic transducer, a temperature sensor, a heated temperature sensing element, and/or a gas concentration sensor. A flow path of gases used in conjunction with the sensor system prevents unwanted vorticity in the flow of gases that can create anomalies in measuring flow.

An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets.