A shroud for a mask system includes a retaining portion structured to retain a frame, a pair of upper headgear connectors each including an elongated arm and a slot at the free end of the arm adapted to receive a headgear strap, and a pair of lower headgear connectors each adapted to attach to a headgear strap. The retaining portion, the upper headgear connectors, and the lower headgear connectors are integrally formed as a one piece structure.

The present invention provides a breathing assistance apparatus that has a convenient and effective method of cleaning internal conduits inside the apparatus. The breathing assistance apparatus is preferably a gases supply and humidification device. The cleaning method is a method of disinfection that is automated so minimal training is required to disinfect in particular an internal elbow conduit within the device. It is therefore not necessary to dismantle the gases supply and humidification device, therefore, inadvertent damage to the internal parts of the device is avoided. The present invention also provides a method of disinfecting a heated breathing conduit and a patient interface.

Devices for delivering a controlled concentration of an agent are provided. The device includes a reservoir for the agent and a flow control portion operably connected to the reservoir. The device also includes a valve for releasing the agent from the flow control portion and a pump for flowing air to mix with the agent released by the valve and for flowing the agent and air mixture out of the device. Methods of delivering a vaporized agent to a subject are also provided. The methods include storing a liquid agent in a reservoir of a device and flowing the agent into a flow control chamber to change the agent to a gas. The methods also include mixing the agent in gas form with air and flowing the agent and air mixture out of the device to be delivered to a subject.

A patient interface for supplying a flow of breathable gas to the airways of a patient may comprise a heat and moisture exchanger (HME). The HME may be positioned in a flow path of the flow of breathable gas. The HME may absorb heat and moisture from gas exhaled by the patient and the incoming flow of breathable gas to be supplied to the patient's airways may be heated and moisturized by the heat and moisture held in the HME.

Systems and methods are provided for portable and compact nitric oxide (NO) generation that can be embedded into other therapeutic devices or used alone. In some embodiments, an ambulatory NO generation system can be comprised of a controller and disposable cartridge. The cartridge can contain filters and scavengers for preparing the gas used for NO generation and for scrubbing output gases prior to patient inhalation. The system can utilize an oxygen concentrator to increase nitric oxide production and compliment oxygen generator activity as an independent device. The system can also include a high voltage electrode assembly that is easily assembled and installed. Various nitric oxide delivery methods are provided, including the use of a nasal cannula.

A method of delivering a substance, such as one or more of a triptan, a nasal steroid or carbon dioxide gas, to the nasal cavity of a subject, in particular for the treatment of headaches, for example, migraine, or rhinosinusitis, for example, chronic rhinosinusitis, optionally with polyps, the method comprising the steps of fitting a nosepiece to one nostril of the subject, delivering the substance through the nosepiece to the posterior region of the nasal cavity of the subject.

A CPAP system for supplying humidified gases to a user is disclosed in which various interfaces are described for gas delivery. A mask cushion including a deformable cushion and thin sheath is described.

A dental appliance is provided. The dental appliance includes a dental form configured to receive a portion of a dental arch of an individual, and an adhesive strip comprising a first side and a second side. The first side of the adhesive strip is attached to a portion of the dental form. The second side of the adhesive strip comprises a mucoadhesive configured to adhere the adhesive strip to a tongue of the individual such that the tongue of the individual can be selectively attached to the dental appliance.

A mechanical ventilator (10) is connected with a ventilated patient (12) to provide ventilation in accordance with ventilator settings of the mechanical ventilator. Physiological values (variables) are acquired for the ventilated patient using physiological sensors (32). A ventilated patient cardiopulmonary (CP) model (40) is fitted to the acquired physiological variables values to generate a fitted ventilated patient CP model by fine-tuning its parameters (50). Updated ventilator settings are determined by adjusting model ventilator settings of the fitted ventilated patient CP model to minimize a cost function (60). The updated ventilator settings may be displayed on a display component (22) as recommended ventilator settings for the ventilated patient, or the ventilator settings of the mechanical ventilator may be automatically changed to the updated ventilator settings so as to automatically control the mechanical ventilator.

[Problems] To provide a driving method for a metering pump, a driving apparatus for a metering pump, a vaporizer and an anesthesia apparatus which are capable of suppressing a pulsation in the metering pump, and lowering the costs and reducing the sizes of the vaporizer and the anesthesia apparatus.

[Means for solving the Problems] A metering pump 16 is joined to the stepping motor 15, includes an eccentric mechanism converting a revolving motion of the stepping motor 15 into a reciprocating motion of a plunger 16A, and makes a constant liquid delivery by sucking and discharging an anesthetic agent through variations in the cubic volume of a cylinder 16D caused by the reciprocating motion of the plunger 16A. The control section 12: calculates a suction and discharge cycle T of the metering pump 16 on the basis of a set anesthetic-gas concentration and a fresh-gas flow rate; sets a discharge period T2 of the cycle T to be longer than a suction period T1 of the cycle T; and controls the revolution speed of the stepping motor 15 so that the travelling speed of the plunger 16A is kept constant during the discharge period T2.