Dispensing systems for a ventilator circuit having a ventilator flow circuit with a normal inhalation flow path with a heat and moisture exchanger (HME), a flow sensor in communication with the ventilator circuit, an automated drug dispensing system with an actuator and a pressurized canister residing upstream of the HME, a bypass inhalation flow path residing downstream of the pressurized canister, and at least one electromechanical valve residing in the inhalation flow path to selectively open the valve which can be normally closed to define a closed bypass path. At least one controller opens the at least one electromechanical valve to open the bypass inhalation flow path and close the normal inhalation flow path through the HME only when the flow sensor indicates air flow is in an inhalation direction. Once the valve is open, the actuator dispenses medication through the bypass inhalation flow path to the patient.

A method of treating a human subject which is effected by inhalation of gaseous nitric oxide, the method comprising a first treatment period comprising administering gNO by inhalation over a period of about at least 5 days, wherein the first treatment period is followed by a second treatment period comprising administering gNO by inhalation over a period of at least 3 months. The method can be utilized for treating a human subject suffering from, or prone to suffer from, a disease or disorder that is manifested in the respiratory tract, or from a disease or disorder that can be treated via the respiratory tract.

Systems and methods are provided for anesthetic agent level sensing. In one embodiment, a system for an inductive level sensor for an anesthetic vaporizer includes a measurement target positioned around a rod that extends within a chamber configured to hold liquid anesthetic agent, the rod configured to be at least partially submerged in the liquid anesthetic agent and the measurement target configured to slide vertically along a length of the rod and rest on a surface of the liquid anesthetic agent, and a strip of inductive transmitter coils and receiver coils positioned external to the chamber, a length of the strip aligned with the length of the rod, the transmitter coils configured to generate a magnetic field that surrounds the rod and the measurement target and the receiver coils configured to sense changes in the generated magnetic field at a vertical location of the measurement target on the rod.

A method of treating a human subject which is effected by inhalation of gaseous nitric oxide, the method comprising a first treatment period comprising administering gNO by inhalation over a period of about at least 5 days, wherein the first treatment period is followed by a second treatment period comprising administering gNO by inhalation over a period of at least 3 months. The method can be utilized for treating a human subject suffering from, or prone to suffer from, a disease or disorder that is manifested in the respiratory tract, or from a disease or disorder that can be treated via the respiratory tract.

A personal respiratory isolation system (PRIS) provides a personal, negative pressure environment for a patient or user that reduces contamination and spread of pathogens exhaled by the patient into the environment. The PRIS includes an enclosure to receive the patient's head (such as a hood and a drape) and a negative pressure source which draws ambient air into the interior of the enclosure and draws air within the enclosure's interior (including the exhalations of the patient, including any contaminants and/or pathogens) out of the enclosure via a fluid port into a container for biohazard processing or disposal. The PRIS may allow positive air pressure therapeutic treatments to be delivered to the patient within the negative pressure environment, and the PRIS may maintain a constant pressure within the interior of the enclosure. The PRIS may include a transparent, hinged face shield for ease of patient observation and/or access.

Various embodiments are described herein for a controller for controlling the operation of a breathing assistance device that provides breathing assistance to a user. The controller comprises a processor that generates a respiratory index value that is determined during a current monitoring time period to detect a respiratory failure, or predict the respiratory failure when at least one PSG signal is measured. The respiratory index value is compared to a threshold to determine if the control signal needs to be updated to reduce or eliminate respiratory failure that the user is currently experiencing or to prevent a predicted respiratory failure from occurring.

The disclosure relates to a method and respiratory system, comprising: a flow generator to provide a gas-flow to a patient, the gas flow comprising an oxygen fraction, and a controller configured to: receive input relating to oxygen fraction at a patient's nose and/or mouth, adjust the gas-flow flow rate based on the oxygen fraction at the patient's nose and/or mouth.

The disclosure relates to a method and respiratory system, comprising: a flow generator to provide a gas-flow to a patient, the gas flow comprising an oxygen fraction, and a controller configured to: receive input relating to oxygen fraction at a patient's nose and/or mouth, adjust the gas-flow flow rate based on the oxygen fraction at the patient's nose and/or mouth.

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for determining a parameter of a gas present in an exhaled gas flow comprising: providing an apparatus gas flow with a time-varying parameter to a patient, measuring a parameter of the gas present in a composite gas outflow from the patient, and determining the parameter of the gas present in the exhaled gas flow using the measured parameter of the gas present in the composite gas outflow and the time-varying parameter.

A bite block includes a main body and a mouthpiece extending outward from the main body and configured to be positioned in a mouth of the subject when the bite block is in use. The mouthpiece can include a main channel configured to receive an endoscopic tube and a sampling channel configured to receive orally exhaled gases from the subject. The bite block can include a gas delivery channel configured to direct gases into the subject's mouth, the gas delivery channel extending through a portion of the main body and through a portion of the main channel such that the gas delivery channel is in fluid communication with the main channel. The bite block can include a recess extending along a portion of the first surface of the main body proximate the gas delivery channel and configured to receive a portion of a gas delivery tube.