108 results about "Expired air" patented technology

A photochemical sensing system enables the measurement of nitrogen oxides (nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide) by photolyzing nitrogen dioxide to form oxygen atoms which combine with oxygen molecules to form ozone. Ozone reacts with nitric oxide to for nitrogen dioxide-decreasing ozone. Changes in ozone concentration are measured as a surrogate for the nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide. Any species which photolyzes to yield oxygen atoms may be measured by this technique. Additional specificity for nitrogen oxides is conferred by allowing the nitric oxide to react with the ozone to recreate the nitrogen dioxide. By periodically photolyzing the nitrogen dioxide (to form ozone), and then allowing the resulting nitric oxide to react with the ozone (thereby reducing ozone), a pulsed signal is obtained whose amplitude is proportional to the total amount of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide present. Medical applications include measuring nitric oxide concentrations in expired air samples.

A pulmocardiac assistance apparatus is disclosed for use in the medical technology field to provide expiratory and inspiratory functionality to patients with respiratory disorders. The pulmocardiac assistance device of the present invention functions to collect body response feedback and manages this feedback to achieve an optimum response. The device includes an integrated set of pressure cuffs for pressuring different parts of the body in accordance with a predetermined sequence to induce the patient to breathe out or expire air from the lungs or to even produce an assisted cough, as well as to promote circulation of blood from the extremities of the body to the head. The pulmocardiac assistance device further includes a programmable logic controller which accepts inputs from sensors (e.g. patient temperature, blood gas concentrations, arterial pH level) and makes calculations to control both ventilator and pressure cuffs.

Disclosed herein are devices for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). More particularly, devices are disclosed to produce collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and / or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs.

A gas chromatograph having the capability of performing a reliable measurement under a condition that the baseline of a detector output is stabilized, and a breath component analyzer using the same are provided. This gas chromatograph comprises a gas separation column accommodating a member for causing a flow delay depending on gas component; air pump for supplying an air as a carrier gas into the gas separation column; gas supply port formed in a gas flow channel extending between the air pump and the gas separation column, and adapted to supply a subject gas containing a target gas component to be detected into the carrier gas flowing in the gas flow channel; buffer tank provided upstream of the gas supply port; and a detector for detecting the gas component of the subject gas supplied into the gas separation column.

We describe the use of a flow directing apparatus for incorporation into a patient mask or adjacent to it and for use with a source of pressurized breathable gas such as electronically or electronically controlled fan blower or positive displacement ventilator to provide nasal or oro-nasally administered continuous positive airway pressure or bi level therapies. Such therapies are commonly used to treat sleep disordered breathing including sleep apnea and other syndromes, as well as ventilatory insufficiency. The valve apparatus includes means to direct expired air to atmosphere and inspired air from a pressure source to a user's airway. In this way advantage is provided compared to alternative means as described in the prior art which vent a user's expired gas to atmosphere through a fixed open vent.

Disclosed herein are devices for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). More particularly, devices are disclosed to produce collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and / or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs.

Disclosed herein are devices for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). More particularly, devices are disclosed to produce collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and / or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs.

The invention pertains to the establishment, implementation and management of a personalized information system pertinent to a user's general health, wellness and / or sport performance. Disclosed is a system capable of transcutaneous measurement of a subject including at least one light source, at least one light detector, and at least one component for generating or storing at least one value of VC02 or at least one value of V02 from the detected signal. Further, disclosed is a portable device for analyzing the composition of the respired gasses of a subject including at least one air flow conduit through which the subject can inspire or expire air through the body of the device, at least one sampling portal, an oxygen sensor, and at least one flow sensor. A dual-battery system is also provided by which an uninterrupted power supply can be provided for electronic components.

The methods disclosed herein are directed to altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. More particularly, these methods produce and maintain collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and / or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs. Devices and methods apply cryo-energy to maintain the patency of the surgically created openings.

A portable medication holder is disclosed for discharging liquid agent into an air stream. The holder comprises a housing having a first wall and a second wall with the walls movable relative to each other. The second wall may be moved between a closed position and an open position wherein an air pathway is open. The holder has evaporation means to assist in evaporation of the liquid agent into air in the air pathway which flows through a medication discharge chute to a user. The device also includes opening means for opening the medication container and releasing the liquid agent to the air pathway and one or more one-way valves to provide uni-directional air flow for one or both of the inspiratory air and expired air. The liquid agent is preferably methoxyflurane. The device may include an auxiliary gas pathway for delivery of a gas such as oxygen. It may also include an auxiliary air inlet for varying the concentration of inhaled agent. The holder is preferably sealed against the external environment. The holder may include a lanyard adapted to activate relative movement between the walls. It may also include a rip seal opening for one end and a deformable cap which may be sprung clear of the medication discharge chute by impact against a surface.

The invention relates to a pressure responsive respiratory valve apparatus for enabling positive pressure from a source of pressure to be applied to a user's airway, and allowing ingress of a breathable gas from an inlet port into a user's airway during inhalation and egress of expired tidal volume of air from the user's respiratory system to an exhalation port during exhalation. The invention minimises rebreathing of expired gas and optimizes delivery of pressurised breathable gas by venting gas only during exhalation, as well as addressing important user considerations including minimizing noise, pressure swine, and size.

A nasal interface device delivers a high flow rate of a gas having a pressure that is adjustable to a patient. The device includes a nasal insert that is adapted to deliver pressurized breathing gas to a nasal cavity of the patient, and to receive expired air. The nasal insert has a pressurized breathing gas delivery port and an expired gas port. The expired gas port has a plurality of openings extending therethrough.

A device for directly measuring a person's respiratory exchange ratio (RER) utilizes a Zn-air battery cell and a constant current load circuit as an O2 pump capable of drawing oxygen from expired air. A thermistor located in the flow path forms a leg of a bridge circuit whose output is proportional to oxygen concentration in the expired air and, therefore, to oxygen uptake. The thermistor flowmeter circuit utilizes the thermal conductivity differences between O2 and CO2 to provide a measure at the relative ratio of the two gases present.

A nasal interface device delivers a high flow rate of a gas having a pressure that is adjustable to a patient. The device includes a nasal insert that is adapted to deliver pressurized gas to a nasal cavity of the patient, and receive and direct expired air. The nasal insert has a pressurized breathing gas delivery port and an expired gas port. An expiratory limb pressure regulator is in fluid communication with the expired gas port.

A gas chromatograph having the capability of performing a reliable measurement under a condition that the baseline of a detector output is stabilized, and a breath component analyzer using the same are provided. This gas chromatograph comprises a gas separation column accommodating a member for causing a flow delay depending on gas component; air pump for supplying an air as a carrier gas into the gas separation column; gas supply port formed in a gas flow channel extending between the air pump and the gas separation column, and adapted to supply a subject gas containing a target gas component to be detected into the carrier gas flowing in the gas flow channel; buffer tank provided upstream of the gas supply port; and a detector for detecting the gas component of the subject gas supplied into the gas separation column.

The invention relates to a EBC detection as a detection technique completely without wound, with important use value for airway inflammation. A fourway gaspath solves the automatic separation of entrance of expired air, exit of expired air, inspired air and spit residue. The upbending design and 'claw type' of the exit pipeline of the expired air can solve the effect of spit residue from the expired air on refrigeration area. A singlechip system detects the expired air amount and the condensing temperature is set to quantify the collection of the condensate of expired air, so as to quantitatively evaluate change and degree of states such as oxidation stress, inflammation and the like in airway of a variety of respiratory disease.

The system 10 includes an endoscopic probe 20 and an expired air sampling device 24 functionally connected to a control console 28. In use, the endoscopic probe 20 is routed through a body lumen of a patient to, for example, visualize a selected region of a patient's body. As the endoscopic probe 20 is routed through the body lumens, the expired air sampling device 24 collects expired air from the patient, generates signals indicative of patient respiratory status, and outputs the generated signals to the control console 28. The control console 28 processes the signals and monitors the respiratory status of the patient. If the respiratory status of the patient changes based on the processed signals of the expired air sampling device 24, the control console 28 may output an audible or visual alert signal.

The invention relates to a breath training system, which is used for aiding a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in rehabilitation training and comprises a server device and a client device. The client device comprises a client communication part, a client storage part, a client display part, a client input part and a client processing part, wherein the client processing part comprises first to fourth stage guidance and indication modules which guide breathing exercises of first to fourth training actions respectively. The first training action adopts a lip-contracting ventral breathing way; the second training action adopts a breathing way of making a fist, deep breathing and slowly expiring air; the third training action adopts a whole body breathing exercising way; and the fourth training action adopts a deep inspiration-holding breathing-slowly air expiring way.

The invention provides a measuring apparatus for the concentrations of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide in expired air. The measuring apparatus is composed of a sampling module and an analysis module. The sampling module is formed by tandem connection of a flow regulator, a stop valve and a sampling pump, wherein the flow regulator is connected with a flow / pressure sensor and a CO2 sensor, and a group consisting of an air chamber I, a solenoid valve I and a solenoid valve VI and a group consisting of an air chamber II, a solenoid valve II and a solenoid valve VII are arranged between the flow / pressure regulator and the sampling pump in a parallel connection manner, the solenoid valve I and the solenoid valve VI are connected with the air chamber I and respectively located before and behind the air chamber I, and the solenoid valve II and the solenoid valve VII are connected with the air chamber II and respectively located before and behind the air chamber II. A circulation air path is formed in the analysis module by the air chamber I, the solenoid valve I or the air chamber II, the solenoid valve II, a tee valve I, an analysis pump, a tee valve II, an air humidity regulator, a NO sensor, the solenoid valve VI or the solenoid valve VII; a normally open end of the tee valve I is connected with the front of the air chamber I or the air chamber II and with the analysis pump, and a passage switching end of the tee valve I is connected with the front of the air chamber I or the air chamber II and with a NO filter and the analysis pump; and a normally open end of the tee valve II is connected with the analysis pump, the air humidity regulator and the NO sensor, and a passage switching end of the tee valve II is connected with the analysis pump, a CO sensor and a CO filter.

A device for directly measuring a person's respiratory exchange ratio (RER) utilizes a Zn-air battery cell and a constant current load circuit as an O2 pump capable of drawing oxygen from expired air. A thermistor located in the flow path forms a leg of a bridge circuit whose output is proportional to oxygen concentration in the expired air and, therefore, to oxygen uptake. The thermistor flowmeter circuit utilizes the thermal conductivity differences between O2 and CO2 to provide a measure at the relative ratio of the two gases present.

The invention relates to method and apparatus for the determination of alcohol concentration of expired air. By visualising current or accumulated measuring value and error in real time during ongoing measurement, interactive control of alcohol determination is enabled with respect to accuracy and time lapse. Preferably the measurement is performed without contact with compensation for the dilution of the breath sample, which is performed by simultaneous measurement of temperature, concentration of water vapour or carbon dioxide. The method is divided into a stepwise procedure based on the dependence of the measuring error on the dilution of the expired air, and accumulated time, both being possible to influence by the test person or operator. Special advantages are being obtained at measurements relative to a concentration limit. The alcohol determination is preferably performed by means of absorption spectroscopy within the infrared wavelength range. The apparatus according to the invention includes sensors for the abovementioned entities, an electronic unit for signal and data processing, a presentation unit, and is embedded in a compact housing for handheld use or integration. The response time of the sensors should not exceed 0,5 seconds in order to fulfil the requirement of real time operation. The housing is controllably openable at measurement, and includes a measuring cell illuminated with collimated infrared radiation and means for active air flow.

A conduit for delivering warm air to the body with a multiplicity of warm air delivery holes arrayed along extensive tubing down extending over the arms and legs of the wearer. The warm air is derived from the user's expired air as one exhales into a coupler that fits the mouth of a human or coupled to an over the nose and mouth facemask. The exhaled air travels through the mouthpiece or mask and into the tubing to be delivered to the extremities through air dispersion holes arrayed along and around the tubing.

In the present invention, personal air filtration unit sold as SMARTMOUTH(TM), a trademark for a personal air filtration unit comprised of an outer activated carbon pre-filter and an inner filter for particulate matter available through Tri-Pact Enterprises has been attached to a column of valve connectors which are connected to a tracheostomy tube. The filter has a downwardly dependent exhaust port which allows expired air to flow out of the filtration unit without passing through the filters, thereby helping to prevent mixing of inhaled and exhaled air, and decreasing resistance to exhalation, as well as one-way valves in the form of a flap, on the one hand to prevent exhaled air from entering a dead space between filters, and on the other hand to prevent entering of inhaled air through the exhaust port.

The invention discloses an expired air analysis device and method. The expired air analysis device comprises an expiration unit, a chemical sensor unit, a signal transmission unit and an evaluation unit. The expiration unit includes an expired air sample introduction apparatus for discharging expired air into the chemical sensor unit. The chemical sensor unit includes a chemical sensor chamber equipped with a chemical sensor array consisting of at least one chemical sensor, and a sensor measuring device for measuring the interaction between the expired air and the chemical sensor array. The signal transmission unit sends a signal output by the sensor measuring device to the evaluation unit, which receives the signal from the signal transmission unit and makes an evaluation. The expired air analysis method is accomplished by using the expired air analysis device. The device of the invention has the advantages of low cost, high accuracy, and generation of data with comparability, thus being suitable for popularization and application.

A disposable oxygenation apparatus used to apply an oxygen enriched, positive pressure to a patient's airway where a respiratory device is in situ or is to be used, to decrease the incidence of desaturation and with an LMA in situ to assist in maintaining the patient's vocal cords open during recovery after anaesthesia. The apparatus includes a passageway or passageways extending therethrough, an expiratory valve or valves located in or adjacent an outlet for controlling the passage of expired air from said patient during expiration, a primary inspiratory valve located in or adjacent a primary inlet, for controlling oxygen or oxygen rich air flowing through the passageway or passageways from a collapsible reservoir bag, and a secondary inspiratory valve located in or adjacent a secondary inlet for controlling entry of ambient air in from an exterior of the apparatus during inspiration when the collapsible reservoir bad has been substantially emptied.

The present invention provides for a closed circuit breathing unit comprising a reservoir bag, oxygen source, CO2 scrubber, and actuation device. The oxygen source and an exit from the scrubber may be fluidly connected to the reservoir bag. The reservoir bag may be attached to a mouthpiece to provide inhalation air. Expired air may be exhaled through the mouthpiece and directed to an inlet for the scrubber. As a user breathes normally, expired air is scrubbed of excess CO2, mixed with generated oxygen, and delivered to the user for inhalation within a closed circuit. Additionally, the oxygen source and the scrubber may be replaced and / or replenished without compromising or interrupting a breathing cycle.