6764 results about "Positive pressure" patented technology

A blower for providing a supply of air at positive pressure in the range of approximately 2 cm H2O to 30 cm H2O includes a motor, at least one impeller, and a stationary component. The stationary component includes an inlet and an outlet. The motor, the impeller, the inlet and outlet are co-axial.

A blower includes a stationary portion including an inlet and an outlet, a rotating portion provided to the stationary portion, and a motor adapted to drive the rotating portion. The inlet and outlet are co-axially aligned. The stationary portion includes a housing, a stator component provided to the housing, and a tube providing an interior surface. The rotating portion includes one or more bearings that are provided along the interior surface of the tube to support a rotor within the tube. In an embodiment, the blower is structured to supply air at positive pressure.

There are provided pressurized surgical instruments for use in pressurized surgical environments. The pressurized surgical instruments include pressurizing systems for maintaining a neutral or positive pressure flow within the surgical instrument during use. The pressurizing systems include a primary sensor for detecting the pressure of the surgical environment and a pressurizing mechanism for balancing the pressure of the surgical instrument with the surgical environment. The pressurizing mechanism includes a controller to receive and compare the signal sent from the primary sensor to the ambient or internal instrument pressure and a pressure delivery system to provide positive pressure to the interior of the surgical instrument in response to a signal received from the controller. The sources of pressure for the pressure delivery systems may be external or self contained within the surgical instrument.

A semiconductor processing apparatus includes a reaction chamber, a loading chamber, a movable support, a drive mechanism, and a control system. The reaction chamber includes a baseplate. The baseplate includes an opening. The movable support is configured to hold a workpiece. The drive mechanism is configured to move a workpiece held on the support towards the opening of the baseplate into a processing position. The control system is configured to create a positive pressure gradient between the reaction chamber and the loading chamber while the workpiece support is in motion. Purge gases flow from the reaction chamber into the loading chamber while the workpiece support is in motion. The control system is configured to create a negative pressure gradient between the reaction chamber and the loading chamber while the workpiece is being processed. Purge gases can flow from the loading chamber into the reaction chamber while the workpiece support is in the processing position, unless the reaction chamber is sealed from the loading chamber in the processing position.

The invention provides a method and system for ablation of body structures or tissue in a sphincter, sinus or orifice such as the rectum, colon, esophagus, vagina, penis, larynx or pharynx. In one aspect of the invention, the environment surrounding the targeted ablation region can be isolated or controlled by blocking the flow of gases or liquids using an inflatable balloon positioned immediately adjacent to the tissue that is to be ablated. In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable balloon also serves to anchor the catheter in place and prevent the catheter from being expelled from the body. The inflatable balloon also insures that locally administered drug remain in the area where most needed. In a second aspect of the invention, positive pressure is used to inflate the balloon. Inflation of balloon triggers the extension of at least one curvilinear electrode into the targeted tissue. Negative pressure deflates the air sac and helps retract the curvilinear electrodes so as to allow the catheter to be removed from the body without damaging adjacent body structures. In a third aspect of the invention, the electrodes are coupled to sensors that measure properties of the target region such as temperature and impedance. Measurement of these properties permits the use of feedback technique to control delivery of the RF energy and administration of fluids for cooling and hydrating the affected tissues. In a fourth aspect of the invention, the catheter includes an optical path that can be coupled to external viewing apparatus. In this way, the position of the electrodes in the body can be determined by fluoroscopic or fiber optic techniques.

A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system involves applying separate and independent gains to flow rates of pressurized gas delivered to a patient during inspiratory and expiratory phases of a respiratory cycle to deliver the pressurized gas in proportion to the respective gains during inspiration and expiration. A base pressure may be applied in addition to the gain-modified pressures and an elevated pressure profile may be employed to assist or control inspiration. The system may be fully automated responsive to feedback provided by a flow sensor that determines the estimated patient flow rate. A leak computer can be included to instantaneously calculate gas leakage from the system. The system may be utilized in connection with conventional continuous positive airway pressure (bi-level PAP) equipment to effect various beneficial treatment applications.

A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system involves applying a gain to flow rate of pressurized gas delivered to a patient during inspiratory and / or expiratory phases of a respiratory cycle to deliver the pressurized gas in proportion to the respective gains during inspiration and / or expiration. A base pressure may be applied in addition to the gain-modified pressures and an elevated pressure profile may be employed to assist or control inspiration. The system may be fully automated responsive to feedback provided by a flow sensor that determines the estimated patient flow rate. A leak computer can be included to instantaneously calculate gas leakage from the system. The system may be utilized in connection with conventional continuous positive airway pressure treatments, such as CPAP or bi-level positive airway pressure equipment to effect various beneficial treatment applications.

Methods and devices transmit micromechanical forces locally on the millimeter to micron scale for promoting wound healing. Micromechanical forces can selectively be applied directly to tissue, in some embodiments, by using microchambers fluidically connected to microchannels. Each chamber, or in some cases, group of chambers, may be associated with a valve to control vacuum pressure, positive pressure, liquid delivery, and / or liquid removal from each chamber or group of chambers. Application of embodiments of the invention may shorten wound-healing time, reduce costs of therapy, enable restoration of functional tissue, and reduce the need for more invasive therapies, including surgery.

A patient interface system for delivery of a supply of air at positive pressure to the entrance of a patient's airways for treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an air delivery tube connected to a flexible portion of a plenum; a vent structure having sufficient rigidity to support its own weight under gravity and / or not to block or fold under tube movement or tube drag; and a patient interface structure. The patient interface structure includes a seal forming structure arranged on a top portion of the plenum; and a seal positioning and stabilizing structure connected to a flexible portion of the plenum. The seal-forming structure is substantially decoupled from a tube drag force.

A double-ended variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the double-ended blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteristics over a narrower range of motor speeds, resulting in greater reliability and less acoustic noise.

A method of pressure regulation and a ventilator are provided. The ventilator includes a positive relative pressure gas supply, a negative relative pressure gas supply, and a diverter valve. The diverter valve includes a positive pressure port connected to the positive relative pressure gas supply, a negative pressure port connected to the negative relative pressure gas supply, and a gas supply port communicating with a gas delivery device. The ventilator preferably further includes a feedback sensor that detects a gas supply difference between a gas supply and a predetermined gas supply and generates a feedback signal that is substantially related to the gas supply difference. The ventilator preferably further includes a diverter valve actuator communicating with the diverter valve and operating the diverter valve to communicate the positive relative pressure gas supply and the negative relative pressure gas supply to the gas supply port of the diverter valve based upon the feedback signal.

Disclosed are devices and methods for the control of body fluid flow in the extracorporeal treatment of body fluid. Body fluid flow through on of a body fluid flow circuit (10, 50, 60, 100 or 250) is controlled by alternating applying vacuum pressure and positive pressure to the circuit through a pumping chamber (30, 51, 66, 102, or 200) coordinated with flow control valves (40, 42, 44, 62, 114, 116, 118, and 120) to effect a net downstream flow of body fluid through the circuit.

A patient interface for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient includes a first seal adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a first space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a first positive pressure; and a second seal adapted to contact the patient's face and seal a second space between the patient interface and the patient's face at a second positive pressure. The first seal also seals the first space from the second space. A leak reducing element may be provided on a seal to reduce and / or diffuse leakage of gas. A vacuum line configured to create a negative pressure may be provided in the second space to remove any gas leaking from the first space to the second space. A seal may be connected to a conduit for delivering the flow of gas that is incorporated into a frame of the patient interface. The seal may be inflatable by the flow of breathable gas to pressurize the seal against the patient's face and include a vent that directs the flow of breathable gas to a space between the patient interface and the patient's face. A cuff may be provided over the seal in the nasal bridge region to direct any leakage of the gas flow from the seal in the nasal bridge region in a direction away from the patient's eyes.

A double-ended variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the double-ended blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteristics over a narrower range of motor speeds, resulting in greater reliability and less acoustic noise.