Abstract: A heat-moisture exchanger (HME) and nebulization device for connection to a mechanical ventilator or anesthesia apparatus, to provide humidification or an aerosolized medication without disconnection of the HME from the ventilator circuit, a respiratory device comprising a first housing having an output fitting to provide a connection to an artificial airway of a patient, and a rotatable second housing connected to the first housing, having an input fitting to provide a connection to a ventilator circuit, the input fitting, and the output fitting are in communication with a primary gas flow, the first housing is partitioned into at least two chambers, a chamber to provide an enclosure for an absorbent material, and a chamber to provide a passageway for conveyance of an aerosol, the second housing to provide an enclosure for a nebulizer having a reservoir for a liquid medication, an instillation port to inject the liquid medication, interior to the chamber or passageway, a reciprocating member to open and clos

Abstract: Nasal dilators and strips, methods of their manufacture, and methods for improving the breathing of individuals are provided. The strips and dilators include an elongated substrate, with or without a dilating component or portion, having top and bottom surfaces and a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the bottom surface. The dilator is designed to provide a gentle expanding force to the nasal wall tissue when the dilator is adhesively attached to the nose. This invention further includes a cosmetic fragrance, an aromatic medication and/or transdermal medication disposed on the strips or dilators. In order to improve the shelf-life and in-use olfactory effectiveness of such products, fragrance delivery mechanisms are used. Separation of volatile oils and adhesives are also provided to minimize adhesive residue.

Abstract: A method and device are provided to generate an aerosol having a desired particle sizes, i.e., from molecular to about 10 microns, which can be used to effectively deliver a physiologically active compound to organs and tissues such as the lung, eye, mucosa and skin. The aerosol is formed through vaporization of the compound while simultaneously mixing the resulting vapor with air or other gas. The purity of the compound is maintained meet FDA requirements by closely controlling its degradant levels during vaporization.

Abstract: An inhaler device and a method in which powder for inhalation is jetted off a prepared device surface containing a defined pre-metered quantity of finely divided powder. The jetting function is obtained by a directed air stream pushing or cutting free a medical powder applied to a carrier surface and by creating a stream of air dispersing the powder into inspiratory air at the moment it is being inhaled. The inhaler device includes active (air permeable) porous walls for preventing finely divided powder from sticking to the inner faces of the inhaler device by creating a pressure gradient across the active wall, thus forcing a small flow of air through the active wall thereby keeping the powder from sticking to the inner faces.

Abstract: A device for recovering anaesthetic. During the administration of inhaled anaesthetic, the device is connected to a patient. It includes an anaesthetic evaporator for supplying anaesthetic to the patient and an absorption filter for absorption and desorption of the medium. The device includes a body placed between the absorption filter and the patient with the gases breathed by the patient passing across the body and the anaesthetic evaporating on the surface thereof. The absorption filter is in the form of a flat element placed in the flow path of a gas breathed by the patient and contains fibers of active carbon. The absorption filter is movably arranged in a housing between a position in which substantially all the gases breathed pass through the filter and the position in which a small portion of the gases breathed passes therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention is a vaporizer apparatus (1) and method for uniformly extracting active ingredients of specimen of crude natural product, or inert particulate matrix impregnated with volatile substances without pyrolysis which uses hot air (2), or a heated inert gas stream to volatilize the specimen. The heated air or gas in introduced from below (from either a hot air gun or a high-pressure tank connected to a heat exchanger), and ascends through in most embodiments through a permeable support structure (4) (e.g., fritted glass disk, etc.) subsequently causing specimen particules disposed on the permeable support structure to be suspended within the confines of an isolation chamber (5).

Abstract: A device for inhaling healing active substances and medications includes a housing containing an active substance carrier therein, this housing having at least two permanent openings for the passage of air; and one of the two permanent openings being an inhaling mouth opening and is equipped with a mouthpiece for directly holding the device with the mouth.

Abstract: The invention is a humidification and filtration mask having an open cell foam reservoir attached to the facial or inner surface of a paper filtration mask. The reservoir provides for evenly wetting the paper mask by capillary action, after being charged with water. The device offers low inspiratory airway resistance compared to other art and is lighter and less costly.

Abstract: An improved, compact and low-maintenance respiration humidifier of a simple design is proposed, which has an outer jacket with a water feed as well as a breathing gas feed line and breathing gas drain line and contains a bundle of hydrophobic hollow fibers. The breathing gas feed line and the breathing gas drain line are in a gas flow connection with the interior of the hollow fibers. The hollow fibers preferably include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and have structure for electrical heating on their outer, water-side circumferential surface.

Abstract: The breathing humidifier is a reservoir containing a sponge and water. The reservoir is generally shaped to fit the contour of the users face between the upper lip and the nose. The sponge is shaped to fit against the nostril openings. Two openings are located at the bottom of the reservoir into which a gas supply cannula may be inserted. When gas such as oxygen is supplied to the breathing humidifier the gas passes through the water-sponge and heat environment to exit into the nose.

Abstract: A breath-powered inhalation device includes a hollow cylindrical body having an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at another end. The air outlet is narrowed so that air velocity increases as air moves through the outlet. At the air outlet is positioned a releasing mechanism which preferably has a fibre tip impregnated with a medicament or the like. As the air rushes past the releasing mechanism, the medicament or the like is atomized and carried into the respiratory tract of the user by the air. The breath-powered inhalation device of the present invention provides advantages over conventional inhalation devices using compressed gases as propellants since it is more compact, simpler and does not require synchronization of activation of the device and inhalation by the user.

Abstract: Nasal dilators and methods for improving the breathing of individuals are provid. The dilator includes an elongated substrate having top and bottom surfaces and a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the bottom surface. The elongated substrate can be made with resilient or spring material, or a resilient member can be bonded to the substrate to provide a gentle expanding force to the nasal wall tissue when the dilator is adhesively attached to the nose. This invention further includes an aromatic or transdermal substance, or both, disposed on the dilator to further improve breathing. Ideal aromatic substances include camphor and menthol. The aromatic substance can be disposed in a segregate form or in body activatable composition.

Abstract: A vaporizer apparatus and method for uniformly extracting active ingredients of a specimen of crude natural product or inert particulate matrix impregnated with volatile substances, without pyrolysis, which uses hot air or a heated inert gas stream to volatilize the specimen. The heated air or gas is introduced from below (from either a hot air gun or a high pressure tank connected to a heat exchanger) and ascends through a permeable support structure (e.g., fritted glass disk, etc.), subsequently causing specimen particles disposed on the permeable support structure to be suspended within the confines of an isolation chamber. This allows a maximized gas extraction exposure for each suspended particle, and promotes a uniform extraction of the aggregate charge through its periodic mixing. A filter prevents the particles from being inhaled by the user. During device disuse, the heated airstream flows through an optional side-arm of the vaporizer apparatus, preventing wasteful loss of active ingredients.

Abstract: A method and system for rapid control of set inspired gas concentration is disclosed for operating a medical anesthesia delivery system and for controlling the flow and concentration of gases and anesthesia vapor delivered to a patient. Control of the inspired gas and agent concentration is accomplished by operating in different control priority modes. In a flow priority control mode, the user may set, either directly or indirectly, the total fresh gas flow rate. The total fresh gas flow rate can then be slowly be varied by the control algorithm, while the vaporizer concentration is actively controlled to achieve the user set inspired gas concentration. The invention includes a process for switching from the flow priority control mode into a concentration priority mode for low flow rates. By throttling the flow, the patient will receive nearly an instantaneous change in the amount of agent and fresh gas without having the transport delay associated with a change in the agent concentration.