An apparatus for humidifying a flow of pressurised, breathable air includes varying a first pressure of the flow of breathable gas to vary a level of thermal engagement between the conductive portion of the reservoir and the heater plate, varying a height of the variable portion varies a level of thermal engagement between the conductive portion of the reservoir and the heater plate, use of a humidifier reservoir base component with a maximum water capacity substantially equal to the predetermined maximum volume of water of the humidifier reservoir or the use of intersecting inlet and outlet axes.

Several methods of supporting respiratory function of a patient before, during and/or after a medical procedure are disclosed. In certain arrangements, supporting respiratory function while a patient is under general anaesthesia can include providing a high gas flow a high gas flow that is greater than 15 L/min while the patient is under general anaesthesia. In certain arrangements, a method of providing ventilation while a patient is under general anaesthesia involves providing only a gas flow delivered through a nasal interface that is greater than 15 L/min while the patient is under general anaesthesia

Described is an apparatus for oxygenation and/or CO2 clearance of a patient, comprising: a flow source or a connection for a flow source for providing a gas flow, a gas flow modulator, a controller to control the gas flow, wherein the controller is operable to: receive input relating to heart activity and/or trachea gas flow of the patient, and control the gas flow modulator to provide a varying gas flow with one or more oscillating components with a frequency or frequencies based on the heart activity and/or trachea flow of the patient.

An apparatus for humidification of air to be delivered to a patient's airways may include a reservoir, and a humidifier chamber. The humidifier chamber may include a humidifier wick and a heating element for heating the humidifier chamber. The humidifier wick may comprise a fibrous sheet material. The humidifier chamber and wick may be vertically oriented in use such that a first end of the wick is above the second end of the wick. A deioniser may be provided to deionise the liquid prior to the humidifier wick. The apparatus may pasteurise liquid to be delivered to the humidification wick.

A sedation device (1) has a housing (2) having a ventilator chamber (3) and an associated patient chamber (4) in communication with the ventilator chamber (3). A filter (5) is mounted between the ventilator chamber (3) and the patient chamber (4) and forms a common gas-permeable dividing wall between the ventilator chamber (3) and the patient chamber (4). An inlet port (6) is provided on the ventilator chamber (3) for connection via a Y-piece to a ventilator. An outlet port (9) of the patient chamber (4) connects via a patient breathing tube (10) with a patient. An associated pair of inserts are provided, namely a first insert (14) fixedly mounted in the ventilator chamber (3) and a second insert (15) fixedly mounted in the patient chamber (4). One or both of these inserts (14, 15) are mounted within the housing (2) to vary the internal volume of the housing (2) as required to suit different patients. The inserts (14, 15) are nestably engageable with an inner wall of the housing (2).

A respiratory therapy system can have a flow generator adapted to provide gases to a patient. A gas passageway can be located in-line with the flow generator. The gas passageway can have a first portion adapted to receive a first gas and a second portion adapted to receive a second gas. The gas passageway can have a static mixer downstream of the first and second portions.

A pump arrangement for powering a pump in providing a controlled volume of water to a drip nozzle in a drip-feed humidifier. The pump arrangement includes: a pump having a solenoid; a processing unit; and a power supply electrically connected to the solenoid via a switch which is controlled by the processing unit. The power supply is structured to supply power to the solenoid via the switch. The processing unit is programmed to modulate the power provided to the solenoid via the switch such that the power is supplied to the solenoid according to a mirror image power profile for each actuation of the solenoid for retracting the armature. The mirror image power profile includes: an initial portion which decreases at a third overall rate, an intermediate portion which decreases at a second overall rate different than the third overall rate, and a final portion which increases at a first overall rate.

A ventilator includes a ventilation body, the ventilation body includes a ventilation cavity and an air inlet end and an air outlet end communicating with the ventilation cavity, the ventilation body further includes an annular shell configured to form the ventilation cavity, the annular shell is formed with an annular cavity inside, an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the annular cavity are disposed on the annular shell, the air outlet is communicated with the annular cavity and the ventilation cavity, the air outlet has a slit shape extending along a circumferential direction of the annular shell and is disposed to be capable to guide gas flows out towards the air outlet end. The ventilator may greatly increase the ventilation volume and the gas pressure, by using the ventilation body as mentioned above.

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.

An apparatus is provided to change the absolute humidity of a flow of air for delivery to an entrance of the airways of a patient, the change being compared to the absolute humidity of ambient air. The apparatus has a reservoir configured to hold a volume of liquid. A heating element creates vapour from the liquid. A chamber is provided to mix the flow of air with the vapour. The apparatus has a body having a first wall structure with a chamber inlet port. A closure element having an air inlet port for pneumatically connecting to a source of the flow of air is secured to the body to provide a sealed gas flow path between the air inlet port and the chamber inlet port, and a liquid trap in the gas flow path.