Abstract:
An oral appliance assembly is described. The assembly includes an oral appliance component having an upper teeth tray and a lower teeth tray. The assembly further includes a module releasably connected to the oral appliance. The module includes at least one sensor that is positioned outside of the mouth and underneath the nares of a subject's nose when the oral appliance component is positioned in the subject's mouth. A method of measuring user compliance of an oral appliance is also described. The method includes positioning an oral appliance in the mouth of a subject, measuring at least one parameter of airflow from the subject's nose or mouth, and determining compliance based on the at least one measured parameter. A method of measuring effectiveness of an oral appliance is also described. The method includes positioning an oral appliance in the mouth of a subject, measuring at least one parameter of airflow from the subject's nose or mouth, and determining effectiveness based on the at least one measured parameter.
Abstract:
A system for monitoring inspirable gas for delivery to a patient includes a branched breathing circuit having a first branch conduit and a second branch conduit. The first branch conduit is fluidly connected to a first gas source and the second branch conduit is fluidly connected to a second gas source, and the first and second branch conduits merge into a patient delivery conduit. The system includes a first flow sensor in the first branch conduit, a second flow sensor in the second branch conduit, and a third flow sensor in the patient delivery conduit. A control unit is electrically coupled to the first, second and third flow sensors. The control unit is configured to determine a blend of gas in the patient delivery circuit based on a measured flow from the third flow sensor and a measured flow from at least one of the first and second flow sensors.
Abstract:
A mouthpiece for interfacing a subject to a respiratory measurement apparatus incorporates bite blocks and a tongue depressor such that when the bite blocks are clamped between teeth of the user's upper and lower jaws, the tongue depressor forces the user's tongue downward so as not to inhibit gas flow through a lumen of the mouthpiece. Also disclosed are cheek supports that can be coupled to the mouthpiece and where the space between adjacent cheek supports is selectively adjustable to fit the subject involved.
Abstract:
A device and method for reducing heat loss in at least one region of a subject's body is described. The device includes a mask component, a heat releasing reservoir, and a conduit connecting the mask component to the heat releasing reservoir and creating an airflow path therethrough, wherein the heat releasing reservoir includes at least one air permeable region that is impermeable to condensed water. Heat loss is reduced by the subject positioning the mask over the mouth and/or nose, positioning the heat releasing reservoir over the region of the subject's body, and passing warmed air exhaled by the subject into the mask through the conduit and into the heat releasing reservoir, such that the warmed air passes through the heat releasing reservoir while retaining condensed water within the heat releasing reservoir, thereby increasing the temperature of the air surrounding the at least one region of the subject's body.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for a safety interlock for a gas cylinder. The interlock device of the present invention can prevent a gas cylinder from being removed from a gas administration device as long as gas remains in the gas cylinder.
Abstract:
A system for monitoring an inspirable gas for delivery to a patient is disclosed that includes a branched breathing circuit having a first branch conduit and a second branch conduit. The first branch conduit is fluidly connected to a first gas source and the second branch conduit is fluidly connected to a second gas source, and the first and second branch conduits merge into a patient delivery conduit. The system includes a first flow sensor in the first branch conduit, a second flow sensor in the second branch conduit, and a third flow sensor in the patient delivery conduit. A control unit is electrically coupled to the first, second and third flow sensors. The control unit is configured to determine a blend of gas in the patient delivery circuit based on a measured flow from the third flow sensor and a measured flow from at least one of the first and second flow sensors. A method for monitoring an inspired gas concentration in a branched breathing circuit is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A spirometry coaching system and method is described. The system includes a spirometer comprising at least one detection element, a patient interactive display, and a control unit communicatively connected to the detection element and the patient interactive display, wherein the control unit directs an audio and visual presentation of at least one test instruction on the patient interactive display, and wherein the control unit directs an audio and visual presentation of at least one test result on the patient interactive display based on a measurement received from the at least one detection element.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to systems and methods for administering high concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient without the need to provide supplemental oxygen to the patient. The systems and methods can be used to administer high therapeutic amounts of NO gas, for example a gas comprising 160 ppm NO, while forming little or no residual nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The method is based on using a NO gas source with a relatively high NO concentration, for example 5,000 ppm, while rapidly mixing the gas from the NO gas source with air immediately prior to administering the gas to a patient.
Abstract:
A method of measuring a user's adherence to a medication schedule is described. The method includes the steps of tracking the time between medication doses, alerting the user when it is time to take a medication dose, tracking the elapsed time between the alert and when the user takes the medication dose, and comparing the elapsed time to a scoring metric to calculate a score, wherein the score is representative of the user's adherence to the medication schedule. An automated system for measuring a user's adherence to a medication schedule is also described. The system includes a computing device that executes a software application that includes a tracking mechanism that alerts the user when a next medication dose is to be taken and tracks the amount of elapsed time from the alert to the time that the user takes the medication dose, and a scoring mechanism that compares the amount of elapsed time to a scoring metric to determine a medication adherence score.