A heat generating unit is incorporated in a mask in order to actively supply warm steam, and also drug vapor, to the nose and throat, and moisturize the upper respiratory tract. It is preferable that a metal powder, salt, and water be contained in the heat generating unit, and that an exothermic composition that releases steam in conjunction with the oxidation reaction of the metal powder be used therein. It is preferable that either an inhalation valve or exhalation valve be provided in the mai...

A disposable aerosol generator for use with an inhaler device which includes a heater adapted to volatilize fluid stored in the disposable aerosol generator and method of using the inhaler. The disposable body includes a sealed chamber and an outlet, the chamber being located between first and second layers of material. The chamber holds a predetermined volume of a fluid which is expelled through the outlet when the fluid in the chamber is volatilized by the heater. The disposable body can inclu...

A portable air temperature controlling device useful for warming air surrounding an aerosolized drug formulation is described. Warming the air of an aerosol makes it possible to reduce the size of aerosol particles produced by an aerosol generation device. Additionally, warming the air forces the size of the aerosol particles to be in the range required for systemic drug delivery independent of ambient conditions. Smaller particles can be more precisely targeted to different areas of the respira...

This apparatus incorporates an enclosure (1) designed to contain water in which are immersed two electrodes (9,10) connected to an alternating current source (S). A tube (13) terminating in a nozzle (14) connect the top of this enclosure (1) to a venturi (15) which is connected upstream to the atmosphere and downstream to an inhalation mask (17), so as to form an air/water vapor mixture at a controlled temperature.

The present invention is directed to a high frequency jet ventilator humidification system which generally includes an air-oxygen blender, a heat exchanger, a solenoid valve, a water infusion pump, a humidifier, and a small tube coaxially positioned in a larger tube for delivery of respirable gas to a patient.

A disposable aerosol generator for use with an inhaler device, which includes a heater adapted to volatilize liquid stored in the disposable aerosol generator and a method of using the inhaler, is provided. The disposable body includes a sealed chamber and an openable outlet. The chamber is located between first and second layers of material. The chamber holds liquid, which is expelled through the opened outlet when the fluid in the chamber is volatilized by the heater. The disposable body can i...

This invention relates to respiratory humidifiers and heated breathing conduits used to couple a patient to the humidifier. A conduit overheating detection system for a conduit having heating wire or element is disclosed. The overheating detection system may be utilized with a in a single limb conduit system or dual limb system. In each of these systems the conduit overheating detection system monitors the current in the heating element(s) and alters the power to the heating element(s) to preven...

A portable air temperature controlling device useful for warming air surrounding an aerosolized drug formulation is described. Warming the air of an aerosol makes it possible to reduce the size of aerosol particles produced by an aerosol generation device. Additionally, warming the air forces the size of the aerosol particles to be in the range required for systemic drug delivery independent of ambient conditions. Smaller particles can be more precisely targeted to different areas of the respira...

An anesthetic vaporizer having a means of mixing the anesthetic agent with a relatively low flow of carrier gas or a larger amount of carrier gas. A valve is operable by the user to select between the high flow anesthesia where the carrier gas and anesthetic agent are mixed in a mixing chamber and the low flow anesthesia where the carrier gas and anesthetic agent are diverted directly into the patient circuit. Accordingly, the anesthetic vaporizer is usable for high flow anesthesia, however, whe...

A nebulizer providing a moistened breathing mixture of aerosol for inhalation therapy is provided with an improved accumulator chamber and heater configured to heat aerosol discharged from the nebulizer so as to most efficiently utilize the heat energy and to most efficiently transfer heat energy from the heater to the aerosol. Passage of the aerosol through and accumulation in a relatively long annular accumulator chamber that adjoins the heater allows introduction of heated water vapor into th...