A breathing apparatus for use by mountain climbers and others operating in low temperature atmospheres utilizes body heat and perspiration to warm and humidify the air from the atmosphere as it is inspired by the user. A hose-like element is positioned adjacent to the body and inside the clothing. The element is of a porous construction to permit passage of air and equipped with auxiliary holes for the same purpose. An inlet valve connects to the outer atmosphere and a filter and a connector lea...

A system including apparatus and method for supplying and controlling a selected breathing gas mixture in proper amounts at a selected cycle rate with a high degree of accuracy including a console with gas supply and control units at a substantial distance from the patient and a transfer unit in proximity to the patient. The gas supply hose from the console to the transfer unit is long and of large volume, while the delivery hose from the transfer unit to the patient is very short and of relativ...

Aerosol drug delivery devices incorporating percussively activated heat packages are disclosed. The heat packages include a percussive igniter and a fuel capable of undergoing an exothermic oxidation-reduction reaction when ignited by the percussive igniter. The drug delivery devices disclosed can be activated by an actuation mechanism to vaporize a thin solid film comprising a drug disposed on the exterior of a hat package. Metal coordination complexes of volatile drugs, and in particular nicot...

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...

A portable apparatus for domiciliary and ambulatory oxygen therapy intended for people suffering from respiratory insufficiencies and treated by administering gaseous oxygen so as to correct the gas contents in their blood, in particular the carbon dioxide and oxygen contents. The system includes an air compression device; a concentrator device allowing gaseous oxygen having a purity of 50 to 99% to be produced; an oxygen liquefaction device; an accumulation and storage device for the oxygen liq...

A ventilation system supplies a gas mixture that is humidified and heated through a proportional valve which is a fail closed and normally closed servo control valve positioned proximate a patient. The proportional valve is operated by a controller that regulates the pressure and the mode (e.g., high frequency, normal respiration, combinations) gas is delivered to the patient through a nozzle connected to the endotracheal tube. The nozzle has an exhaust connected to it and a pressure sensor thro...

A breath warming apparatus which comprises a flexible, lightweight casing in the shape of a curved, generally symmetrical horn of expanding cross section, having a flared internal chamber containing metal mesh. This mesh will retain the heat and expired moisture of the wearer and will in turn warm and humidify the air being inhaled through the device. A mouthpiece, designed to minimize resistance to airflow to and from the oral cavity, provides the immediate aperture through which the user breat...

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...

A patient adapter for being connected to gas tubing in a ventilator circuit comprises of an inspiratory and an expiratory pipe, the latter having an internal diameter at least about 20% greater than the diameter of the inspiratory pipe. The invention also includes a respirator circuit in which an expiratory limb has an internal diameter at least about 20% greater than the diameter than the inspiratory tubing limb.

A thermal exchange breathing device is provided which include a heat exchange module 14 which is mounted in a face mask (12) with an air flow passage extending from a mouthpiece (72) through a breathing vent (64) to an atmospheric vent (68) through a heat exchange medium (68) in the heat exchange module. The face mask (12) is provided with a head strap (22,94) which may include connectors (95 and 95') between the respective ends of the head strap and the sides of the face mask, said connectors i...