A membrane-based gas humidification apparatus was employed to actively manage the amount of water vapor entrained in the reactant gas supplied to a fuel cell stack. The humidification system utilizes a gas bypass and a series of heaters to achieve accurate and fast humidity and temperature control. A change in fuel cell load induces a reactant mass flow rate disturbance to this humidification s...

Heated humidification of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) reduces upper airway symptoms and improves initial use in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). The present study aimed to assess the effect of heated humidification of nCPAP on upper airway symptoms and initial use in obstructive sleep apnoea. This study was of a randomised, crossover design. Subjects with polysomno...

OBJECTIVE To carry out an in vitro study of Boussignac CPAP valve performance with a new humidification method, using a heated humidifier. METHODS Two heated humidifiers were evaluated: Fisher & Paykel MR850, and Covidien Kendall Aerodyne 2000. Baseline measurements were taken in all experimental conditions without humidification. The Boussignac valve was adapted to the input of the humidific...

The sensation of dryness and irritation is essential in the sick building syndrome (SBS), and such symptoms are common in both office and hospital employees. In Scandinavia, the indoor relative humidity in well ventilated buildings is usually in the range 10-35% in winter. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of steam air humidification on SBS and perceived air quality during the he...

Humidification of inhaled gases has been standard of care in mechanical ventilation for a long period of time. More than a century ago, a variety of reports described important airway damage by applying dry gases during artificial ventilation. Consequently, respiratory care providers have been utilizing external humidifiers to compensate for the lack of natural humidification mechanisms when th...

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been shown to reduce both morbidity and mortality in this population when compared with endotracheal intubation. NIV may also be used in a host of other diseases including cardiogenic pulmonary edema, post-extubation hypoxemia, and chronic ventilatory failure associated with muscular weakn...

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been shown to reduce both morbidity and mortality in this population when compared with endotracheal intubation. NIV may also be used in a host of other diseases including cardiogenic pulmonary edema, post-extubation hypoxemia, and chronic ventilatory failure associated with muscular weakn...

Secretion management in the mechanically ventilated patient includes routine methods for maintaining mucociliary function, as well as techniques for secretion removal. Humidification, mobilization of the patient, and airway suctioning are all routine procedures for managing secretions in the ventilated patient. Early ambulation of the post-surgical patient and routine turning of the ventilated ...

The typical setup for administering volatile anesthetics to laboratory rats does not provide for humidification of the inspired gases, although it is known that failing to provide humidification can lead to airway inflammation and impaired pulmonary function during prolonged experimental protocols. We developed a simple humidification system in which a nebulizer was inserted into the nonrebreat...