Breath indicator

A breath indicator configured to be received by an inlet of a breathing assistance apparatus that supplies gas to a patient, the indicator comprising:

• an elongate body having a gas sampling end and an attachment end, the attachment end adapted to attach to a part of the breathing assistance apparatus and for locating the gas sampling end, and the gas sampling end to be located in a region where gas from the patient is to be exhaled and in fluid communication with a sensor via a passageway, wherein the attachment end comprises a housing for holding or retaining the sensor in position, the attachment end further comprising a top surface and one or more gas outlets provided on a surface opposite the top surface, such that the sensor is in contact with a gas flow path of gas flowing from the gas sampling end through the passageway prior to being expelled to an external environment out of the one or more gas outlets, the one or more gas outlets facing the gas sampling end;
• and
• a stopping flange located partway along the elongate body between the attachment end and the gas sampling end, the stopping flange extending outwardly from the elongate body and in use, abutting the inlet of the breathing assistance apparatus and preventing further travel of the breath indicator through the inlet,
• wherein the sensor comprises a detecting material changeable between a first visual indicator state relating to an inhalation phase of the patient and a second visual indicator state relating to an exhalation phase of the patient, the detecting material configured to change between the first and second visual indicator states at a sufficient rate to substantially correspond with the inhalation and exhalation phases of the patient, and
• wherein at least a part of the top surface is formed of a visually transparent material, such that when in use, a user is able to visually detect changes between the first and second visual indicator states of the detecting material.