초록 ▼

The ventilator of the invention uses a respiratory effort sensor that does not rely on respiratory airflow or pressure for synchronization, such as a device that measures movement of the suprasternal notch in response to respiratory efforts. This makes the ventilator relatively immune to leaks. Furt

The ventilator of the invention uses a respiratory effort sensor that does not rely on respiratory airflow or pressure for synchronization, such as a device that measures movement of the suprasternal notch in response to respiratory efforts. This makes the ventilator relatively immune to leaks. Furthermore, the mask pressure may be modulated so as to servo-control the respiratory effort signal to be zero. Because effort is servo-controlled to be near zero, it is not necessary for the effort signal to be either linear or calibrated, but merely monotonic on effort. Similarly, it is possible to achieve near 100% assistance without having to know or estimate the resistance and compliance of the patient's respiratory system, as in those systems that provide proportional assist ventilation.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for controlling a mechanical ventilator comprising the steps of: providing a subject with breathable gas at controllable pressure; deriving a signal that is a monotonic function of the subject's respiratory effort and that exhibits no discontinuities, said signal bei

What is claimed is: 1. A method for controlling a mechanical ventilator comprising the steps of: providing a subject with breathable gas at controllable pressure; deriving a signal that is a monotonic function of the subject's respiratory effort and that exhibits no discontinuities, said signal being derived from other than respiratory airflow and the pressure of said breathable gas provided to said subject; and adjusting said controllable pressure in accordance with said derived signal, wherein the controllable pressure is adjusted by a servo-controller that operates to servo-control the derived signal to be zero. 2. A mechanical ventilator comprising: a source of breathable gas at a controllable pressure; a transducer for deriving a signal that is a monotonic function of a subject's respiratory effort and that exhibits no discontinuities, said transducer deriving said signal from other than respiratory airflow and said controllable pressure; and a controller that adjusts said controllable pressure in accordance with said derived signal, wherein said controller adjusts the pressure by servo-controlling the derived signal to be zero.