Secretion loosening and cough segmenting therapy

A method of operation of a system, the system comprising a subject interface, a cough segmenter, a secretion loosener, one or more sensors, and one or more physical computer processors, the method comprising:

• communicating gas with the subject interface;
• controlling gas flow selectively through the subject interface with the cough segmenter to provide high amplitude pressure oscillations during exhalation such that the high amplitude pressure oscillations aid cough productivity;
• controlling gas flow selectively through the subject interface with the secretion loosener to provide low amplitude pressure oscillations during inhalations and exhalations such that the low amplitude pressure oscillations loosen respiratory secretions;
• generating output signals conveying information related to one or more breathing parameters within the subject interface with the one or more sensors;
• detecting two or more trigger events based on the output signals with the one or more physical computer processors, the two or more trigger events including a loosening trigger event and a segmenting trigger event, wherein the loosening trigger event and the segmenting trigger event are independently detected;
• and
• controlling, with the one or more physical computer processors, the system to switch into a secretion loosening mode and to control the secretion loosener to provide the low amplitude pressure oscillations responsive to detecting the loosening trigger event, and controlling, with the one or more physical computer processors, the system to switch from the secretion loosening mode into a cough segmenting mode and control the cough segmenter to provide the high amplitude pressure oscillations responsive to detecting the segmenting trigger event.

A system for providing loosening therapy and cough segmenting therapy to a subject, the system comprising:

• means for communicating gas with an airway of the subject;
• means for selectively controlling gas flow through the means for communicating to provide high amplitude pressure oscillations during exhalation such that the high amplitude pressure oscillations aid cough productivity in the subject;
• means for selectively controlling gas flow through the means for communicating to provide low amplitude pressure oscillations during inhalation and exhalation such that the low amplitude pressure oscillations loosen respiratory secretions;
• means for generating output signals conveying information related to one or more breathing parameters of the gas in the means for communicating;
• means for detecting two or more trigger events based on the output signals, the two or more trigger events including a loosening trigger event and a segmenting trigger event, wherein the loosening trigger event and the segmenting trigger event are independently detected;
• and
• means for controlling the means for selectively switching the system to a secretion loosening mode and from the secretion loosening mode to a cough segmenting mode by controlling gas flow through the means for communicating to provide low amplitude pressure oscillations to provide the low amplitude pressure oscillations in secretion loosening mode responsive to detecting the loosening trigger event, and for controlling the means for selectively controlling gas flow through the means for communicating to provide high amplitude pressure oscillations to provide the high amplitude pressure oscillations in the cough segmenting mode responsive to detecting the segmenting trigger event.