PC-based physiologic monitor and system for resolving apnea episodes during sedation

A method for resolving apnea or hypopnea during sedation, the method comprising:

• sedating a patient at a sedation level in which the airway is not protected and breathing is not assisted;
• with the patient sedated, maintaining a normal operating pressure delivered to the patient by a pressure/flow generator wherein the normal operating pressure is zero or is not enough to assist the patient in breathing;
• and
• with the patient sedated and while maintaining the normal operating pressure delivered to the patient, detecting a time interval over which the patient is experiencing apnea or hypopnea using a respiratory sensor and, in response to and after detecting the time interval over which the patient is experiencing apnea or hypopnea, operating the pressure/flow generator to provide at least one back-up breath to the patient to assist the patient's breathing at a positive pressure exceeding the normal operating pressure and then returning to the normal operating pressure delivered to the patient by the pressure/flow generator;
• wherein the maintaining of the normal operating pressure, the detecting of the time interval over which the patient is experiencing apnea or hypopnea, and the operating of the pressure/flow generator to provide the at least one back-up breath to the patient are performed by a computer.

A system for resolving apnea or hypopnea during sedation, the system comprising:

• a respiratory sensor;
• a blower;
• and
• a computer programmed to perform a method for resolving apnea or hypopnea during sedation, the method including:
• using the respiratory sensor, detecting a time interval over which a patient is experiencing apnea or hypopnea;
• in response to and after detecting the time interval over which the patient is experiencing apnea or hypopnea, operating the blower to provide at least one back-up breath to the patient to assist the patient's breathing;
• and
• keeping the blower off except when operated to provide the at least one back-up breath to the patient.

A system for resolving apnea or hypopnea during sedation, the system comprising:

• a respiratory sensor;
• a pressure/flow generator;
• and
• a computer programmed to perform a method for resolving apnea or hypopnea during sedation, the method including:
• maintaining the pressure/flow generator at a normal operating pressure wherein the normal operating pressure is zero or is not enough to assist the patient in breathing;
• using the respiratory sensor, detecting a time interval over which a patient is experiencing apnea or hypopnea;
• and
• in response to and after detecting the time interval over which the patient is experiencing apnea or hypopnea, operating the pressure/flow generator to provide at least one back-up breath to the patient to assist the patient's breathing at a positive pressure exceeding the normal operating pressure and then returning to the maintaining of the pressure/flow generator at the normal operating pressure;
• and
• a passive back-up ventilator system in which the maintaining of the pressure/flow generator at the normal operating pressure comprises keeping the pressure/flow generator off except when operating the pressure/flow generator to provide the at least one back-up breath to the patient.