Cough detection in a respiratory support system

A method for detecting a respiratory event with a cough detection system, the cough detection system comprising a pressure generator, one or more sensors, and one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to execute computer program components, the computer program components comprising a gas parameter component, a breathing parameter component, a cough detection component, and a control component, the method comprising:

• generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject with the pressure generator;
• generating output signals conveying information related to one or more parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas with the one or more sensors;
• determining the one or more parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas with the gas parameter component, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the generated output signals, and wherein the one or more parameters include a pressure signal;
• and
• determining a respiratory event with the cough detection component based at least in part on a fluctuation in the pressure signal including a plurality of local maximum peak pressure values and a plurality of local minimum valley pressure values, wherein at least one adjacent pair of peaks is separated by a time interval that is no greater than a peak pressure interval threshold, and wherein a peak-to-valley amplitude of an adjacent peak and valley pair is no less than a pressure fluctuation amplitude threshold.

A cough detection system for detecting a respiratory event, the cough detection system comprising:

• means for generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject;
• means for generating output signals conveying information related to one or more parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas;
• and
• means for executing computer program components, the computer program components comprising:
• means for determining the one or more parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the output signals, and wherein the one or more parameters include a pressure signal;
• and
• means for determining the respiratory event, the determination based at least in part on a fluctuation in the pressure signal including a plurality of local maximum peak pressure values and a plurality of local minimum valley pressure values, wherein at least one adjacent pair of peaks is separated by a time interval that is no greater than a peak pressure interval threshold, and wherein a peak-to-valley amplitude of an adjacent peak and valley pair is no less than a pressure fluctuation amplitude threshold.