Systems, devices and methods for modulating a respiratory drive of a patient

A method for modulating a respiratory drive of a patient, comprising:

• receiving one or more control parameters from an operator interface including a maximum respiratory drive value and a respiratory drive rise time increase limit;
• detecting the respiratory drive of the patient;
• assign, based on the respiratory drive of the patient and on the one or more control parameters, a therapeutic contribution to each of a plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems, including a synchronized airway CO2 dilution (AwCO2Dil) subsystem, each of the ventilation therapy sub-systems implementing corresponding functions adapted to assist a corresponding reduction of the respiratory drive of the patient;
• each of the therapeutic contributions represents a share of an excess of the respiratory drive of the patient above the maximum respiratory drive value to be controlled by a respective one of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems;
• and
• controlling each of the plurality of the ventilation therapy sub-systems according to its assigned therapeutic contribution;
• detecting, at each breath of the patient, a peak and a rise time of the respiratory drive of the patient;
• and
• implementing a test stage comprising:
• causing a pause of at least one of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems,
• comparing the rise time of the respiratory drive of the patient detected when the at least one of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems is paused to the rise time of the respiratory drive of the patient detected when the at least one of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems is not paused to detect an increase of the respiratory drive rise time of the patient, and
• ending the test stage after detecting the increase of the respiratory drive rise time.

A mechanical ventilation system for modulating a respiratory drive of a patient, comprising:

• a plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems, including a synchronized airway CO2 dilution (AwCO2Dil) sub-system, wherein, each of the ventilation therapy sub-systems implement corresponding functions adapted to assist a corresponding reduction of the respiratory drive of the patient;
• a detector of the respiratory drive of the patient;
• an operator interface configured to receive one or more control parameters, the one or more control parameters include a maximum respiratory drive value and a heart rate increase limit;
• and
• each of the therapeutic contributions represents a share of an excess of the respiratory drive of the patient above the maximum respiratory drive value to be controlled by a respective one of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems;
• and
• a main controller operatively connected to each of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems, to the detector of the respiratory drive of the patient and to the operator interface, the main controller being configured to:
• receive the one or more control parameters from the operator interface,
• receive measurements from the detector of the respiratory drive of the patient,
• assign, based on the respiratory drive of the patient and on the one or more control parameters, a therapeutic contribution to each of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems for control of the respiratory drive of the patient, and
• control each of the plurality of the ventilation therapy sub-systems according to its assigned therapeutic contribution;
• the main controller being further configured to:
• detect, at each breath of the patient, a heart rate and a peak of the respiratory drive of the patient;
• and
• implement a test stage comprising:
• causing a pause of at least one of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems,
• comparing the heart rate of the patient when the at least one of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems is paused to the heart rate of the patient when the at least one of the plurality of ventilation therapy sub-systems is not paused to calculate an increase of the heart rate;
• and
• ending the test stage after calculating the increase of the heart rate.