Auto identification of patient interface based on changes in a pressure support system

A pressure support system, comprising:

• a mask and a headgear, wherein a number of force sensors and/or a number of strap distance sensors are associated with the mask and the headgear;
• and
• a controller structured and configured for:
• (a) determining, while the mask and headgear are worn by a user, one or more of the following:
• (i) a total number of leads associated with the number of force sensors, (ii) a strapping force for the mask and headgear based on outputs from the number of force sensors, (iii) a strapping force distribution for the mask and headgear based on the outputs from at least one of the number of force sensors, and (iv) a strapping distance for the mask and headgear based on outputs from the number of strap distance sensors;
• (b) determining one or more of the following:
• (i) a lead change by comparing the determined total number of leads to prestored lead information, (ii) a strapping force change by comparing the determined strapping force to prestored strapping force information, (iii) a strapping force distribution change by comparing the determined strapping force distribution to prestored strapping force distribution information, and (iv) a strapping distance change by comparing the determined strapping distance to prestored strapping distance information;
• and
• (c) determining a patient interface device change has occurred based on one or more of (i) the determined lead change, (ii) the determined strapping force change, (iii) the determined strapping force distribution change, and (iv) the determined strapping distance change.

A pressure support system, comprising:

• a blower for generating a flow of beathing gas;
• a mask and a headgear, wherein a number of force sensors is associated with the mask and the headgear;
• and
• a controller structured and configured for:
• determining, while the mask and headgear are worn by a user, a number of strapping forces for the mask and headgear based on outputs from the number of force sensors,
• automatically starting the blower and generating the flow of breathing gas based on an evaluation of the number of strapping forces.

A pressure support system, comprising:

• a blower for generating a flow of beathing gas;
• a mask and a headgear, wherein a number of force sensors is associated with the mask and the headgear;
• and
• a controller structured and configured for:
• determining, while the mask and headgear are worn by a user and are coupled to the pressure support system during operation of the pressure support system, a number of strapping forces for the mask and headgear over time based on outputs from the number of force sensors,
• determining a rate of change of the number of strapping forces over time, and determining that the mask and headgear are worn out and should be replaced based on the rate of change.