Apparatus for respiratory support and non-invasive detection of alveolar derecruitment for patients suffering from respiratory failure

An apparatus (1) for respiratory support and non-invasive detection of alveolar recruitment/derecruitment for patients (2) suffering from respiratory failure, said apparatus (1) comprising means (3) for providing a pressure component (Presp);

• means (15) for adding an additional pressure component (Pstim) at a frequency comprised between 5 and 10 Hz with a pressure comprised between 2 and 4 cm H2O;
• conduits (5, 6, 7, 20, 21) for the passage of said pressure component (Presp) and said additional pressure component (Pstim) from and to the airways of a patient (2);
• transducers, applied to said conduits, of pressure (9, 10) to electric signals;
• transducers, applied to said conduits, of flow (8) to electric signals and computing means (12) for providing a variable positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to said patients (2);
• processing said electric signals so as to obtain a value of the end expiratory reactance (Xee), at the varying of the value of said positive end expiratory pressure, and defining the state of pulmonary recruitment, as the value of the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) which corresponds to a point of maximum expiratory reactance (Xee).